In an intense qualifying session for the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz clinched pole position, outperforming Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.225 seconds. Sainz’s pole marks his first since the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, with McLaren’s Lando Norris trailing close behind in third by just 0.089 seconds. The race sets up a thrilling contest, as Verstappen and Norris chase the points necessary to narrow the gap in the championship standings.
Ferrari’s Dominance: Sainz Outpaces Rivals
Carlos Sainz put in two consistent laps to take pole position, saying, “Around Mexico, it’s always tough to put together a clean lap with all the sliding, but today it came together perfectly.” Sainz credited recent improvements in his car’s qualifying pace, specifically adjustments in tire preparation and out-lap strategy.
Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc secured fourth place, while Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton took fifth and sixth. Russell noted a strong recovery after an incident in Friday’s second practice and commended his car’s performance despite using older parts. He added, “P5 is the best we could have hoped for. Maybe the race will swing in our favor.”
Norris Content with Third Amid Championship Battle
Although Norris currently trails Verstappen by 57 points in the driver standings with 146 points still up for grabs, he remains positive. “Third feels good. I was at the car’s limit quickly, but I struggled to push for more. Ferrari has shown strong pace on both qualifying and long runs recently, so it will be tough.”
The McLaren team attempted a unique strategy by running medium tires in the first qualifying session to conserve soft tires for later. However, this decision impacted teammate Oscar Piastri, who couldn’t progress past Q1. Piastri was disappointed but hopeful, noting, “It’s unfortunate, but the car is fast. Starting at the back isn’t ideal, but last year Lando started from the same position and still had a strong race.”
Challenges for Verstappen and Perez at Red Bull
Verstappen faced considerable pressure in qualifying due to limited track time on Friday from an engine issue. Despite his first lap being invalidated, he secured second place and stated, “With the limited laps, I didn’t expect to be on the front row, so I’m pleased with the result.”
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez struggled, failing to make it past Q1 and finishing in 18th. Perez remarked, “I’ve been facing issues in low-speed corners, especially with braking and controlling the car in turns.” Perez and the Red Bull team are determined to resolve these handling issues as they approach the final four races.
Mercedes and Aston Martin Hold Their Ground
Russell’s fifth place for Mercedes was particularly notable given his Friday crash and the older specification car he’s driving compared to teammate Hamilton’s Austin upgrade. Despite setbacks, he remains optimistic, as Mercedes might benefit from the intense Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren battles ahead.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso qualified 13th during his 400th grand prix weekend. Alonso felt his car was capable of a top-10 qualifying time, noting, “The car felt much better, and I could attack with confidence. I was improving before the red flag cut my lap short, but it’s encouraging for the race.”
Race Dynamics and Predictions
With a long straight leading to the first corner in Mexico, the slipstream effect could give Norris an advantage in his third-place starting position. Notably, drivers starting from third have won three out of the last four races at this circuit. Both Norris and Verstappen are in strategic positions to challenge Sainz, while the tight midfield battles, with Russell, Hamilton, and Alonso in close contention, could create opportunities for strategic gains.
