After a challenging series of three practice sessions for the Mexican Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen grappled with elusive grip, aborted numerous flying laps due to errors, and voiced his frustration over the radio to his race engineer, one might have questioned the predictability of his qualifying outcome. Yet, for the reigning world champion, securing pole position felt almost inevitable.
Verstappen’s sixth pole of the season emerged from a particularly untidy trio of practice sessions, characterized by his Red Bull appearing unsettled and difficult to control. However, when it mattered most – during the crucial qualifying hour – it was hardly a shock to see him rise to the top of the timesheets. Now, he stands in the prime position to claim his 14th victory of the season, a triumph that would establish a new Formula 1 record for the most wins in a single year.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with the grip levels offered by the track surface at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. He was visibly wrestling his car over the kerbs and through the circuit’s challenging 17 corners. Despite these persistent struggles, Verstappen and his Red Bull team once again demonstrated their remarkable ability to fine-tune the RB18, extracting its peak performance precisely when the stakes were highest in the weekend.
Reflecting on the significant turnaround, the pole-sitter remarked, “I think every session it got a little bit better. I think in Q3, we finally could push a little bit more with the car and [do] two decent laps.” This statement underscores the incremental progress made by the team, culminating in a dominant final qualifying segment.
Despite being the most successful driver in Mexico since the race’s return to the calendar in 2015, this marks Verstappen’s first actual pole position at the venue. Three years prior, he had set the fastest time but was subsequently penalised for ignoring a yellow flag, stripping him of the top starting spot. This achievement, therefore, holds a special significance in his already illustrious record at the circuit.
Verstappen further elaborated on the demanding nature of qualifying in Mexico City. “It’s very hard to nail a lap,” he admitted, citing the inherently low grip conditions and the necessity of perfectly hitting certain kerbs to gain time. “So it’s definitely not the easiest qualifying, always. But it seemed like in Q3, we had it under control,” he concluded, highlighting the precision required and his team’s execution under pressure.
The official records will show that Verstappen secured pole by a comfortable three-tenths of a second over Mercedes’ George Russell. However, this margin scarcely reflects the true intensity of the battle. Russell’s final lap was, for a fleeting moment, marginally quicker – a matter of thousandths – until a critical error at Turn 12. As he began braking for the stadium section entrance, he overshot his braking point and ran wide, an unfortunate mistake that decisively cost him a genuine shot at pole position. His frustration was evident and openly expressed after the session.
“Obviously I locked up just trying too hard in sector three to make up,” Russell explained, his disappointment palpable. “I am disappointed because I feel like the team deserved the pole position today. The car’s been performing great but ultimately the points are scored tomorrow, and we’ll be going for that race win.” His comments reveal a competitive Mercedes package and a driver acutely aware of a missed opportunity, yet also focused on the main event.
Russell’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, secured third place on the grid, a result that could have been even stronger had he not compromised his first run with a track limits violation and battled an engine oscillation problem that disrupted power delivery. Nevertheless, Mercedes strategically capitalized on Ferrari’s comparative lack of performance, positioning both their cars within the top three starting spots. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jnr was relegated to fifth, while his teammate Charles Leclerc managed only seventh after an inexplicable loss of 15km/h and two-tenths of a second to his rivals on the crucial run to Turn 12 and the stadium section during his fastest lap.
Leclerc elaborated on his perplexing issues, stating, “There was something strange or wrong with the engine. Losing quite a lot of time down the straights from FP3 to Q3. Not compared to the Red Bull or Mercedes, because this has been the case since FP1 and we knew it, but there was something strange.” This candid admission underscores Ferrari’s ongoing struggles to match the pace of their rivals, particularly on the long straights.
If the relentless chants of “Checo! Checo!” echoing from the grandstands throughout the first two days of the weekend were any indication, a significant portion of the Mexican fans are eagerly hoping for a strong result from their national hero, Sergio Perez, in today’s race. However, after what he described as a “mess” of a qualifying session, plagued by electrical glitches that left him without crucial data in his car, he will start behind both Mercedes, in a somewhat disappointing fourth position.
“P4 isn’t where I wanted to be, we could have been a lot higher,” Perez candidly admitted, expressing his frustration. “P3 would have been ideal. We just have to look forward to tomorrow and try to have the perfect race, the atmosphere is amazing and we need to come back stronger. I will require a massive start but I still believe it is possible tomorrow.” His words reflect a blend of disappointment and determined optimism, fueled by the fervent support of his home crowd.
With the sprint from the grid to Turn 1 stretching for almost 900 meters, top speed is an equally critical factor as acceleration and traction off the line. This long run gives Max Verstappen significant confidence, as he once again registered the highest speed trap figures along the straight in qualifying. This crucial advantage means it will be exceptionally challenging for Mercedes to outmaneuver him into the first chicane at the start, unless the Red Bull suffers from a particularly dismal getaway.
