2023-10-28 22:37:00
Mexico City (AFP) – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start from pole position for the Mexican F1 Grand Prix, the 19th round of 22 in the Formula 1 world championship, after setting the best qualifying time on Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez (4,304 km) to Mexico City.
Published on: 10/29/2023 – 00:37Modified on: 10/29/2023 – 00:35
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The Monegasque, who scored his fourth pole of the season and the 22nd of his career, beat his Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz and the triple Dutch world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
The Scuderia, in retreat since the start of the weekend, created a surprise by snatching the first two places on the starting grid from under the nose of the big favorite Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman, who had dominated the three free practice sessions, was ahead of Leclerc and Sainz by 97 and 30 thousandths respectively. Last weekend in the United States, Leclerc had already won pole, while Verstappen had started only sixth, which did not prevent him from winning.
The Australian Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri), returned to the track last weekend in Austin after his hand injury suffered at the end of August in the Netherlands and which deprived him of five races, took a surprising fourth place.
Despite the unconditional support of tens of thousands of supporters, Mexican Sergio Pérez had to settle for fifth place at the wheel of the second Red Bull, just ahead of seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
The Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start in seventh position ahead of the Briton George Russell, while the two Alfa-Romeos of the Finn Valtteri Bottas and the Chinese Zhou Guanyu will occupy the fifth row.
The big poor performance of the day was achieved by Lando Norris (McLaren), who nevertheless remains on four consecutive podiums. The Briton only finished 19th and penultimate in qualifying.
© 2023 AFP
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