F1 Mexican Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying Review: Sainz takes pole from Verstappen in Mexico

Pérez disappoints again while Norris starts from the second row.

While home hero Sergio Pérez did little to give the Mexico City crowd to cheer for it was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz taking pole for the Mexican Grand Prix 2024 ahead of Max Verstappen with Lando Norris not having the ideal Saturday afternoon, after a strong FP3 session for the McLaren team.

Here’s a quick recap of the Mexican Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying.

Q1 – Sergio Pérez disappoints once again, Piastri suffers shock exit

Lando Norris’ 1:17.2s dislodged the two Ferraris at the top of the scoresheets with Lewis Hamilton taking third place from Leclerc, following the seven-time world champion’s first run. It was Verstappen though, taking his place at the top of the table, as he went 1:16.9s, two-tenths faster than Norris’ time to set the early benchmark.

Oscar Piastri, who finished on top in Free Practice 3, along with home hero Sergio Pérez were the two surprise exits in Q1 as the Mexican suffered his fifth Q1 exit while Zhou, Franco Colapinto, and Esteban Ocon also missed out.

Drivers eliminated in Q1

Franco Colapinto
Oscar Piastri 
Sergio Pérez
Esteban Ocon
Zhou Guanyu

Q2 – Tsunoda’s late crash knocks out both Aston Martins

Verstappen was on top of the timesheets again, early in the second part of qualifying with a 1:16.6s with Carlos Sainz almost four-tenths behind. The only remaining McLaren, of Lando Norris, pipped Verstappen after his first run, going purple in all sectors to three-tenths quicker than the Red Bull. 

As the chequered flag fell, it was Kevin Magnussen putting in an incredible lap to make it to Q3 with Yuki Tsunoda’s late crash at Turn 12 bringing out the red flag which ended the session, knocking out both the VCARBs and Aston Martins and Bottas’ Sauber. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2

Yuki Tsunoda
Liam Lawson
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll
Valtteri Bottas

Q3 – Sainz takes a stunning pole, and Verstappen pulls out an incredible late lap.

After the track was cleared up following Tsunoda’s crash which brought out the red flag, and it was Verstappen’s 1:16.3s setting the benchmark for the rest of the grid with Norris only managing to come six-tenths closer. Norris was quickly removed from the second spot with Leclerc dislodging him but Verstappen had his first lap time deleted due to track limits and it was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz taking provision pole with a 1:16s. 

As the grid put in their final laps, Sainz went faster, going 1:15.9s with Norris failing to make the front row, even with a purple second sector, Verstappen put in another strong lap at the end to lock out the front row with his old teammate. Norris though will feel opportunistic, as from the second row in P3, drivers have generally benefited in the past races here. 

Starting Grid for the Mexican Grand Prix 2024 (before any penalties)

1. Carlos Sainz
2. Max Verstappen
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Kevin Magnussen
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Alex Albon
10. Nico Hülkenberg
11. Yuki Tsunoda
12. Liam Lawson
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Lance Stroll
15. Valtteri Bottas
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Oscar Piastri 
18. Sergio Pérez
19. Esteban Ocon
20. Zhou Guanyu