In a thrilling Mexican Grand Prix qualifying session, Carlos Sainz seized pole position after Max Verstappen’s blistering lap was deleted due to track limits, setting up an electrifying grid for Sunday’s race. Verstappen initially appeared to have pole in the bag with a time of 1:16.368, but after multiple instances of going wide, stewards invalidated his lap, clearing the way for Sainz to storm to the top with a near-flawless performance.
Sainz’s final run was a masterclass, achieving fastest times in sectors one and three to secure P1. Meanwhile, teammate Charles Leclerc locked in P2, promising a strong front-row start for Ferrari, while Lando Norris managed an impressive lap but couldn’t match the Ferraris, trailing 0.569 seconds behind Verstappen’s initial time.
Elsewhere, it was a day of disappointment for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Perez’s Q1 exit was a letdown for the home crowd, with the Mexican driver struggling in the stadium section—a timid approach that ultimately cost him. The atmosphere turned somber as fans watched their hero bow out early in a season that’s been challenging for the Red Bull veteran.
Adding to Red Bull’s woes, Yuki Tsunoda brought out the red flag in Q2 after losing control in the stadium section. The Japanese driver’s crash into the barriers caused a delay while marshals cleared the track, with his incident marking an early end to Q2 for drivers on final laps.
As Ferrari celebrates a front-row lockout, fans are primed for an intense race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with Verstappen now determined to battle back from a grid penalty to reclaim his spot at the top.
