Max Verstappen will start off pole position for the first time in Mexico after claiming top spot by a convincing .304 of a second over George Russell in this mornings qualifying.
The pace of the Mercedes over the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit leaves nothing to be desired, both Lewis Hamilton and Russell setting purple sectors on their final flying laps.
It wasn’t enough to top the 2022 World Champion, who will start tomorrows Mexican Grand Prix from the front alongside Russell.
Hamilton overcame a deleted lap time for exceeding track limits on his first run in Q3 and will start inthird, alongside hometown hero Sergio Perez.
Ferrari have struggled with pace this weekend compared with Mercedes and Red Bull, Carlos Sainz their top qualifier in fifth, whilst Charles Leclerc will start seventh.
Valtteri Bottas split the pair in an incredible qualifying effort and will start sixth. The Finnish driver was on pace throughout the whole event, finishing Q1 in fourth and Q2 in sixth.
Lando Norris once again out-qualified his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who failed to make Q3, and will start eighth, ahead of the two Alpines who lockout the fifth row.
Interestingly, Verstappen’s maiden pole at the event makes it 11 different pole sitters from the last 11 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Q2 showcased the pace of Mercedes at the circuit, Hamilton topping the session over Sainz and Russell. Ricciardo was the unlucky 11th to fail to progress, whilst Guanyu Zhou finished 12th.
AlphaTauri will lock out the seventh row come race time, Yuki Tsunoda out-qualifying teammate Pierre Gasly for 13th.
Kevin Magnussen was the slowest of the Q2 runners, qualifying 15th. He will, however, start on the back row after a five-place grid penalty is applied for a new ICE.
Q1 was also drama-free with no major shock eliminations. The two Williams qualified with Alex Albon 19th and Nicholas Latifi 20th. Aston Martin also failed with both their cars, Lance Stroll in 18th and Sebastien Vettel 17th.
Stroll will, however, also start on the back row after a three place grid penalty is applied for his role in the crash with Alonso in the US Grand Prix last week.
Mick Schumacher was the other driver to fail to make Q2, setting the 16th fastest time.
