Key occasions
Piastri is as much as third, Bearman nonetheless has his paws on the second-quickest time. That’s spectacular within the (very) early levels.
Hamilton is reporting points together with his tyre temperature on the radio. He’s simply been pushed out of the highest 10 locations by Alonso.
Verstappen is third after his first try, behind Norris and Leclerc. However George Russell goes second quickest, pushing Max right down to fourth.
Max Verstappen is out. Let’s see if he could make an affect on Norris on the highest of the standings … Charles Leclerc is up into second behind the McLaren.
Norris is faster than Piastri, who’s behind his teammate and Ollie Bearman within the early going. Apparently Oscar has reported a DRS problem on the radio.
Alonso, who missed third observe with a problem, goes sooner than his teammate Lance Stroll as they’re each on a primary flying lap. Right here comes Lando Norris, the primary of the title contenders is out.
Reminder: Carlos Sainz has a five-place grid penalty this weekend after an incident in Texas. He’s not out but however Fernando Alonso is and he’s seeking to make an early affect.
Q1 begins
Our 18-minute opening session is formally below manner! Who would be the 5 drivers eradicated on this first qualifying session? The automobiles are rising from the pit lane.
Lewis Hamilton sounded a warning to McLaren yesterday on a topic he is aware of a bit about: how harmful Verstappen could be in a title battle. “You actually should be cut-throat and that’s what Max is,” he stated. “He’s going to take this from them in the event that they don’t do the identical.”
Hamilton has appeared far happier together with his Ferrari to this point in Mexico – and certainly over the past couple of race weekends. Can he flip that into a great qualifying efficiency? We’re about to seek out out!
Lower than quarter-hour to go till Q1 begins. The followers in Mexico are typically a loud and passionate lot. Some well-known faces within the crowd already …
Some glorious pre-qualifying studying: Giles Richards remembers the time a three-way title battle truly led to a dramatic Mexico Grand Prix. Again in 1964, when it seemed like the good Jim Clark had treasured little luck.
What about Oscar Piastri? The person main the drivers’ championship, however who quite urgently wants to seek out his earlier season kind, is staying level-headed. “I’d quite have the lead than be in some other spot,” he pointed out rather accurately this week.
Pre-qualifying Max Verstappen was requested concerning the bookies’ tightening odds – and whether or not he feels he’s now the favorite for the drivers’ title. “We’re not pressured about it,” he deflects. “No matter occurs, we could be very pleased with the upturn in efficiency we’ve made.”
You’ll be aware he doesn’t reply: no.
Stat verify: there are 5 race weekends to go, together with this one. Max Verstappen has taken 119 factors from the previous 5 rounds – the McLaren drivers have taken 119 factors mixed in the identical span. Momentum is with the world champion; Lando Norris can be centered on taking his observe kind into qualifying to begin a fightback.
So again to that remaining observe: Lando Norris was forward of the pack and six-tenths faster than his teammate and Verstappen. Solely Norris and Lewis Hamilton appeared pleased with their setup within the intense Mexico Metropolis warmth.
“No grip, entrance and rear,” complained Max on the radio in P3. Purple Bull are apparently making some tweaks earlier than qualifying begins. Will they’ve a constructive affect?
Constructors’ standings
1) McLaren 678pts
2) Mercedes 341pts
3) Ferrari 334pts
4) Purple Bull 331pts
5) Williams 111pts
6) Racing Bulls 72pts
7) Aston Martin 69pts
8) Sauber 59pts
9) Haas 48pts
10) Alpine 20pts
So, until McLaren are hit with an unprecedented 300-point deduction, you’ll have seen that is sewn up. However the tussle for second spot is enticingly tight: simply 10 factors between Mercedes, Ferrari and Purple Bull (trailing in fourth regardless of 5 race wins this season). Properly poised.
Drivers’ standings
1) Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 346pts
2) Lando Norris (McLaren) 332pts
3) Max Verstappen (Purple Bull) 306pts
4) George Russell (Mercedes) 252pts
5) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 192pts
6) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 142pts
7) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 89pts
8) Alexander Albon (Williams) 73pts
9) Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) 41pts
10) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 39pts
The top-scratcher a couple of three-way title tilt is {that a} crew with two drivers on the high ought to, theoretically, have a bonus. In that Yuki Tsunoda has not been able to disrupt the McLarens and help his teammate. However with McLaren (sportingly) letting their drivers slug it out, Norris and Piastri are getting in every others’ manner, whereas Purple Bull are 100% centered on one man.
So there hasn’t been a lot proof of the McLarens utilizing artful techniques to disturb Verstappen’s race. After all, to sluggish up Verstappen you must first be forward of him on the monitor … Norris would possibly fancy his probabilities firstly in Mexico, given how observe went. Let’s see the place they stand after qualifying!
Preamble
We’re coming as much as Halloween and the nightmare for McLaren is that, regardless of an all-conquering triumph within the constructors’ championship, the drivers’ title might but slip by means of their grasp. The ominous sight of a four-time world champion consuming away on the as soon as sizeable hole Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had atop the standings can be inflicting an actual scare.
Max Verstappen “senses blood within the water”, as Giles Richards put it in his Mexico preview, and lately his Purple Bull has appeared as quick because the McLaren, if not faster. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a circuit Verstappen enjoys: he’s received this race 5 occasions, although he didn’t final 12 months (he completed second to Carlos Sainz).
That stated, in right this moment’s fascinating remaining observe, Verstappen was off the tempo and solely sixth quickest. Norris was quickest – by far – forward of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, as British drivers posted the highest thrice. Piastri was virtually six-tenths down on his teammate, nevertheless.
Mexico is a singular monitor: positioned 2,240 metres above sea stage, it’s by far the best altitude of any venue on the F1 calendar. The skinny air has a hefty affect on the automotive’s aerodynamics that means even a Monaco-style setup will nonetheless see automobiles generate much less downforce than at Monza. Translation: it’s gonna be slippery.
Will Norris’s remaining observe dominance end in pole? Can Piastri discover some tempo? Will Verstappen and Purple Bull pull one thing out of the hat? Let’s discover out! Qualifying begins at 10pm (BST).
