For the first time since F1’s return to Mexico in 2015, home hero Sergio Perez looks to have a genuine shot at going for victory. 

The 31-year-old could face a dilemma on Sunday, however. Should the Mexican be leading the race with Max Verstappen in 2nd, Red Bull could choose to order Perez to give the lead to his teammate who’s locked in an intense title fight against Lewis Hamilton. 

Red Bull’s most successful ever driver Sebastian Vettel hopes it doesn’t happen, though. While he understands the logic behind it, he believes nobody likes it. The German is no stranger to ignoring team orders, as he showed at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix when fighting Red Bull teammate Mark Webber for the win. 

“I'm not a fan of team orders,” said the four-time World Champion. 

“There's two different team orders: there's the team order that you give way and you get it back in the same race, if you are on different strategies. And then there's obviously the team order where clearly one has to sort of get out of the way to make the other one score more points. 

“Even if maybe the situation is logically very easy to explain, I still think it's bad and I will be in favour of not having any team orders ever. Yeah, I think it's just that nobody likes it.” 

“If Checo happens to be ahead, then Checo should stay ahead,” he continued. 

“And if he's not ahead, he has to be overtaken by whoever, whether that's a Mercedes or a Red Bull. 

“I can also see if that's not happening and he will have to let Max by, but Valtteri [Bottas] has been in that position, and it's not nice.” 

Perez didn’t want to get into the possibility of happening as the team hasn’t discussed anything about it. 

The Mexican has only outqualified Verstappen once on pure merit this season and faces an uphill task to get himself into that position, even before team orders may come into play. 

“I don't see much point in discussing that now,” he said.  

“I think probably we will see where we are on Saturday and if it's worthwhile having that conversation. 

“Right now, there's no guarantee that we're going to be in that position. I think it will be a great problem to have as a team. But right now, we haven't discussed anything.”