F1 Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying schedule and start time as Lando Norris eyes pole over Max Verstappen
F1 live updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as Verstappen bids to strengthen his position against Norris, with McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari locked in a three-way battle for the constructors’ title
The F1 season resumes in Mexico City this weekend, following the highly contentious battle in Austin between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who has won five of the last six races here.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosts the Mexican Grand Prix in round 20 of the 2024 season with plenty up for grabs across the final five races.
Charles Leclerc produced a sensational drive to claim victory at the US Grand Prix with Ferrari impressing with a one-two thanks to Carlos Sainz.
The Scuderia are contending a fierce battle with McLaren and Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, with qualifying set to be vital here. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will bid to banish a nightmare weekend last time out in Texas.
Follow live updates from the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent
Oscar Piastri responds to Red Bull speculation
“Definitely not. I’m very happy where I am,” Piastri said.
“I’m under contract for the next two years after this, and I’m certainly not looking to go elsewhere.
“So, it wouldn’t be a week in F1 without some comments from Helmut!”
David Coulthard rips McLaren over ‘excuses’ and ‘naïve’ Verstappen v Norris strategy
“My position was that whoever is ahead at what I define as the apex, has the right to control the corner,” David Coulthard said on the Formula For Success podcast.
“And if I put myself on the outside of Michael [Schumacher], right, what do I think is going to happen? If I’m slightly behind and I put myself on the outside, he’s going to push me off the track. Of course he is. That’s exactly what Max is going to do. The fact that Max then ran a little bit beyond the white line, actually, the point at which you are when you arrive at the apex, is what defines it. In the case of George, who was given the penalty, he was behind as they went through the apex, and then took a wider line, which forced the other car wide. So that’s why he was given the penalty.
“So for me, it’s absolutely clear, and I think that McLaren made a mistake in not saying to Lando, ‘Give the place back, pass him somewhere else’, because he had the pace to do it. And then complaining afterwards, ‘Oh, there’s rules for one, there’s rules for another’, join a long line of people who complain and make excuses. You count the winners by the chequered flag, assuming there’s no penalties afterwards.
“So, I think it was a brilliant bit of aggressive, strategic understanding of the rules by Max, and it was a slightly naïve position from McLaren. And Lando, on the in-lap I believe, and I can’t say word for word, kind of asked: ‘Why didn’t we give the place back?’ He was in the car present, but he was, at the moment, trusting in what the team were saying, and trusting in the fact that they’d both gone off, so therefore he should be able to keep the position. But of course, he doesn’t know the relative placing of the cars as they ran through the apex.”
Lewis Hamilton calls for clarity after Max Verstappen ‘grey area’ at US Grand Prix
“I mean, it’s always been a grey area. That’s why he’s got away with it for so long,” Hamilton said. “They probably need to make some adjustments for sure. Also, we do have inconsistencies weekend in, weekend out, obviously, depending on which stewards are there.
“And as a sport, we do need to level up on all areas. We look at like other global sports, they have full-time refs for example, and I’m sure that wouldn’t be a bad thing for our sport.
“But, yeah, you shouldn’t be able to… I mean, I experienced it many times with Max and you shouldn’t be able to just launch the car up the inside over your head and then go off and still hold your position.”
Martin Brundle brutally ignored by F1 rookie Franco Colapinto on grid walk in Austin
Martin Brundle was comically ignored by Franco Colapinto at the end of his grid walk at the US Grand Prix.
Brundle interviewed the likes of Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen – as well as Olympic gold medalists Gabby Thomas and Armand Duplantis - before the Sky Sports F1 broadcaster headed to the front of the grid.
Brundle attempted to speak to some drivers before the national anthem and walked up to Argentine driver Colapinto, who made his debut in Monza last month.
“Hello, my name is Martin Brundle, Sky - we have not met,” Brundle said. “Can we have a chat?”
Martin Brundle brutally ignored by F1 rookie Franco Colapinto on grid walk in Austin
The Sky Sports F1 broadcaster was looking to speak to drivers at the end of his grid walk in Austin
Martin Brundle calls for F1 rule change after Norris and Verstappen clash at US Grand Prix
Martin Brundle believes F1 needs to change its driver guidelines after Sunday’s clash between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the US Grand Prix.
