Sunday, October 26, 2025, 00:23
Without ignoring the more than likely favoritism of McLaren, it is clear that this Saturday Lando Norris did what he should in qualifying for the Mexican GP. The Briton easily passed the exam, which he will still have to revalidate in the race, with one of the poles he claims. The candidate not only took pole position, but will also start in front of the two Ferraris, who present themselves as his great enemies. With Max Verstappen fifth and Óscar PIastri seventh at the start, he cannot fail if he wants to remain one of the favorites for the title.
As for the Spanish, Fernando Alonso could not even advance to Q3, meaning he will start from a more than improvable fourteenth position. Carlos Sainz, who did qualify among the top ten, will do so twelfth, weighed down by the suspension of the five positions he has carried since Austin.
Q1: Startup surprises and scares
The difficulty in controlling the optimal grip point made several drivers try the loopholes of this Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. One of them, Max Verstappen, saw firsthand that a mistake almost cost him an accident. He ended it with a nice skid.
The progressive improvement in track conditions meant that the final minutes of Q1 were frenetic as well as surprising. Not in vain, the fastest was Isack Hadjar with Lewis Hamilton only three thousandths slower. Among those who crossed over to Q2 were the two Spaniards, although in the case of Fernando Alonso he suffered a little more than expected to compete in the second round. Sainz suffered less and saved the first obstacle in a classification in which, for a week now, he has had five penalty positions.
Those eliminated were Bortoleto, Albon – a disaster for Sainz’s teammate in this GP, for now -, Gasly, Stroll – Alonso continues to destroy him with 32 consecutive classifications, beating him – and Franco Colapinto who ended up flying after getting on a curb that made him take off. The Argentine, who has not yet renewed with Alpine, still does not give reasons beyond the sponsors to continue.
Q2: Alonso, K.O
The second round confirmed that, within the difficulty that this circuit entails for everyone, it is being even more complicated for Oscar Piastri. The World Championship leader – who will continue to be so after this Sunday, no matter what happens in the race – suffered much more than expected to advance to Q3 in which, on paper, he should fight for the best time. The Australian is not doing well at this moment in the championship, which is when he should give his chest ‘do’ if he really has the qualities to be a champion.
And, unlike Norris or Verstappen, it took him until the last attempt to achieve a time that would allow him to be in Q3.
Those who were not there were Tsunoda, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Lawson. In the case of the Asturian, it is clear that the Aston Martin is not performing well in Mexico, where the altitude and the AMR25’s own vices have taken their toll.
Q2: Norris gives the bell
The fight for pole began with Leclerc stronger than anyone. In the first attempt, the Monegasque – who already showed his strength in Austin – was almost two tenths faster than Norris, the great candidate this weekend if he measures up on Sunday. Because in qualifying he gave it at the moment of truth, as demonstrated by the pole and the way in which he did it.
And in the second and final attempt at the fastest lap, the Briton gained more than two tenths over Leclerc and a little more for Lewis Hamilton, in what is his best classification since he became a Ferrari driver. What is more relevant, more than four to a Verstappen who this time did not live up to expectations. The Dutchman had almost perfect weekends and, although he cannot be ruled out, fifth place doesn’t taste so bad. Especially since Piastri did even worse: he will start seventh. Carlos Sainz, weighed down by the sanction, will start twelfth in search of points.
