Australia's Oscar Piastri is predicting tough times at the Formula One grand prix in Mexico.
Piastri believes his McLaren is unsuited to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City.
“It’s a very different circuit," Piastri said ahead of this weekend's grand prix.
“It’s my first time here so it will be a lot of learning for myself to do.
"But hopefully we can still be in the fight with the teams we’re around.”
Piastri's McLaren outfit sit in fourth spot in the constructors’ championship after the Australian's teammate Lando Norris finished second in the US Grand Prix in Austin a week ago.
Piastri failed to finish that race, after logging a career-best second placing in the preceding race in Qatar.
The 22-year-old said the tight Mexico City track, where slower speeds are necessary at times, doesn't suit his McLaren.
“There’s a lot of challenging parts,” Piastri said of the circuit.
“The run to turn one is extremely long and getting the braking point right will be difficult.
“The stadium section is very, very slow and easy to make a mistake.
“The whole track is difficult and the altitude is very high here so the grip is quite low - it just makes everything difficult.”
In his debut F1 season, the Melbourne-born Piastri is in eighth spot in the drivers' championship with Red Bull pacesetter Max Verstappen already securing the title with four races remaining.
The Mexican grand prix will be raced from 0700 AEDT on Monday.
