Qualifying in Mexico leaves you breathless, maybe it's the thin air or Ferrari in pole position! The 22nd in his career for the poleman! Four races separate us from the end of this F1 championship, with little sweat on the part of Red Bull and Max Verstappen who have already secured the two world championships well in advance. Nothing to lose and nothing to win, who knows if this will lead the teams and drivers to risk more, to have fun for the simple pleasure of it.
We Fantasy Trainers at least still have the opportunity to do it, we will soon find out if you have made the right choices.
The great test of Mexico
Racing at almost 2.300m means, in addition to having to deal with quite a few aerodynamic and engine problems, trying to adopt a high-load set-up. Setup similar to the one the teams use in Monte-Carlo on a track which features a straight long enough to host the highest peak speed in the history of F1 372,5km/h, scored by Valterri Bottas in 2016.
Sensational exclusion of Lando Norris
In Q1 we invent everything. Piastri, Hamilton, Russell and the two Ferraris try to make the cut on the medium compound, which it was believed would have been spared from a tender perspective. The choice seems to pay off for the silver and red arrows. With 4 minutes to go they find themselves in fourth (Leclerc), seventh (Hamilton), eighth (Sainz) and twelfth (Russell) position respectively. McLaren changes strategy and, by putting the reds on the number 81, scores the second half.
Inexplicable Lando Norris in last position. He finishes the session a few seconds early, perhaps just enough to allow him some improvement. Despite this, the fault lies with the Englishman who loses qualifying by losing his rear on a curb.
Excluded from Q1: Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, Sargeant and Lando Norris in last position.
Detective conan
In Mexico you dress in a raincoat and a magnifying glass, traditional “muertos” costumes be damned. The first qualifying session ends well 9 investigations awaiting trial.
- Russell, Norris and Guanyu Zhou they will be investigated post-qualifying for not following the limit Delta time.
- Hamilton and Sargeant are investigated for not having slowed down under the yellow flag (caused by Alonso)
- Sergeant it is also investigated with Yuki tsunoda for a overtaking carried out precisely during the aforementioned flag.
- Investigate yourself Fernando Alonso, George Russell and Max Verstappen for impeding.
A situation that could completely turn the tables on the table, even once the session is over, the only certainty at the moment is therefore Yuki tsunoda and after playing a fantastic team game allowing his teammate, Ricciardo, to pass the cut, will start from the PU replacement fund.
For what remains of Q2 there is no risk, everyone chooses to use the reds, a last shot that gives an unusual ranking: Hamilton first, followed by Verstappen and Russell, Sainz narrowly saved with Charles Leclerc sixth. Alexander Albon's time was cancelled, as he was having a fantastic qualifying. Fifth Piastri behind an amazing Daniel Ricciardo.
Excluded from Q2: Albon, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Tsunoda.
Ferrari in pole position in Mexico! The 22nd for Charles Leclerc!
The first shot is the one that counts in the third qualifying session in Mexico and Ferrari takes advantage of it without hesitation. First and second half, close a red front row.
Then the last lap starts for everyone, the first to cross the finish line is Sainz who doesn't improve, then comes Leclerc who similarly fails to scrape together even a tenth of a second. Pole is just a few seconds away, enough for Max Verstappen to scare, perhaps in view of Halloween, by scoring a fuchsia in the second sector. But the front row remains red. The concern then shifts to the two Mercedes drivers who don't play pranks. The desserts are all for Ferrari who won pole position with Charles Leclerc and sealed the front row after a year.
Arrival order: Leclerc 1.17.166 – Sainz +0.067 – Verstappen +0.097 – Ricciardo +0.216 – Perez +0.257 – Hamilton + 0.288 – Piastri + 0.457 – Russell + 0.508 – Bottas + 0.866 – Zhou + 0.884.
