"Ferrari are the benchmark in one-lap and outright pace"

Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner still believes Ferrari are the team to beat at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, saying the Italians are the "benchmark" despite not winning the past two races.

Ferrari have come out of the summer break rejuvenated, taking every single pole position from Belgium onwards and winning three of the five races including a one-two in Singapore.

However, Mercedes have won the last two races in Russia and Japan and Lewis Hamilton topped the timetables in FP1 earlier on Friday, with Ferrari's one-lap pace seemingly not translating into race pace

Horner's driver Max Verstappen has won the previous two editions of the Mexican Grand Prix, but the Brit still rates Ferrari as the team to take the spoils in Mexico on Sunday.

"At the moment, Ferrari are very much the benchmark in terms of outright and one-lap pace and qualifying is so important here because it's pretty difficult to follow closely other cars," the Bulls' team boss said at Friday's press conference.

However, Horner quickly added how close the field has looked so far in FP1.