During the free practices of the Mexican weekend, Ferrari and Red Bull were the favorites on the track. Exception of the first practice, where Lewis Hamilton showed the best time, both Mercedes drivers remained behind their rivals.

The Saturday qualifying didn’t become a surprise. After successful performance in practices Max Verstappen won a pole.  

In Q1 Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Alex Albon led the peloton, and Ferrari cars were behind. Strong results were shown by Toro Rosso, McLaren, Renault and Alfa Romeo drivers – all went to Q2. Kubica, Russell, both Haas and Stroll were eliminated from Q2. The Mexican track and Haas cars are definitely incompatible things – Kevin Magnussen and Roman Grosjean couldn’t move in Q2 the third Mexican Grand Prix in a row.

Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc started Q2 with the best times. However, very soon Max Verstappen split both teammates, taking P2.

The Final attempts of Q2 changed the situation. Mercedes took first positions on Mediums. Other drivers, including Ferrari and Red Bull, used Soft tyres and even didn’t try to improve the results, backing out of their laps. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull will start on Mediums, and McLaren and Toro Rosso have to begin Sunday race on Softs.

Both Alfa Romeo and Renault, and also Perez were out of Q3.

Five teams in full moved to Q3. The whole time of Q3 there were nothing on the track, the drivers were waiting for last minutes for a fight. However, after an unexpected Bottas' crash into the wall qualifying was actually over. The leaders didn't improve the time.

Max Verstappen will start Sunday's race in first place, then two Ferraris and Lewis Hamilton. 

The full resuts of qualifying:

CLASSIFICATION: END OF QUALIFYING

Max loves Mexico, doesn't he?! He qualifies ahead of the Ferraris#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/aFjBhWiz51

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 26, 2019