Sebastian Vettel would produce an excellent final lap in Q3 to beat Max Verstappen and claim a somewhat unexpected pole position for Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix, the 50th of his Formula 1 career.
The Red Bull driver had looked destined to become the sport’s youngest ever polesitter following two blistering laps in Q2 and again in the top 10 shootout, but the four-time world champion would deny him going just under a tenth faster with a 1:16.488s to start at the front of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton couldn’t quite get in the fight in third, making a mistake on his final flying lap at Turn 12, but even from the second row, it would take something unexpected to prevent the Mercedes man from securing the top five he needs to be crowned champion for the fourth time.
Verstappen’s front row start was in jeopardy for some time after the Qualifying hour as the stewards investigated whether he impeded Valtteri Bottas after backing off on his first run in Q3, as the pair got close entering stadium section.
Ultimately, the stewards took no further action and the Finn would go on to claim fourth ahead of compatriot Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari. The top six would be completed by Esteban Ocon, as the Frenchman produced a stellar last lap to beat a struggling Daniel Ricciardo into sixth by one-hundredth of a second.
The Australian was some nine-tenths down on his teammate in seventh and only just ahead of Nico Hulkenberg’s Renault as the three drivers were covered by 0.029s. Carlos Sainz was three-tenths back in ninth but in front of Sergio Perez leaving the Mexican a disappointing 10th for his home race.
A stricken Brendon Hartley early in Q2 due to engine problems, limited the Williams duo to just a single lap to try and make it into Q3 but, after being on the brink throughout Practice, that remained the case as Felipe Massa missed out by two-tenths in 11th and teammate Lance Stroll had a poor final sector but still claimed 12th.
That’s because the two McLaren’s opted to only run in Q1 due to engine penalties dropping them to the back of the grid. Fernando Alonso would prove what the car was capable of in the first 18 minutes, setting a time which would have put him ninth on the grid, but ultimately meant very little as they fill the back row.
Despite his engine failure, Hartley will start 13th for Sunday’s race pending any engine penalties of his own, but that can’t be said for his teammate Pierre Gasly, with the Frenchman starting 18th after being unable to participate in Qualifying as Toro Rosso changed the engine which broke in Practice 3.
The beneficiaries are Sauber and Haas, with the Swiss team beating the American outfit as their problems continued. Marcus Ericsson beat teammate Pascal Wehrlein into what will become 14th as Kevin Magnussen led Romain Grosjean to start 16th and 17th respectively.
Back at the front and, before the weekend it was anticipated the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez would suit Ferrari better than Mercedes but after a problematic Friday Practice, those expectations had been lowered.
Therefore, when Vettel crossed the line it was a little ‘out of nowhere’ but regardless, it puts the 30-year-old in the perfect place to do all he can to continue this year’s championship and that’s win the race.
But with Hamilton looking comfortable, it really does seem like only a retirement can stop the Briton from maybe not being on the top step of the podium in Mexico, but certainly being the guy for whom the champagne would taste the sweetest as the 2017 F1 world champion.
