Lewis Hamilton believes the high-downforce packages required at the Mexican Grand Prix F1 circuit could hinder World Champions Red Bull. Due to Mexico City being 2,240 metres above sea level with considerably thinner air density, teams often run their highest-downforce aero packages, usually found at venues such as Monaco. Hamilton's Mercedes team have performed well in high-downforce-spec in 2022, including taking Pole Position through George Russell in Hungary. Equally, the Mercedes W13 has proved to be producing excessive drag when competing at circuits which call for higher top speeds. Throughout 2022, Red Bull have shone at lower-downforce circuits, such as at Spa-Francorchamps in August, and their lower-drag car often performs well in race combat scenarios. Hamilton believes the high-downforce nature of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez could hinder Red Bull this weekend.
Hamilton questions Red Bull at 'maximum' downforce
"It's high altitude and maximum downforce, which forces everyone to be on maximum downforce, even Red Bull," Hamilton explained to Sky Sports F1. "I don't know whether they were at their strongest on their maximum downforce, so we will see this weekend. "They were very strong here last year, and I anticipate they'll be very strong this weekend. I just hope we are in the mix. "Red Bull had the most powerful engine last year, and I anticipate that they'll have the most powerful one this weekend. They have more deployment than anybody. "They have almost 100% deployment throughout the laps, where most other people have 70% or 80%."
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