On Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez around 2,200 m above sea level, the Spaniard was clearly faster than Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen (+0.225 seconds) in the Red Bull and McLaren driver Lando Norris (+0.314). Austin winner Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari secured fourth starting position for the race on Sunday (9 p.m./live ORF 1, Sky).
For Sainz, who recently finished second in Texas, it was the first pole this year and the sixth overall. “Both laps in Q3 were great and almost perfect. I’m over the moon,” said the 30-year-old. Verstappen was also happy. “I’m very happy to be in the front row here. A lot is possible,” explained the Dutchman. The day before, the three-time world champion had to struggle with major problems; he was given a different engine for the final training and qualifying. Since it was one from the permitted pool, he received no penalty.
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Local hero Sergio Perez experienced another disappointment in front of the Mexican fans. The Red Bull driver, who was criticized, had to be content with 18th place on the grid in his ninth home race. “It’s a big disappointment. I especially want to do well in this Grand Prix,” said Perez on ORF and struggled with brake problems. Just one place ahead of Perez is McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who also didn’t make it past “Q1” in 17th place after a driving error and then with used tires.
In the World Cup ranking, Verstappen leads five races and two sprints before the end of the season, 57 points ahead of his pursuer Norris. In the constructors’ championship, McLaren already leads Red Bull Racing with a lead of 40 points, while Ferrari is only 48 points behind after the recent double victory in Austin.
Interview with F1 Expert and Analyst, Jake Thompson
Editor: Welcome, Jake! It was an exciting qualifying session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Can you give us your thoughts on Carlos Sainz’s performance?
Jake Thompson: Absolutely, it was a remarkable show of skill! Carlos Sainz clinching his first pole position of the year was a significant moment. His lap times were impressive, being faster than world champion Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. This is a real confidence boost for him, especially after finishing second in Austin.
Editor: Sainz mentioned that his laps were nearly perfect. What does that signify for his strategy in the race?
Jake Thompson: When a driver feels their performance is nearly perfect, it usually means they have a solid understanding of the car’s capabilities and the track conditions. For Sainz, starting from pole gives him a tactical advantage. He’ll want to maintain his lead in the early laps and set the pace. It’s crucial for him to establish a rhythm and avoid unnecessary battles that could jeopardize his position.
Editor: Max Verstappen faced some difficulties with his car before qualifying but still secured a front-row spot. What does that say about his resilience as a champion?
Jake Thompson: Verstappen’s ability to perform, even under pressure, is what sets him apart as a three-time world champion. Despite the issues he faced with the engine change, which thankfully didn’t incur a penalty, he still managed to qualify second. His mindset and adaptability are commendable. He knows how to exploit opportunities, and being on the front row keeps him in contention for the win.
Editor: Let’s talk about local favorite Sergio Perez. How do you think his 18th place qualifying position will affect the race and the fans?
Jake Thompson: It’s a tough blow for Perez, especially in front of his home crowd, who were hoping for a strong showing. It can be mentally challenging for a driver to perform under such expectations, particularly when facing technical issues like brake problems. It will be interesting to see how he approaches the race, as he’ll need a solid strategy to move up from the back and salvage some points for himself and the team.
Editor: McLaren seems to be in a strong position this season, even appealing a penalty from the Austin Grand Prix. How does their performance compare to Red Bull and Ferrari?
Jake Thompson: McLaren has definitely been surprising this season, showing consistent pace and performance. With Norris leading the constructors’ Championship for McLaren, they’ve outperformed many expectations. Their appeal against the 5-second penalty reflects confidence in their capabilities and the strategic depth McLaren has this season. The competition with Red Bull and Ferrari is heating up, especially with Ferrari not too far behind in points. This adds excitement to the remaining races!
Editor: Thanks for your insights, Jake! We look forward to an exciting race in Mexico!
Jake Thompson: Thank you! It’s bound to be a thrilling event, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds on race day.
Interview with F1 Expert and Analyst, Jake Thompson
Editor: Welcome, Jake! It was an exciting qualifying session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Can you give us your thoughts on Carlos Sainz’s performance?
Jake Thompson: Absolutely, it was a remarkable show of skill! Carlos Sainz clinching his first pole position of the year was a significant moment. His lap times were impressive, being faster than world champion Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. This is a real confidence boost for him, especially after finishing second in Austin.
Editor: Sainz mentioned that his laps were nearly perfect. What does that signify for his strategy in the race?
Jake Thompson: When a driver feels their performance is nearly perfect, it usually means they have a solid understanding of the car’s capabilities and the track conditions. For Sainz, starting from pole gives him a tactical advantage. He’ll want to maintain his lead in the early laps and set the pace. It’s crucial for him to establish a rhythm and avoid unnecessary battles that could jeopardize his position.
Editor: Max Verstappen faced some difficulties with his car before qualifying but still secured a front-row spot. What does that say about his resilience as a champion?
Jake Thompson: Verstappen’s ability to perform even under pressure is what sets him apart as a three-time world champion. Despite the issues he faced with the engine change, which thankfully didn’t incur a penalty, he still managed to qualify second. His mindset and adaptability are commendable. He knows how to exploit opportunities, and being on the front row keeps him in contention for the win.
Editor: Let’s talk about local hero Sergio Perez. He had a disappointing qualifying. How do you think that will affect him in the race?
Jake Thompson: It’s tough for Sergio, especially being in front of his home crowd. Qualifying 18th is a significant setback, especially with brake issues. It can be mentally challenging to bounce back from such a performance. He’ll have to focus on maintaining his composure and picking off positions where he can. There’s always the chance for chaos in a race, especially if he adopts a clever strategy with tire management.
Editor: With the championship standings so close, what impact do you think this race will have on the constructors’ championship?
Jake Thompson: It’s a crucial race. McLaren currently leads Red Bull Racing with a solid margin, and Ferrari is right behind them. Given Sainz’s pole position and McLaren’s recent form, if they can capitalize on this and finish strong, it could widen their lead. Conversely, if Red Bull can recover and score high points, it’ll add more drama to the championship battle as we head toward the final races of the season. Every point counts now more than ever.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Jake!
Jake Thompson: My pleasure! Looking forward to an exciting race!
