Max starts Mexican GP from pole: 'It was a good qualifying'

Published on 30 October 2022 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen will start the Mexican Grand Prix from pole position. The two-time world champion was the fastest in the third qualifying session, in front of the Mercedes of George Russell in P2. Teammate Lewis Hamilton set the third fastest time. Sergio Perez, Max’ teammate at Oracle Red Bull Racing, put his RB18 in P4.

“It was a good qualifying”, says Max after getting pole. “It was a close one, after FP3 we made a few adjustments on the car, got into a better rhythm. Pole here is of course amazing, I know it is a very long run to turn one, so we do need a good start. I think we have a quick car, and that is of course most important.”

Max continues: “It is incredible to see the passion of all the fans in the stadium section, it is amazing to drive here.”

Looking ahead to the race on Sunday, Max says: “Checo will be there tomorrow, I am sure we have quick race car, I hope it will be a fun race with a lot of action. I think it will be close in the race, and normally Mercedes have very good race pace as well, it all depends on what we can do with the strategy, but we will look into that tonight.”

At the start of Q1 the outside temperature has increased to 24 degrees, while the track temperature is now 49 degrees. Both Haas cars come out of the pitlane first. Alex Albon and Nicolas Latifi also come out on track for their first run. After a couple minutes, more drivers come out on track. Also both Red Bulls are on their way. Max reports over the radio that he is sliding a lot. Max aborts his first run, but his second attempt puts him in P1. Teammate Perez only makes it into P10 after his first run. The cars of Williams, Haas and Sebastian Vettel are after the first run in the danger zone.

With a few minutes to go many drivers are still busy trying to improve their times. Hamilton was quicker than Verstappen who fell back into P2. After Q1 the following drivers drop out: Mick Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lance Stroll, Albon and Latifi.

Hamilton and Russel are the first to come out in Q2. This is the signal for the other teams to also start their session. The Red Bulls, AlphaTauris, McLarens and Alfas all come out. Both Red Bulls and the Ferraris are on used tyres for their first run in Q2. After the first run both Mercedes are on top, followed by Valtteri Bottas, Max and Esteban Ocon.

Perez finds himself outside of the top ten and has to come out for a second run. This is also true for Keven Magnussen, both AlphaTauris and Guanyu Zhou. Surprisingly, everyone comes out again for a second run. Max ends 14 thousandths behind Hamilton in P4, with in front of him Russell and Carlos Sainz in P3 and P2. Daniel Ricciardo does not get through and finishes in P11. Also, Zhou, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen drop out of Q2.

Perez and both Ferraris are the first to start Q3. Not much later everyone is out on track, except for Fernando Alonso. Max is in P1 after the first run, Russell in P2 and Perez in P3. Hamilton’s time is deleted because of track limits. The Ferraris are surprisingly in P4 and P6.

The decisive run is started by Perez who comes out on track first. Max can improve his time, which was not true for the Mercedes of Russell behind him. The Brit loses his time because of track limits, Hamilton finishes in P3, ahead of Perez in P4. Therefore, pole position is taken by the two-time world champion.

Contest GP Mexico: win a by Max Verstappen signed blue RBR Driver Cap 2022!

Results qualifying Mexico: