By Melody Gross 
After a competitive but reserved performance in Q1 and Q2, Carlos Sainz showed his full potential in Q3, claiming pole position. The Ferrari driver, with a time of 1:15.946, trailed Max Verstappen by 0.2 seconds, as the Dutch driver's first attempt in Q3 was canceled due to exceeding the track limits. Verstappen finished second, ahead of Lando Norris, who finished third with a time of 0.314 seconds. By Sainz. In addition to this excellent pole position in the No. 55 Scuderia, the biggest surprises were the elimination of Oscar Piastri and Sergio Pérez in Q1 and Yuki Tsunoda's accident in Q2 which prevented him and his teammate from advancing to Q3.
Q1
The “Fiesta Mexicana” was held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, with full grandstands to watch qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix. With an air temperature of 22.3°C and asphalt temperature of 44.8°C, the drivers and teams were set for qualifying. While there are many doubts about the favorite to win pole position, the battle between McLaren and Ferrari appears to be the most intense and interesting.
Crowded platforms for the best show in town! 🏟️
Q1 is going! 🟢#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/qbTVKn9H42
– Formula 1 (@F1) October 26, 2024
At the beginning of the session, no one was rushing onto the track, and the start was gradual. Ferrari drivers started qualifying on medium tyres, just like Mercedes. Lando Norris (medium tyres) moved up the timesheets, after Carlos Sainz overtook first place. Oscar Piastri (medium tyres) was unable to get a lap and settled for ninth place, before the return of Max Verstappen (soft tyres), who was able to jump to first place in the standings, to be the first to enter twelfth place.
In the middle of the session, Verstappen was in front, followed by Nico Hulkenberg, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz. In the elimination zone there were still George Russell, Esteban Ocon, Zhou Guanyu, Oscar Piastri and Sergio Perez. Piastri's second lap was not very good and was wiped out, putting the Australian driver in danger. Lando Norris (now on soft tyres) improved Versatppen's record and took the lead in Q1. In the third round, Piastri was unable to move away from the elimination zone like Sergio Pérez and ended up being relegated to the elimination zone. At the end of the session, the exclusion of Perez and Piastri was confirmed, as well as Franco Colapinto, Esteban Ocon and Zhou Guanyu. In the top five were Notis (1:16.505), Sainz, Verstappen, Leclerc and Magnussen.
Q2
In Q2, Max Verstappen started with the best time at the start of the session, and that was already evident at 16th second, followed by Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda. Lando Norris was able to reduce Verstappen's time by 0.3 seconds, with all drivers using new soft tyres.
When there were five minutes remaining in the session, Magnussen, Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Charles Leclerc. In the top five we had Norris, Verstappen, Russell, Hamilton and Sainz.
Charles Leclerc tried to move away from the elimination zone and secure a place in Division Three. Unfortunately, shortly after, a mistake by Yuki Tsunoda resulted in him colliding with track protection, bringing this session to a premature end. Tsunoda, Lawson, Alonso, Stroll and Bottas were eliminated. In the top five are Norris (1:16.301), Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc and Russell. Hamilton, Albon, Hülkenberg, Magnussen and Gasly also moved to the third division.
🔴Red flag!! 🔴
Tsunoda stands at the barriers at Turn 12 in the final moments of the second quarter!
This also gives his teammate Lawson – and everyone else – a chance to improve! #F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/dtHGpNmwNa
– Formula 1 (@F1) October 26, 2024
Q3
The start of the third quarter was delayed slightly so track marshals could repair the protections damaged by Tsunoda's accident.
Kevin Magnussen was first to the track, followed by Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver recorded a time of 1:16.368, an excellent time that Lando Norris was unable to improve, as he remained 0.6 seconds behind. Since the time of Red Bull. But the Ferraris were powerful. Charles Leclerc finished second, while Verstappen's time was erased due to exceeding the track limits. Carlos Sainz then set the best time and claimed pole position provisionally. Verstappen's life was very complicated, as he had to do everything he could on the last lap of the day. At this stage, the top five were Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton and Norris.
The final minutes and final laps of the Mexican track have arrived, where the top ten ranking will be found. Carlos Sainz was able to improve his time and Sainz entered second place in 15th place with a wonderful lap, while Leclerc was unable to improve his record. Max Verstappen managed to improve and took second place and Lando Norris took third place, improving but still far from his target. The pole was thus handed over to Carlos Sainz, in an excellent lap by the Spaniard.
The top ten in Q3 were Sainz (1:15.946), Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Magnussen, Gasly, Albon and Hulkenberg.