“It is always important to have a good start around here,” Verstappen explained, underlining the strategic importance of the opening meters. “I think our top speed is not too bad to defend, at least, when people are in the draft. We just need to focus on that. Honestly, I think if we have good race pace, then it will be a good fight anyway. But, of course, we’ll try to stay ahead into turn one.” His focus remains on a clean start and leveraging the car’s inherent strengths.
The world champion is well aware that a strong start cannot be taken for granted, as evidenced by his uncharacteristically poor getaway just four weeks prior in Singapore. However, if he successfully navigates the first chicane with the lead, it becomes incredibly difficult to envision a scenario where the chasing Mercedes cars could genuinely run him down and seize the lead. Even Lewis Hamilton, a master strategist and racer, acknowledged the inherent advantages in raw pace and superior top speed that Verstappen’s Red Bull likely holds over their Mercedes W13.
“Naturally it’s always a tough race around here, with the track temperatures and tyres,” Hamilton commented, reflecting on the unique demands of the Mexican circuit. “These guys have been rapid all year long. Even at our best this weekend, still losing out to them through straight-line speed. It’ll be definitely difficult to get by them tomorrow, but we’ll give it our best shot. And turn one is an opportunity. So, we’ll go for it.” His fighting spirit, despite the apparent disadvantage, promises an exciting start to the race.
Mercedes will undoubtedly be eager to exact some revenge on Verstappen for the manner in which he decisively beat them at this very track last year. In 2021, the silver arrows unexpectedly locked out the front row of the grid, only for both drivers to be swiftly passed by Verstappen on the charge to Turn 1. From that point, he effortlessly controlled the race. Expect Hamilton and Russell to approach him with the coordinated aggression of a wrestling duo, double-teaming a vulnerable opponent in today’s race, hoping to capitalize on any early opportunity.
Another driver for whom a strong start is absolutely critical is Valtteri Bottas. The Alfa Romeo driver surprised many by securing an impressive sixth position on the grid, a testament to his qualifying prowess. However, to describe his team’s tendency to make poor starts this season as an understatement would be accurate. With the Aston Martin cars starting further down the field, Bottas is keenly aware that he cannot afford to squander potential points with a sluggish getaway off the line.
“It’s a calculated risk, but I’ve had many bad lap ones this year, so even for my confidence it would be good to have a good start and lap one,” Bottas stated, highlighting the mental aspect of a successful race start. “I think the target is at least to try and maintain the position. If we can gain, obviously, yes. But without huge risk.” His pragmatic approach underscores the importance of consolidation for Alfa Romeo.
One critical factor that could potentially aid Mercedes in their challenge is the consistently high track temperatures experienced this weekend. Having struggled with tyre warm-up throughout the season, Mercedes will find some reassurance in Pirelli’s chief engineer Simone Berra’s assessment that the soft C4 compound tyre will be a viable and competitive option for the race.
“While the C4 [soft] offers a good grip level, warm up is really good, even the consistency and balance,” Berra explained, providing valuable insight into the tyre performance. “We had some rear axle decay and degradation, but the degradation is manageable, so it seems to be a raceable tyre for Sunday. In my opinion in general, all the compounds are working good, but especially the softer compounds seem to be.” This expert analysis suggests a diverse range of strategic options for the teams.
Although most drivers opted for a one-stop strategy last year, typically starting on mediums and switching to hards, Pirelli anticipates that a two-stop strategy will prove to be the most optimal approach for Sunday’s race. This preferred strategy involves starting on the soft tyres and then making two subsequent stops for mediums. However, only those drivers who have retained sufficient fresh sets of these crucial compounds will be able to genuinely consider this tactical route, as many teams heavily utilized their soft tyres during the intensive qualifying sessions on Saturday.
Despite the inherent uncertainty stemming from the limited long-run data – largely due to the second practice session being dominated by testing next year’s tyre compounds – Max Verstappen has every legitimate reason to feel confident about breaking the record for the most wins in a single F1 season here in Mexico. His current form and the car’s performance in Q3 provide a solid foundation for his aspirations.
“We don’t know because we’ve been driving on these development tyres so it’s a bit difficult to tell,” Verstappen acknowledged regarding the race pace. “But I think the car we had today, I’m expecting it to be alright.” This measured confidence, combined with his unparalleled skill, sets the stage for a potentially historic Mexican Grand Prix.
