Mexican Grand Prix F1: Bottas leads Mercedes’ pole – live stream! | sports

[ad_1]

6.56 pm GMT 18:56

Five minutes until the lights go out. Make yourself a cup/margarita.

6.53pm GMT18:53

Weather watch: hot. The track is about 46 degrees and rises. Meanwhile, Toto Wolff says he thinks Red Bull “could get very aggressive with two stops”.

6.48 pm GMT 18:48

Here’s George Russell: “It’s a little annoying for all the things that were taken into account because we were going to start P11. It’s going to be a long race – to manage the situation better, with the tyres, the engine and the brakes. So we just have to be patient and I think a lot will happen at the end of the race” .

6.47 PM GMT 18:47

Drivers head to the front of the field for the We Race As One nod in F1, then we get a performance of the Mexican anthem enthusiastically linked by a copious crowd.

6.41 PM GMT 18:41

Pierre Gasly’s impressive season for Alpha Toure continued yesterday when he secured a solid start in midfield, ruthlessly taking advantage of Charles Leclerc’s mistake in his last career. “We started in fifth, which is really good, and it’s a nice drag into one lap,” he says. “We will try to take advantage of anything that can happen at the front.”

6.30pm GMT18:30

The local champ speaks: “It was a shame we didn’t get 1st yesterday because of how strong we were all weekend. But today is what counts, and these guys will give me extra strength today. We will try to get a good start but if not, if not Be that as it may, this is a long race and a lot of things can happen.”

6.26 PM GMT 18:26

Is Hamilton-Verstappen set to be presented alongside the great rivalries in Formula One history? Our reporter believes that is possible. Pre-race reading:

Updated at 6.26pm GMT

6.22 PM GMT 18:22

Fourth on the grid today is Sergio Perez, who is looking to become the first-ever Mexican Grand Prix winner. Stranger things have happened – and if he finds himself leading the way in a home Grand Prix, Red Bull will have one hell of a decision to make.

Sergio Perez waves to the crowd. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Updated at 6.24pm GMT

6.06 pm GMT 18:06

And as the big countdown begins, here’s a summary of yesterday’s qualifying procedure:

6.00 pm GMT 18:00

Preamble

Last time it couldn’t have been more tight. Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to take pole position at the Circuit of the Americas to claim 12 points in the Drivers’ Championship. All the talk after the US Grand Prix has been about Mercedes’ title hopes have been derailed, and Toto Wolff has warned his team is “very often oscillating between mania and depression” – and that balance has certainly paid off so far in Mexico, with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. They close the front row after an amazing rehab session.

The Finn provided a near-perfect lap to take first, although he can be expected to play second fiddle for his teammate on the important day given what is at stake with five races remaining.

Max Verstappen was the favorite to finish first in Mexico, but Mercedes was able to turn the tables on Red Bull by tuning the engines, which enabled it to better handle altitude, and an unrestricted width from a driver who knows I’ll be leaving the team next year. Verstappen, who was left regretting his soft tyres yesterday, will have to defend his championship lead from third in the grid.

And he might be able to: Mexico’s top three corners – a quick shot left, right and left after a long straight line – are known to deliver drama, not least between Hamilton and Verstappen.

With his first title within close range, the pressure is on Verstappen, although the Dutchman for his part denies any such allegations. “I like what I do, and it takes the pressure off,” he says. “It’s not my first time in a fighting championship. Yes, it’s the first time in Formula One but not in my life so that doesn’t really change because you need to win, and that’s what I’ve been doing in the past, so I need to strive to do the same here.”

Updated at 6.03pm GMT

.

[ad_2]