00:01There is a yellow flag interrupting the laps of so many drivers at the moment.
00:06We're coming to the chequered flag in a few moments' time,
00:09and in the drop zone you've got Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, and crucially, Lando Norris.
00:16So, here we go across the line. Is there an improvement for anyone out there,
00:19including the man who starts 200 Grand Prix's in his career tomorrow?
00:23No improvement for Hülkenberg. The yellow flag continues to be displayed on the side of the racetrack.
00:28Now it's measured as clear, and we believe it was Alonso who brought out that yellow.
00:33And crucially, Norris went through that sector on this lap while it was still yellow,
00:38so that lap you cannot improve on.
00:40And what is going to happen here? Is he going to drop it over the curb?
00:43That is a strange one.
00:45On the exit, as he made his way through the third corner of the racetrack,
00:49round goes Fernando Alonso, and unless there's a mighty improvement to be found,
00:54Lando Norris is out in a mighty shock, considering the second half of the season.
01:00Well, yeah, let's look at this first. Here's Max, parked at the end of pit lane, holding up the entire
01:04crew here.
01:06Russell is going to be investigated for impeding, because he's static,
01:09and there's a green light at the end of the pit lane, and so is Max Verstappen.
01:12But an extraordinary end to that qualifying session, the first part of the qualifying hour.
01:17Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, Sargent, and Norris out in the first part after a spin for Fernando Alonso.
01:27Fernando Alonso's lap only good enough for 12th position as Aston Martin struggle in the second half of the year,
01:34compared to the podium form that they showed at the start of the campaign.
01:38Carlos Sainz does not improve his lap time. That is going to be a different story for Charles Leclerc.
01:44Personal best sector one, personal best sector two, and the man from Monaco goes over the line and improves to
01:48third position.
01:50Pierre Gasly currently in the drop zone. Daniel Ricciardo has moved up to a fine second place.
01:55Bottas reclaims his fifth position. This is turn 12, where Gasly was having a spin in third practice.
02:01No problems now. You can see Joe is up on Hülkenberg's time, looking to retake that 10th place.
02:06Russell improves to second position. What can Gasly do?
02:09Currently down in 14th position. Tsunoda has returned to the pit.
02:13Gasly over the line. He gets to 10th position to knock out Hülkenberg.
02:17Joe is going to try and knock out Gasly. Going to try. Yes, and he's done it.
02:21He's done it by eight hundredths of a second.
02:23Look out for Hamilton, quickest in the middle sector, finishing off his lap.
02:27Hamilton across the line at a circuit where he has won twice before.
02:32And whilst Verstappen's in the pits, Hamilton is improving to first place.
02:36The driver putting the pressure on is Alexander Albon, trying to find an understanding of the grip around the 2
02:42.6 miles.
02:43And Albon delivers once again. That is a driver with knowledge, understanding and speed.
02:49And he couldn't point it in a straight line on his first push lap.
02:53Then he finds a way to fight through into the top ten shootout.
02:59And Alexander Albon's time. Well, we thought it was great, but it was over the white lines.
03:05And Joe Guanyu is promoted to put two Alfa Romeos in the final part of qualifying.
03:10Alex Albon's last effort deleted, and he is out.
03:16In the first section of the lap, Verstappen was going quicker than Perez has managed.
03:21Perez now to the line, and he sets a benchmark of a 17.7.
03:25And it looks good in the first section of the lap for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari.
03:29But here comes the danger man to the home hero.
03:32Sergio Perez currently fastest.
03:34Verstappen looking quick behind though, and he comes over the line.
03:37Can he go faster? He can by half a second.
03:40A Red Bull 1-2, but the Ferraris are bringing a challenge.
03:45Charles Leclerc is a former pole position winner around this circuit.
03:49We haven't had back-to-back pole position sitters in the last 11 runnings of the Mexican Grand Prix,
03:55or the Mexico City Grand Prix.
03:56Ricciardo less than a tenth of a second away without a tow.
04:01Can Charles Leclerc turn it up when it matters most?
04:04First of all, with signs to go past Verstappen.
04:07Ferrari finding pace out of thin air at the highest circuit of the year.
04:13One Ferrari at the front of the field.
04:14Here comes the second one.
04:16Here comes Charles Leclerc to take provisional pole position.
04:20And they were grumpy at Ferrari, but the track has changed.
04:23Piastri is sixth, and Ferrari have a 1-2 with both Mercedes on track.
04:28Instant mood change at Ferrari. He ain't grumpy anymore.
04:32Here comes George Russell, only fifth but ahead of Sergio Perez.
04:36What can Hamilton do?
04:37He's looking for the grip to be in the right window.
04:40Hamilton across the line behind his teammate.
04:42That would give Russell the lead in the head-to-head.
04:45That's the order they were in last year.
04:47Look at the margin between those two.
04:49New soft tyres have been bolted to both Mercedes.
04:53They're out there and competing, but it's up for grabs now
04:55because both Ferraris have not managed to improve in the first sector of the lap.
04:59But Max Verstappen has.
05:01But it's only matching where the Ferraris are.
05:04But crucially, in the confidence of the driver,
05:07Verstappen's found a little bit of performance on this lap.
05:10That would certainly indicate to me that the car's talking to him
05:14through that first series of turns.
05:15Carlos Sainz goes over the line and he doesn't improve on his first effort.
05:20What about Daniel Ricciardo?
05:21The Australian driver does exactly the same thing and remains in fourth place.
05:26So we look to the current provisional pole sitter.
05:29Charles Leclerc looking for an improvement.
05:30He can't find it either.
05:32And Max Verstappen in the middle part of the lap is up.
05:35Here's his teammates. Sergio Perez goes into fifth position.
05:38It's a Ferrari 1-2 at the moment.
05:40Can the world champion take it away and score his 11th pole position of the season?
05:45Max Verstappen going to the line.
05:47He can't do it!
05:48Ferrari have found a performance when it mattered most.
05:52And they're 1-2 with the chequered flag waving on the main straight.
05:57Hamilton and Russell pushing on at the end looking for a top five minimum.
06:03Can Russell get there?
06:04Russell does not improve.
06:06He's only seventh.
06:06Improving a lap time but not a position.
06:08Lewis Hamilton last over the line.
06:11Lewis Hamilton to only sixth position.
06:13And Charles Leclerc has taken pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
06:18He did it on his first run.
06:20He's brought his teammate to the front row as well.
06:23Ferrari spring a shock in Mexico City for the 22nd time in Formula 1.
06:29It is Charles Leclerc on pole position.
06:32And he gets the adulation of the four assault.
06:36The man, P1.
06:38Well, that's a surprise.
06:41I feel like every part we do these days is a surprise.
06:44But a good surprise.
06:46Now, let's do it tomorrow.
06:48Stories absolutely everywhere you look.
06:52That is the definition of a shock front row lockout.
06:55Ferrari 1 and 2.
06:57Daniel Ricciardo in just his second race back in Formula 1 finds himself fourth on the grid.
07:04Oh
07:05!
07:06________
07:08You
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