BERNIE COLLINS exposes McLaren’s costly Mexico qualifying gamble

October 31, 2026

• BERNIE COLLINS, Sky Sports F1 analyst, identified McLaren’s critical error: gambling on used soft tyres at the start of Q3 before switching to new softs for final runs.
• COLLINS noted McLaren had five soft tyre sets — same as rivals — yet most competitors correctly committed to new rubber from the outset, exposing the team’s strategic miscalculation.
• COLLINS explained Piastri’s aborted lap compounded the blunder, leaving him only one shot on compromised rubber, ultimately stranding him P13 on the grid.
• Her sharp breakdown was backed by Karun Chandhok, who also labelled the McLaren call a “poor decision,” with Piastri left to defend his own grip issues post-session.

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