Carlos Sainz Grabs Pole Position for Mexico City Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz secured a stunning pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, outpacing defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Sainz’s time of 1:15.946 was 0.225 seconds faster than Verstappen, who had his first lap in the top 10 shoot-out deleted.
McLaren’s Lando Norris qualified third, ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari and George Russell in the Williams. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Mercedes.
Sainz’s pole was his sixth career pole and his third in the last three Mexican events. “I am very happy with that and to be on pole,” said Sainz, who is set to leave Ferrari for Williams next year. “I had a great couple of laps and it is very difficult here with lots of sliding. My laps were almost identical and perfect. It is such a tricky circuit!”
Verstappen, who had an engine change on his car following problems on Friday, said: “I felt under pressure and I was playing catch-up especially after losing my first lap time.”
Norris said he was satisfied with third. “Honestly, I’m pretty happy as I struggled to get more in my final two laps. Carlos was very quick all weekend, but I’m happy with third. Ferrari look very strong.”
Kevin Magnussen was seventh for Haas, the team’s best qualifying result in Mexico, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Williams’ Alex Albon, and Nico Hulkenberg in the second Haas.
Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver for Red Bull, had a disappointing qualifying session, finishing 18th. It was his worst starting slot in nine Mexican Grands Prix.
“It’s very difficult with this car – I can’t attack the corner into braking,” said Perez.
The Sauber drivers were first out as Q1 began in warmer conditions than those for final practice. Both Ferraris went top before Norris, and then Verstappen took control. Perez, struggling with his brakes, was 1.5 seconds adrift in 14th.
As the track improved, the times tumbled with Stroll briefly fourth and Gasly second ahead of Hulkenberg. Switching to softs, in search of more pace and grip, Piastri, who was fastest for McLaren in FP3, fought to progress and slumped to 19th ahead of Red Bull’s Perez with two minutes to go – while Norris leapt to the top of the times.
In the final seconds, big improvements by others left Piastri and Perez in the drop zone – a surprise to many and a shock to the Mexicans’ huge following at the circuit.
Alex Albon led the way for Q2, with Verstappen setting the early pace before Norris took command as RB’s Yuki Tsunoda locked up and crashed at Turn 12, bringing out red flags.
This meant he and team-mate Liam Lawson were out along with Aston Martin’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, in his 400th Grand Prix, and Lance Stroll and Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas.
Verstappen setting the pace in the top-10 final session with a sizzling early lap in 1:16.368, more than half a second quicker than Norris, but the Dutchman’s lap was deleted for exceeding track limits.
That left Ferrari to take control with Sainz on top in 1:16.055. Fortunately, Red Bull had another set of softs available for Verstappen’s second run.
In a frantic finale, Sainz improved his time to resist Verstappen’s best effort with Norris lining up third, unable to break into the front row.