Qualifying times in full
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Q1 time | Q2 time (vs Q1) | Q3 time (vs Q2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1’19.222 | 1’18.566 (-0.656s) | 1’17.775 (-0.791s) |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’19.583 | 1’18.565 (-1.018s) | 1’18.079 (-0.486s) |
| 3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’19.169 | 1’18.552 (-0.617s) | 1’18.084 (-0.468s) |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1’19.706 | 1’18.615 (-1.091s) | 1’18.128 (-0.487s) |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’19.566 | 1’18.560 (-1.006s) | 1’18.351 (-0.209s) |
| 6 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’19.523 | 1’18.762 (-0.761s) | 1’18.401 (-0.361s) |
| 7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’19.505 | 1’19.109 (-0.396s) | 1’18.555 (-0.554s) |
| 8 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’19.857 | 1’19.119 (-0.738s) | 1’18.721 (-0.398s) |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | 1’20.006 | 1’19.272 (-0.734s) | 1’18.939 (-0.333s) |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’19.945 | 1’19.081 (-0.864s) | 1’19.010 (-0.071s) |
| 11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’20.279 | 1’19.325 (-0.954s) | Missed by 0.053s |
| 12 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’20.283 | 1’19.476 (-0.807s) | Missed by 0.204s |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’19.907 | 1’19.589 (-0.318s) | Missed by 0.317s |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’20.256 | 1’19.672 (-0.584s) | Missed by 0.400s |
| 15 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’20.293 | 1’19.833 (-0.460s) | Missed by 0.561s |
| 16 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | 1’20.419 | Missed by 0.126s | |
| 17 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’20.419 | Missed by 0.126s | |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’20.520 | Missed by 0.227s | |
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’20.859 | Missed by 0.566s | |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | 1’21.167 | Missed by 0.874s |
Sector times
| Position | Number | Driver | Sector one | Sector two | Sector three | Ultimate lap | Deficit to ultimate lap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | 27.49 (1) | 30.244 (4) | 20.041 (1) | 1’17.775 | – | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | 27.697 (6) | 30.063 (1) | 20.223 (3) | 1’17.983 | 0.096 | |
| 3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | 27.616 (3) | 30.069 (2) | 20.3 (6) | 1’17.985 | 0.099 | |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | 27.585 (2) | 30.22 (3) | 20.26 (4) | 1’18.065 | 0.063 | |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | 27.662 (5) | 30.25 (5) | 20.167 (2) | 1’18.079 | 0.272 | |
| 6 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | 27.653 (4) | 30.338 (7) | 20.389 (7) | 1’18.380 | 0.021 | |
| 7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | 27.92 (12) | 30.312 (6) | 20.282 (5) | 1’18.514 | 0.041 | |
| 8 | 4 | Lando Norris | 27.767 (7) | 30.544 (9) | 20.41 (8) | 1’18.721 | – | |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | 28.035 (16) | 30.393 (8) | 20.497 (11) | 1’18.925 | 0.014 | |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | 27.892 (9) | 30.574 (10) | 20.47 (9) | 1’18.936 | 0.074 | |
| 11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | 27.867 (8) | 30.954 (13) | 20.504 (12) | 1’19.325 | – | |
| 12 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | 28.103 (17) | 30.864 (12) | 20.493 (10) | 1’19.460 | 0.016 | |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | 27.898 (10) | 30.86 (11) | 20.727 (15) | 1’19.485 | 0.104 | |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | 27.919 (11) | 30.971 (14) | 20.77 (16) | 1’19.660 | 0.012 | |
| 15 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | 27.966 (14) | 31.032 (15) | 20.697 (14) | 1’19.695 | 0.724 | |
| 16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | 27.997 (15) | 31.144 (16) | 20.685 (13) | 1’19.826 | 0.007 | |
| 17 | 18 | Lance Stroll | 28.298 (19) | 31.189 (17) | 20.89 (18) | 1’20.377 | 0.143 | |
| 18 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | 28.367 (20) | 31.224 (18) | 20.828 (17) | 1’20.419 | – | |
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 27.933 (13) | 31.658 (19) | 20.989 (19) | 1’20.580 | 0.279 |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | 28.131 (18) | 31.744 (20) | 21.101 (20) | 1’20.976 | 0.191 |
Speed trap
| Position | Number | Driver | Car | Engine | Model | Max kph (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | Ferrari | VF-22 | 351.7 (218.5) |
| 2 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas | Ferrari | VF-22 | 351.6 (218.5) |
| 3 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | Mercedes | FW44 | 350.9 (218.0) |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | Red Bull | RB18 | 350.8 (218.0) |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Red Bull | RB18 | 350.8 (218.0) |
| 6 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | W13 | 348.4 (216.5) |
| 7 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | Mercedes | FW44 | 348.3 (216.4) |
| 8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | Red Bull | AT03 | 348.3 (216.4) |
| 9 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | Ferrari | C42 | 347.8 (216.1) |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | Red Bull | AT03 | 347.2 (215.7) |
| 11 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Mercedes | MCL36 | 347 (215.6) |
| 12 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | Ferrari | F1-75 | 346.8 (215.5) |
| 13 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | Ferrari | C42 | 346.7 (215.4) |
| 14 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | Mercedes | W13 | 346.1 (215.1) |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | Renault | A522 | 346.1 (215.1) |
| 16 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | F1-75 | 346.1 (215.1) |
| 17 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine | Renault | A522 | 345.9 (214.9) |
| 18 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | Mercedes | MCL36 | 345.6 (214.7) |
| 19 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin | Mercedes | AMR22 | 344.6 (214.1) |
| 20 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | Mercedes | AMR22 | 344 (213.8) |
Over to you
Will Max Verstappen successfully fend off the resurgent Mercedes challenge to secure a record-breaking victory? Share your predictions and thoughts on the Mexican Grand Prix in the comments section below.
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