Carlos Sainz achieved a sensational pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, showcasing his skill and determination by outperforming championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. This marked Sainz’s first pole in over a year, a significant achievement that reinvigorates his season as he prepares to switch teams to Williams next year.
During an intense qualifying session, Sainz secured pole with two outstanding laps, showcasing his consistency and speed. Verstappen, despite having his first lap in Q3 disqualified due to exceeding track limits, managed to recover impressively. He finished just 0.225 seconds behind Sainz, which underscores the tight competition between the top drivers. Verstappen will undoubtedly feel relieved to start ahead of Norris, given that the McLaren driver is currently 57 points behind him in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
Going into qualifying, McLaren had the momentum and was viewed as the favorite; however, Norris struggled to find the necessary pace when it mattered most. With hopes high for a strong performance, he now aims to capitalize on the long run down to Turn One to potentially challenge Verstappen. Charles Leclerc, who had anticipated a stronger showing, found himself frustrated after an underwhelming final lap left him in fourth, just behind the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
The qualifying session was dramatic from start to finish, particularly for local hero Sergio Perez, who faced a disappointing early exit in Q1 alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri. Both drivers now face a significant challenge as they aim to make up ground during the race, starting from the back of the grid.
Throughout Friday’s practice, Ferrari appeared competitive, but ultimately it was McLaren who secured a one-two finish in the final practice ahead of qualifying. As the track evolved and conditions changed slightly cooler, Ferrari took advantage, allowing Sainz to soar to pole after the session was briefly delayed by Yuki Tsunoda’s crash at the end of Q2.
Sainz’s journey to the front had its own share of pressure; after initially outpacing Verstappen in their Q3 runs, he pushed even harder to solidify his lead with a second, faster lap. Verstappen’s mental fortitude shone through as he rebounded from the setback of his deleted lap. Displaying the prowess that has earned him three consecutive world titles, he delivered an impressive lap that, while not enough to surpass Sainz, secured him a front-row position alongside another title contender, Norris, who managed to recover to third.
For Leclerc, the final qualifying laps were less than ideal. After two messy attempts, he had to accept fourth position with hopes still alive for Ferrari to narrow their gap to McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, especially given that Piastri and Perez’s early exits could provide them with the opportunity they need.
Meanwhile, Russell’s performance was commendable given the challenges he faced. Coming off a substantial crash in second practice, he was limited to using an older Miami-spec Mercedes, yet he still outqualified Hamilton, who suffered an error on his final qualifying lap despite having a new floor on his car.
As for Perez, his home crowd held high expectations, but he couldn’t deliver in Q1, leading to yet another disappointing start to a race weekend. Struggling with confidence to push through the corners, he ended up in 18th place after three uncompetitive laps, a situation compounded by Piastri’s own mistakes that left him unable to challenge for the qualifying spots.
In summary, the drama and excitement of the Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying not only highlighted the competitiveness of Sainz, Verstappen, and Norris but also set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling race, as strategy and skill will come into play in the quest for victory. The race ahead will indeed be crucial for all title contenders, and fans can expect fierce battles right from the start.
Mexico City GP Qualifying Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:15.946 |
| 2) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.225 |
| 3) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.314 |
| 4) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.319 |
| 5) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.410 |
| 6) Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.705 |
| 7) Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +0.940 |
| 8) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.946 |
| 9) Alex Albon | Williams | +1.119 |
| 10) Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +1.419 |
| Knocked out in Q2 | ||
| 11) Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 1:17.129 |
| 12) Liam Lawson | RB | 1:16.162 |
| 13) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:17.168 |
| 14) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:17.294 |
| 15) Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:17.817 |
| Knocked out in Q1 | ||
| 16) Franco Colapinto | Williams | 1:17.558 |
| 17) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:17.597 |
| 18) Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1:17.611 |
| 19) Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:17.617 |
| 20) Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:18.072 |
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