Honey Badger pinches pole; Hamilton ‘sorry’
Daniel Ricciardo denied Max Verstappen becoming the youngest-ever pole sitter in F1 history. Lewis Hamilton apologises for uneventful FP3.
Here is how qualifying day unfolded…
Rain or shine, never let it be said that the Mexicans skimp on the entertainment.
It might be a damp start to Saturday in Mexico City, but our day has been brightened up already! 💃🏻🇲🇽 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/skZ7VFzGF5
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 27, 2018
Haas put their time in the build-up to FP3 to good use…
This might take awhile!#FP3 up in 2️⃣0️⃣ minutes.#MexicoGP #HaasF1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/SohPseaN6K
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) October 27, 2018
Drivers all complained of the track conditions being too mixed as they ventured out for installation laps. Too wet into some corners, too dry into others.
Exploratory exploration done for Nico. His feedback: hairdryer required. #RSspirit #MexicoGP #FP3 pic.twitter.com/yi1Te5qYJo
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 27, 2018
As such there wasn’t a whole lot of running in the first 20 minutes.
In 30 minutes only 15 drivers put in a lap, the other five opting to stay in the pits. Fernando Alonso eventually broke the silence.
Alonso to the rescue 💪
The @McLarenF1 man heads out for a hypersoft run#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jxv95mnGHd
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2018
Sergio Perez delighted his Mexican fans as he left the pits in his Force India.
Valtteri Bottas’ session ended early as a hydraulic problem forced him to park his W09.
Charles Leclerc was quickest with five minutes remaining…
Max Verstappen put in a late run to go quickest of all with a 1:16.284.
Aaaaand Verstappen instantly changes that!
He goes purple in the final two sectors, making this graphic redundant 😅#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/6vW2ByOhAk
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2018
Bottas’ W09 required an engine change ahead of qualifying but, luckily for him, he did not incur any grid penalties.
UPDATE: We will change @ValtteriBottas’ engine ahead of #Quali. He was running PU3 this weekend, but will now swap to PU4 – therefore no penalty. #MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/wFVcXYqiGY
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 27, 2018
Hamilton, meanwhile, posted a message to apologise for a rather uneventful FP3.
A post from @LewisHamilton from earlier in the session #F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/s2TdxLIGsb
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) October 27, 2018
Ahead of qualifying, someone thought it was their lucky day…
All eyes to the skies throughout qualifying…
Temperatures: air 18C track 27C chance of rain is 40% #MexicoGP #Quali
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) October 27, 2018
For the second time in two years, both Haas cars fell at the first hurdle in Q1.
In Q2, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were all out on ultrasoft tyres as they all nailed down a one-stop race strategy.
Whilst there were double knock-outs for Force India and Toro Rosso in Q2, both Saubers reached Q3.
Still couldn’t call who was going to clinch pole…
Q2 CLASSIFICATION
Verstappen tops the session, just 0.004s ahead of Hamilton 😱
Both cars from Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and Sauber go to Q3!#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Oodd4GpVyr
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2018
It was Max Verstappen who bagged provisional pole, but the Honey Badger pinched it away from him at the last second.
Daniel Ricciardo pinches pole position from Max Verstappen!
An all Red Bull front row for the #MexicoGP🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/0WkDQJkm9q
— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) October 27, 2018
Follow all the latest action from the Mexican Grand Prix via the PlanetF1 race hub.
