George Russell receives medical attention after 180mph crash in second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix – as Max Verstappen encounters his own problems to boost Lando Norris’ slim title hopes

George Russell was taken to the medical centre after a dramatic 180mph crash in second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix – while Max Verstappen failed to set a time as engine problems beset the championship leader.

Red Bull have opted to use an old engine in an effort to mitigate the problem, meaning Verstappen will not be handed a grid penalty that would boost Lando Norris’s slim title hopes.

The McLaren man is 57 points behind Verstappen with five races, including Sunday’s at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, remaining.

Verstappen also encountered engine glitches in first practice. They were thought to be minor, only for them to resurface in the late-afternoon running.

The engine was taken out and examined to assess what remedial action was required, with the old engine being used as a replacement deemed the best option.

His Mercedes had to be lifted off the track after he lost control of it in second practice

Championship leader Max Verstappen also struggled with engine problems in practice

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As for Russell, he lost control of his Mercedes after taking too much kerb at the sweeping Turn 8, sending him crashing into the tyre barrier at the following corner.

Russell, who climbed out of his badly damaged car holding his ribs, was driven away for the medical centre for a check-up. He was released while the session was still going on and returned to the team hospitality area in the paddock.

It was the British driver’s second smash in a week, after a shunt in qualifying in Austin last week. There, he drove from the pit lane to finish sixth.

This crash was a bone-rattler as he bottomed out going over the red-and-white verge, causing a cessation of 24 minutes as the marshals rebuilt the barrier as fast as they could.

A Mercedes spokesman confirmed: ‘He’s physically OK, but it was a significant impact.’

Russell’s team will now rebuild his car, which had its suspension hanging off and its sidepod destroyed, ahead of third practice and qualifying on Saturday.

Carlos Sainz set the fastest time for Ferrari while Norris’s team-mate Oscar Piastri was second quickest. Norris was fifth best, but the session was severely skewed by testing of next season’s tyres.