Formula 1: Mercedes surprises in qualifying in Mexico - Vettel disappointed with Q1-Aus

Created: 10/30/2022, 8:20 am

By: Lena Hempler

Lewis Hamilton will start from the second row of the grid at the Mexican GP.

© IMAGO/Zak Mauger

At the end of the season, the Silver Arrows get stronger again: Mercedes manages to qualify on P2 and P3 in Mexico!

Mexico City – Unsurprisingly, Max Verstappen took pole position for the Formula 1 race at the Mexican Grand Prix.

What many wouldn't have expected: Both Mercedes start from the front, George Russell even from the front row of the grid in P2 and teammate Lewis Hamilton ends up just behind in third place.

Things didn't go so well for the two Ferraris - Carlos Sainz made it to P5 and Charles Leclerc started the race in a disappointing seventh place.

Mercedes brought a new upgrade to the last race (October 23rd) and it seems to be working very well now.

Both drivers are sure that the car is now much more competitive.

Hamilton is very enthusiastic about qualifying with P2 and P3: “This is the best qualifying we had in the whole year.

I'm really proud of the team!” The fact that the last two races in Mexico were won from third place on the grid could also be a small motivational boost for the Brit.

From where do the two Germans start in the Mexico GP?

The outcome of qualifying for the two Germans, Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher, was very disappointing.

The Aston Martin driver just made it to P17, but he can't quite explain the reason for his early end: "The confidence was completely different than yesterday, although we didn't change that much." He suspects : “We just couldn't find the grip that's hidden somewhere in the car.

I don't know if it was just the tires for us.

[...] Just didn't suit us today," says Vettel in the Sky interview.

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Mick Schumacher's best lap was canceled due to track limits - with this he would have easily made it into Q2.

The German explains that it is "frustrating, because the performance is there." But he also admits that he misjudged his good lap: "In my opinion, the rear wheel would have been on it," unfortunately it wasn't the case .

Schumacher barely made it any further and starts from P16.