The two title contenders were involved in a controversial incident on lap 52. Norris overtook Verstappen outside the racetrack before being hit with a five-second penalty, demoting the Brit to fourth and elevating the Red Bull driver to the podium.
While Sky Sports F1 pundit Brundle believes Verstappen was “cunning” in his defence of third place on the track, he reinstates the need for clarity in the rules with McLaren aggrieved with the penalty post-race in Austin
“As far as I’m concerned, the six-page Guidelines (therefore not regulations), which have been signed off by the FIA, the drivers’ association (GPDA), and the teams, are a blueprint to dissuade overtaking, especially around the outside,” Brundle said, in his Sky Sports column.
Martin Brundle calls for F1 rule change after Norris and Verstappen clash
The two F1 title contenders clashed at the end of the US Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday
Danica Patrick explains why she backs Donald Trump – as Sky F1 pundit votes for first time ever
Sky F1 pundit Danica Patrick has voted for Donald Trump in this year’s US presidential election – adding that it is the first time she has ever gone to the polls.
The former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, who was a pundit on Sky Sports’ coverage of the US Grand Prix in Austin last weekend, chaired a town hall with Trump’s running mate JD Vance two weeks ago in North Carolina.
The 42-year-old, who is the only woman to ever win an IndyCar Series race, revealed her early vote on her Instagram page on Wednesday, saying: “I voted today, for the first time.
“I made a rule for myself that if I didn’t vote I could not have an opinion about the outcome, because I didn’t earn that right.
Danica Patrick explains why she backs Trump – as F1 pundit votes for first time ever
The former IndyCar driver, 42, chaired a town hall with Trump’s running mate JD Vance earlier this month
What does Lando Norris need now to overhaul Max Verstappen?
Lando Norris faces an uphill battle as he seeks to deny Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen a fourth consecutive world title.
Norris lost ground in the race for the Drivers’ Championship at the US Grand Prix in Austin as a penalty cost McLaren a podium.
The British driver was sanctioned by the race stewards after a late passing move on Verstappen, with a five-second penalty dropping him below the Dutchman and out of third place.
Norris had begun on pole but dropped down the field as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a Ferrari one-two, and admitted afterwards that finishing behind Verstappen was a blow to his world title hopes.
What does Lando Norris need now to overhaul Max Verstappen?
The McLaren driver is hoping to deny his Red Bull rival a fourth straight world title
Johnny Herbert insists Red Bull should drop Sergio Perez immediately
Former F1 race winner Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull need to drop Sergio Perez “sooner rather than later” – and should be replaced by RB driver Yuki Tsunoda.
Perez has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2025 – with an option for 2026 – but has struggled as Max Verstappen’s teammate this year. He has not won a race since April 2023 and trails Verstappen in the championship by 204 points.
The 34-year-old finished seventh in the US Grand Prix on Sunday, while Verstappen finished on the podium. Perez’s future is shrouded in doubt ahead of his home race in Mexico City this weekend.
Red Bull have also relinquished top spot in the constructors’ championship to McLaren and now Ferrari trail them by just eight points. Herbert says now is the time for Christian Horner to make a change.
Johnny Herbert insists Red Bull should drop Sergio Perez immediately
The Red Bull driver competes at his home race, the Mexico City Grand Prix, this weekend
Sergio Perez eager to snap podium drought at Mexican Grand Prix
“Momentum in F1 is very important,” Perez added. “If I get a good one here, then the season can take a huge turn.
“The most important thing is that I feel comfortable in the car. At the moment we are unable to unlock the full potential of the car.
“I feel that we are working towards solving it. We are heading in the right direction. This is Formula One, sometimes the results are not coming, you have to keep your head down and focus on the stuff that you can control.”
Sergio Perez admits to poor season with speculation over Red Bull future
“I know I have had a terrible season. It started really well but it has been really difficult for me,” Perez said.
“If I get a strong result (here), it can definitely change my season massively, I am really up for it.
“Having Ferrari there does not change anything, we want to win the constructors, finishing second and third is no difference.
“We want to win it and for that we need both cars with the best possible performance and best possible package.”
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