Qualifying Highlights | 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix

There is a yellow flag interrupting the laps of so many drivers at the moment. We're coming to the chequered flag in a few moments time and in the drop zone you've got Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll and crucially Lando Norris. So here we go across the line. Is there an improvement for anyone out there? Including the man who starts 200 Grand Prix's in his career tomorrow. No improvement for Hülkenberg. The yellow flag continues to be displayed on the side of the racetrack. Now it's measured as clear and we believe it was Alonso who brought out that yellow. And crucially Norris went through that sector on this lap while it was still yellow. So that lap you cannot improve on. And what is going to happen here? Is he going to drop it over the kerb? That is a strange one on the exit as he made his way through the third corner of the racetrack. Round goes Fernando Alonso and unless there's a mighty improvement to be found, Lando Norris is out in a mighty shock considering the second half of the season. Well, yeah, let's look at this first. Here's Max parked at the end of pit lane holding up the entire crew here. Russell is going to be investigated for impeding because he's static and there's a green light at the end of the pit lane and so is Max Verstappen. But an extraordinary end to that qualifying session, the first part of the qualifying hour. Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, Sgt. Verstappen and Norris out in the first part after a spin for Fernando Alonso. Fernando Alonso's lap only good enough for 12th position as Aston Martin struggle in the second half of the year compared to the podium form that they showed at the start of the campaign. Carlos Sainz does not improve his lap time. That is going to be a different story for Charles Leclerc. Personal best sector one, personal best sector two, and the man from Monaco goes over the line and improves to third position. Pierre Gasly currently in the drop zone. Daniel Ricciardo has moved up to a fine second place. Bottas reclaims his fifth position. This is turn 12 where Gasly was having a spin in third practice. No problems now. You can see Joe is up on Hulkenberg's time, looking to retake that tenth place. Russell improves to second position. What can Gasly do? Currently down in 14th position. Sunoda has returned to the pits. Gasly over the line. He gets to 10th position to knock out Hulkenberg. Joe is going to try and knock out Gasly. Going to try. Yes, and he's done it. He's done it by eight hundredths of a second. Look out for Hamilton, quickest in the middle sector, finishing off his lap. Hamilton across the line at a circuit where he has won twice before. And whilst Verstappen's in the pits, Hamilton is improving to first place. The driver putting the pressure on is Alexander Albon, trying to find an understanding of the grip around the 2.6 miles. And Albon delivers once again. That is a driver with knowledge, understanding and speed. And he couldn't point it in a straight line on his first push lap. Then he finds a way to fight through into the top ten shootout. And Alexander Albon's time. Well, we thought it was great, but it was over the white lines. And Joe Guanyu is promoted to put two Alfa Romeos in the final part of qualifying. Alex Albon's last effort deleted and he is out. In the first sector of the lap, Verstappen was going quicker than Pérez has managed. Pérez now to the line and he sets a benchmark of a 17.7. And it looks good in the first sector of the lap for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari. But here comes the danger man to the home hero. Sergio Pérez currently fastest. Verstappen looking quick behind, though, and he comes over the line. Can he go faster? He can by half a second. A red bull one, too. But the Ferraris are bringing a challenge. Charles Leclerc is a former pole position winner around this circuit. We haven't had back to back pole position sitters in the last 11 runnings of the Mexican Grand Prix or the Mexico City Grand Prix. Ricciardo less than a tenth of a second away without a toe. Can Charles Leclerc turn it up when it matters most? First of all, with signs to go past Verstappen. Ferrari finding pace out of thin air at the highest circuit of the year. One Ferrari at the front of the field. Here comes the second one. Here comes Charles Leclerc to take provisional pole position. And they were grumpy at Ferrari, but the track has changed. Piastri is sixth and Ferrari have a one two with both Mercedes on track. Instant mood change at Ferrari. They ain't grumpy anymore. Here comes George Russell, only fifth, but ahead of Sergio Pérez. What can Hamilton do? He's looking for the grip to be in the right window. Hamilton across the line behind his teammate. That would give Russell the lead in the head to head. That's the order they were in last year. Look at the margin between those two. New soft tyres have been bolted to both Mercedes. They're out there and competing. But it's up for grabs now because both Ferraris have not managed to improve in the first sector of the lap. But Max Verstappen has. But it's only matching where the Ferraris are. But crucially, in the confidence of the driver, Verstappen's found a little bit of performance on this lap. That would be something to indicate to me that the car's talking to him through that first series of turns. Carlos Sainz goes over the line and he doesn't improve on his first effort. What about Daniel Ricciardo? The Australian driver does exactly the same thing and remains in fourth place. So we look to the current provisional pole sitter, Charles Leclerc, looking for an improvement. He can't find it either. And Max Verstappen in the middle part of the lap is up. Here's his teammates. Sergio Pérez goes into fifth position. It's a Ferrari 1-2 at the moment. Can the world champion take it away and score his 11th pole position of the season? Max Verstappen going to the line. He can't do it. Ferrari have found a performance when it mattered most. And they're one and two with the chequered flag waving on the main straight. Hamilton and Russell pushing on at the end, looking for a top five minimum. Can Russell get there? Russell does not improve. He's only seventh, improving a lap time, but not a position. Lewis Hamilton last over the line. Lewis Hamilton to only sixth position. And Charles Leclerc has taken pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix. He did it on his first run. He's brought his teammate to the front row as well. Ferrari spring a shock in Mexico City for the 22nd time in Formula One. It is Charles Leclerc on pole position. And he gets the adulation of the four-a-soul, the man P1. Oh, well, that's a surprise. I feel like every pole we do these days is a surprise, but a good surprise. Now, go next week, tomorrow. Stories absolutely everywhere you look. That is the definition of a shock front row lockout. Ferrari 1-2. Daniel Ricciardo in just his second race back in Formula One. Finds himself fourth on the grid.