Formula 1: Verstappen on pole in Mexico and chasing record, as China’s Zhou Guanyu qualifies 12th
- Red Bull driver sets sights on 14th victory of the season, which would be a new record
- Mercedes’ George Russell joins him on the front row, with Lewis Hamilton third, and Mexico’s Sergio Perez in fourth
The Dutch 25-year-old, who secured his second world championship in Japan this month with four races to spare, lapped the high-speed Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with a fastest time of one minute 17.775 seconds.
Mercedes’s George Russell joined him on the front row, qualifying 0.005 ahead of seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, with Red Bull’s Mexican Sergio Perez the fourth fastest with the crowd roaring their support.
Carlos Sainz qualified fifth with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas splitting the Spaniard from Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
Lando Norris will line up eighth for McLaren with Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon completing the top 10.
Alpine are in a tight battle with McLaren for fourth overall. While in the battle for 5th, Bottas’ position gives Alfa the advantage over Aston Martin, with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stoll 16 and 20th respectively.
China’s Zhou Guanyu qualified 12th for Alfa in his first time at the Mexico City circuit.
“It was a close one,” said Verstappen, who was 0.304 faster than Russell. “To be on pole here is of course amazing. It’s a very long run to turn one so we do need a good start but anyway I think we have a quick car and that’s what’s most important.