Mexico City Grand Prix: Qualifying Recap

After a host of grid penalties are applied elsewhere post-qualifying, Schumacher is expected to take to the grid on Sunday in 14th with Mazepin 16th.

Schumacher and Mazepin had three sets of Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires at their disposal in Q1 – the opening round of knockout qualifying. Both drivers set their fastest lap on their third and final tour of the 4.304-kilometer (2.674-mile), 17-turn circuit. Schumacher banked a 1:18.858 with Mazepin’s best a 1:19.303 – both exiting qualifying at the checkered with only the top 15 progressing.

Valtteri Bottas claimed pole position in Mexico in Q3 – the Mercedes driver edging his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, by .145 of a second with the fastest lap of 1:15.875.

Nikita Mazepin, Driver No. 9, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“It was an OK qualifying session – I was happy with the gradual improvement I made. We knew we were missing pace compared to the others at the beginning of the weekend. I ran out wide on the last corner of my final lap which cost me a bit of time but apart from that, the lap was fine. I’ve had a very difficult FP1, FP2 and FP3 so I think we’ve recovered quite well to end up with a car that I’m more or less comfortable with – I tried to maximize what I had today.”

 

Mick Schumacher, Driver No. 47, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“Overall, not the best of performances from my side but I hope to make it up in the race. I was trying to do my best, but it was a bit of scrappy run and it’s a track that is unforgiving. Hopefully tomorrow the track temperatures aren’t too high, as that will make things a bit more difficult but we’ll just try to do our best job to try and stay in the position we start tomorrow.”

 

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Uralkali Haas F1 Team

“I’m happy with what we did today. We were very close to a Williams, and both drivers did a good job. Normally at this altitude, we thought we would be worse off than we are. I think that’s mainly down to the drivers who adapted pretty quickly – they did simulator sessions before they came here so they were well prepared. Up until qualifying we’ve had a pretty event-less race weekend. Now, we just look forward to the race tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll get into slightly better starting positions with all the penalties that are coming along and you never know what you can do, but we’re pretty happy up to now.”

 

Today's Data

Event: Qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix – Saturday November 6
Location: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City
Layout: 4.304-kilometer (2.674-mile), 17-turn circuit
Weather: Mostly Sunny
Air Temps: 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 degrees Fahrenheit)
Track Temps: 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit)
Pole Winner: Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes (1:15.875) 
Result: Mick Schumacher (MSC) qualified 18th, Nikita Mazepin (MAZ) qualified 19th 
Notes: MSC to start 14th / MAZ to start 16th – after penalties for Russell / Stroll / Tsunoda / Norris / Ocon 

Free Practice No. 3 Rundown

Schumacher: 18th overall (1:19.238), 14 laps completed
Mazepin: 20th overall (1:20.479), 15 laps completed
Fastest: Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing (1:17.024)

Q1 Rundown: 

18-minute session with all 20 drivers – Top 15 advance to Q2

Schumacher: 18th overall (1:18.858)
Mazepin: 19th overall (1:19.303)
Fastest: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (1:16.788) 

Q2 Rundown: 

15-minute session featuring the Top 15 from Q1 – Top 10 advance to Q3

Fastest: Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes (1:16.474) 

Q3 Rundown: 

12-minute session featuring the Top 10 from Q2

Pole Winner: Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes (1:15.875)
Second: Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes (1:16.020)