Valtteri Bottas leads Mercedes front row lockout with stunning pole at 2021 Mexican GP.
“It was an awesome lap, the first run in Q3. I couldn’t quite match the same last sector in the second one but honestly that first run in Q3 was one of my best laps. Higher temperatures this afternoon than this morning came our way I think.” said the Flying Fin after taking third pole of 2021 season.
Lewis Hamilton missed out Pole positions by 0.145 seconds but importantly he is ahead of his championship rival Max Verstappen on the starting grid tomorrow. The Brit is happy that Mercedes shocked everyone to lockup front row at unexpected Mexico City track.
“Valtteri did an amazing job, I’m so proud, he’s been driving so well these last few races. We didn’t think we had the pace this weekend so to lock out the front row is something special. I’m just as shocked as everyone – but we’ll take it.” – said Hamilton after qualifying in P2.
Max Verstappen is not happy with his qualifying performance and importantly he will be starting the tomorrow’s race behind his rival Lewis on the starting grid in P3. But the Dutchman is happy to start the race from P3 on the grid rather than P2. “It seemed like throughout qualifying the balance went away a little bit. But then on the last lap it was going good and I don’t know what happened in front of me – I was expecting yellow flags so backed out of it a bit. I think this is better than starting second.”
Sergio Perez comes home in disappointing P4 in his home race in a all Red Bull second row lock out. This will be his highest starting position on the grid at Mexico City for Perez , his previous best was P9.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly comes home in P5 ahead of Ferrari man Carlos Sainz in P6. Daniel Ricciardo splits Ferrari duo for P7 ahead of 2019 Pole sitter Charles Leclerc. Yuki Tsunoda qualifies in P9 ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in P10. However the latter duo will drop to the back of the grid because of engine penalties.
Sebastian Vettel qualifies in P11 ahead of his old teammate Kimi Raikkonen in P12. The Duo will be promoted two places on the starting grid for tomorrow’s race. George Russell qualified in P13 ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi in P14. But The Italian will be promoted to P11 on the grid, while Russell will drop to P16 after picking up five place grid penalty due to gearbox change.
Esteban Ocon qualifies in P15 but the Frenchman will join Lance Stroll at the back of the Grid after taking Engine Penalty. Fernando Alonso qualifies in disappointing P16 but the Spaniard will jump four places to start race P12 on the grid.
2021 Mexican GP Starting Grid after applying all penalties
