F1 Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying times and updates after Sainz beats out Verstappen and Norris
The Ferrari claimed pole position at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez but Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris to claim a place on the front row
The F1 season resumes in Mexico City with Carlos Sainz on pole ahead of Max Verstappen, who edged out Lando Norris for the front row as the pair lock horns after their highly contentious battle in Austin last week.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosts the Mexican Grand Prix with Sainz impressing in the Ferrari in qualifying, with Charles Leclerc, who produced a sensational drive to claim victory at the US Grand Prix, starting in fourth.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton come next as Mercedes attempt to rediscover their form in the closing stages of the season.
Relive all the action from a thrilling qualifying and the build-up to the Mexico Grand Prix below:
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur reacts to Carlos Sainz landing pole position
“It was a very good session because the two laps of Q3 were both good enough for pole.
“It was not obvious before that we were much more focused on the race pace, and it’s very good news for us.
“We were not expecting to get pole position, we were much more focused on tomorrow.”
Lando Norris reacts to third in qualifying at Mexico Grand Prix
“It’s tough to say,” Lando Norris says.
“None of us have done proper long runs on the tyres that we’re going to be on tomorrow. There’s question marks for all of us but Ferrari have been very good in qualy and long-run pace over the last couple of races.
“It’s going to be tough but we’re in a good position, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Carlos Sainz reacts to pole position at Mexico Grand Prix
“Very happy and a great couple of laps. A lot of times around Mexico you always have the feeling like you cannot put a lap together and it’s extremely difficult with how much sliding there is.
“But today, honestly my two laps in Q3 were pretty much identical, almost perfect. I just put two really solid laps in Q3, enough for pole, and very happy because that’s not normally the case around Mexico with how tricky it is.”
Lewis Hamilton mistake in Mexico Grand Prix Q3 proves costly
Lewis Hamilton made a mistake in Q3 which may have cost him a couple of places on the grid for tomorrow’s Mexico Grand Prix.
Hamilton lost time after sliding at the penultimate corner, which saw George Russell pip him for fifth.
It left Toto Wolff frustrated though, with Mercedes four tenths away from pole.
Hamilton did indeed confirm an improvement by announcing on his radio that the car felt “different” from FP3 to qualifying.
Lando Norris reacts to third in qualifying at Mexico Grand Prix
“It’s always tough to say, but I’m pretty happy with third, honestly.
“I feel like I got to the limit of the car quite quickly, which made us look good. But I struggled to get a lot more out of it in the final two laps.
“Carlos and Max did good laps, especially Carlos has been very quick all weekend. I’m happy with third.”
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying results
1) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Lando Norris, McLaren
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
8) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
9) Alex Albon, Williams
10) Nico Hülkenberg, Haas
11) Yuki Tsunoda, RB
12) Liam Lawson, RB
13) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
14) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
15) Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
16) Franco Colapinto, Williams
17) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
18) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
19) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
20) Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates as Sainz claims pole!
Max Verstappen on the pressure of Q3 as he bids for four wins in a row in Mexico: “A lot, yesterday I barely did any laps, we’re playing catch-up.
“My lap time got taken away, it added more pressure, I’m very happy to be on the front row, I didn’t expect that to be possible.
"It's one of the hardest tracks to get right, low down force, it's easy to get a lockout or a slide.”
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates as Sainz claims pole!
Here comes Norris... It’s only THIRD!
Verstappen’s only lap launches him onto the front row.
It’s Sainz and Verstappen, then Norris and Leclerc!
Russell and Hamilton on row three. Magnussen outqualifies Gasly and Albon outqualifies Hulkenberg.
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates
1 min to go in Q3
The Ferraris are out and Leclerc starts well, so too Sainz, the Scuderia have timed this well it seems.
Sainz on top and the better of the two red cars, but both drivers looking to defend the top two spots. The Spaniard is taking provisional pole...
1. Sainz, 2. Leclerc, 3. Russell, 4. Hamilton, 5. Norris, 6. Gasly, 7. Albon, 8. Hulkenberg, 9. Magnussen, 10. Verstappen (out lap)
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates
3 mins to go in Q3
Here we go, the final laps! Norris is going to be last out, he’ll keep everybody waiting, he runs the risk of yellow or red flags. It’s a gamble as the temperature of the track changes in the coming minutes...
1. Sainz, 2. Leclerc, 3. Russell, 4. Hamilton, 5. Norris, 6. Gasly, 7. Albon, 8. Hulkenberg, 9. Magnussen, 10. Verstappen (no time)
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