Formula 1 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) mates the Mercedes and wins a 6th seasonal pole position in Mexico City

This one he wasn’t expecting. Slightly behind in Mexico compared to Mercedes, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) pulled out of the game in Q3 on Saturday evening. His supersonic time (1’17″775), acquired during his last fast attempt, allowed him to overtake the Silver Arrows of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The latter, in search of a pole position since December 2021, can be satisfied with this third place since it will benefit from the aspiration of the world champion.The Ferraris, understeering on the Rodriguez Brothers circuit, disappointed.

Triple winner in Mexico, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) had never signed the pole. Finally yes, it was in 2019, but too talkative and boastful, the whimsical Dutch had lost it in a press conference when he claimed not to have slowed down in an area under yellow flag.

Russell has not confirmed

Three years later, he finally conquered the lead position with a superb lap that he pulled out of the bottom of his hat in the dying moments of the qualifying session. The double world champion stopped the clock at 1’17.775 in his last attempt, leaving George Russell’s Mercedes three tenths behind.

The Briton had dominated practice and came on as a serious contender for first place. But not as much as his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Benefiting from a new front wing, the man with seven crowns set the fastest times in the first two phases of qualifying.

Each time for less than a tenth: 58 hundredths over Verstappen in Q1, 8 thousandths (!) over Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) in Q2! His dominance in Mexico City wavered when his first time in Q3 was canceled as Hamilton played with the limits of the track in Turns 2 and 3. His only attempt still saw him climb to the second row ahead of Sergio Pérez ( Red Bull).

The Mexican is the more disappointed of the two. He maintained the dream of winning his first pole in his lair, in front of his home crowd. But the applause and encouragement from his family were not enough. Badly placed in the first two phases (7th and 6th), Pérez released a big trick in Q3 which temporarily lifted him to first place. The clamor was gradually interrupted by the prowess of his Dutch teammate, who finally beat him by 0.353.

Ferrari absent from the debates, Norris in front of the Alpine

But where are the Ferraris? Sainz in the Top 5, Charles Leclerc P7 behind Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)! The red single-seaters suffered on the Rodriguez Brothers circuit where they are terribly lacking in downforce. Seeing the rear of the Monegasque’s single-seater slip away in the series of fast curves has been commonplace since the start of the weekend, and even the main interested party admitted “a problem” on his mount.

Lonely against the two Alpines in the absence of Daniel Ricciardo (11th time), Lando Norris (McLaren) took over the tricolor team, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon closing the first part of the grid. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), he is P14. He did not hide his misunderstanding at the microphone of Canal + as he struggled with Bottas at the start of the Mexican weekend. A new difficult race, after his 14th place at Austin and his 18th position at Suzuka, is announced for the Rouennais…