Mexico: pre-qualifying 2024
The tedious filling in an otherwise thrilling F1 sandwich is Mexico.
First practice had Russell top, three-tenths ahead of Sainz, who was seven-tenths up on Tsunoda. Verstappen and Hulkenberg followed, then came Piastri, Ocon, Bottas, Lawson, and Perez completed the top 10. As the massive gaps at the top indicate, this is not necessarily that indicative of genuine pace. There were also plenty of third drivers standing in for others.
Second practice had Sainz top, ahead of Piastri by 0.17s, who was one-thousandth up on Tsunoda. Leclerc was a hundredth further back, and six-hundredths ahead of Norris. The Briton was three-tenths quicker than Magnussen, then Hamilton, Bottas, Perez and Lawson rounded out the top 10.
However, this was a tyre testing exercise for the 2025 tyres.
This makes it harder than usual to try and assess pace.
Verstappen had almost no running at all due to engine problems. A ray of light for McLaren and Norris? Russell also had a bad day with a crash. Between that and Hamilton’s spin (and Russell’s Q3 crash in Austin) the Mercedes looks like it’s on a knife edge. Albon also lost control and hit Bearman (standing in for Leclerc in first practice).
Anyway, the practice sessions were less than useful as a guide for pace, so no pre-qualifying tip this weekend.
Morris Dancer
First practice had Russell top, three-tenths ahead of Sainz, who was seven-tenths up on Tsunoda. Verstappen and Hulkenberg followed, then came Piastri, Ocon, Bottas, Lawson, and Perez completed the top 10. As the massive gaps at the top indicate, this is not necessarily that indicative of genuine pace. There were also plenty of third drivers standing in for others.
Second practice had Sainz top, ahead of Piastri by 0.17s, who was one-thousandth up on Tsunoda. Leclerc was a hundredth further back, and six-hundredths ahead of Norris. The Briton was three-tenths quicker than Magnussen, then Hamilton, Bottas, Perez and Lawson rounded out the top 10.
However, this was a tyre testing exercise for the 2025 tyres.
This makes it harder than usual to try and assess pace.
Verstappen had almost no running at all due to engine problems. A ray of light for McLaren and Norris? Russell also had a bad day with a crash. Between that and Hamilton’s spin (and Russell’s Q3 crash in Austin) the Mercedes looks like it’s on a knife edge. Albon also lost control and hit Bearman (standing in for Leclerc in first practice).
Anyway, the practice sessions were less than useful as a guide for pace, so no pre-qualifying tip this weekend.
Morris Dancer
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