A magical lap around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez landed Sebastian Vettel on a historic pole for Sunday’s Formula One Mexican Grand Prix.
The Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez marks the end of the North American races on the Formula One calendar for 2017. But a big show is expected on Sunday for the world championship, with Lewis Hamilton needing only a top 5 finish to clinch the championship. But Sebastian Vettel is not going down without a fight, with a fantastic flying lap landing him on pole for the Mexican GP.
Vettel scored his 50th career pole on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix race, making him just the fourth driver in F1 history with at least that many. He joins an elite club of Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton in that category. He is also the first Ferrari driver to sit on the pole in Mexico since 1970.
In a wild final qualifying session, for a while it looked as if Max Verstappen was going to rewrite the history books in Mexico. The flying Finn held the fastest lap through most of the session, a lap which would have earned him his maiden pole and the title of youngest polesitter in F1 history. It would have also brought him bragging rights within his family, with his father Jos having never earned a pole in his Formula One career. Unfortunately for the Red Bull driver, Vettel’s record-setting lap changed history once again.
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For the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix, there will be no silver arrows on the front row to start the Grand Prix. Mercedes struggled to keep up with Ferrari and Red Bull in Saturday’s qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton only managing a third-place effort. Valtteri Bottas was hurt by a slower Max Verstappen ahead of him on his flying lap, relegating him to fourth. Verstappen’s position on track will be subject to review by the race stewards later on Saturday.
Here are the full qualifying results from the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez:
- Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
- Max Verstappen, Renault, Red Bull Racing
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
- Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
- Esteban Ocon, Mercedes, Force India
- Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, Red Bull Racing
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, Renault Sport
- Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault, Renault Sport
- Sergio Perez, Mercedes, Force India
- Felipe Massa, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
- Lance Stroll, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
- Brendon Hartley, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
- Fernando Alonso, Honda, McLaren
- Stoffel Vandoorne, Honda, McLaren
- Marcus Ericsson, Ferrari, Sauber
- Pascal Wehrlein, Ferrari, Sauber
- Kevin Magnussen, Ferrari, Haas F1
- Romain Grosjean, Ferrari, Haas F1
- Pierre Gasly, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
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Be sure to tune in for the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday, October 29. Coverage in the United States can be seen on your local NBC station beginning at 2:30 PM eastern with F1 Countdown, followed by the race at 3:00 PM eastern. Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, and Will Buxton will have the call of the race.