MEXICAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING RECAP

Oct 26, 2024

2 min read

Part Two of the triple header continues with the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend! Let’s get straight to the Qualifying session:

Q1 - PEREZ AND PIASTRI OUT

Damn. Sergio Perez is not having a good time right now. One cannot simply shake off qualifying in P17 at your home race. That isn’t helping quell the rumors that Liam Lawson might be taking his seat at Red Bull. What indeed was not helping him were his struggles with the car, as he was having to do too much micro-steering to get through the laps. Considering Red Bull’s shaky record after the summer break, I don’t think Perez is the problem - it’s the car. Oscar Piastri might have gone on to Q2 had his track time not been deleted… But then again, a mistake like going off-track limits will bring the odds against you.

A frowning race car drive waves — Sergio Perez waves in the aftermath of his P18 result. Photo Credit: formula1.com

16. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

17. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

18. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

19. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

20. Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)

Q2 - TSUNODA CRASHES

RED FLAG! Yuki Tsunoda hit the wall after a front left tire lockup as he approached the apex of a turn, prematurely ending the session. Luckily, the driver is okay. Depending on the type of repairs needed to get the car on the track tomorrow, the Japanese driver may potentially find himself starting from the back of the grid, but the FIA stewards will be the ones to make that call.

A race car driver leaves his crashed car. — Yuki Tsunoda exits his car after crashing out of Q2. Photo Credit: formula1.com

11. Yuki Tsunoda (VCARB)

12. Liam Lawson (VCARB)

13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

15. Valterri Bottas (Kick Sauber)

BTW - This weekend is Fernando Alonso’s 400th Grand Prix.

Q3 - SAINZ TAKES POLE

Are the forces of karma avenging McLaren and Lando Norris? It seems so. Verstappen got his lap time deleted (which would have given him pole position) after veering off-track not once, not twice, but THRICE! Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, catapulted to P1 and thrilled with a brilliant lap that secured pole position. I had a feeling that would happen - my Tifosi senses were tingling.

A race car driver waves. — Carlos Sainz waves after taking pole position. Photo Credit: formula1.com

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 Hulkenberg (Haas)

Here’s one prediction I want to throw out: Verstappen and Norris go at the jugular for at least the first few laps of the race. Other than that, I have a strong feeling that Carlos Sainz will have a good race tomorrow. Will this be a repeat of his Singapore 2023 victory? We’ll know when the checkered flag is waved.