F1 Mexico City Grand Prix: Qualifying Live Updates

Qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix is underway, with teams and drivers battling for grid positions. Red Bull's Max Verstappen is looking to continue his dominant run, having won three of the last four races and significantly closing the championship gap to Oscar Piastri.

Why it matters:

Max Verstappen's resurgence in form after Red Bull's floor upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix has tightened the championship battle considerably. With Piastri struggling in recent races, qualifying in Mexico City is crucial for both drivers to either extend or cut the remaining points gap with just five Grands Prix left in the season. The stakes are high not just for the drivers' championship but also for team morale and strategic positioning.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Momentum: Since the floor upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen has been nearly unstoppable, winning three out of the last four races.
• Championship Gap: This impressive run has reduced Oscar Piastri's championship lead from 104 points to just 40 points.
• Piastri's Recent Struggles: Piastri has missed the podium in the last three Grands Prix and has not secured a win since the Dutch Grand Prix.
• Mexico City Performance: In FP2 for the Mexico City Grand Prix, Piastri managed only a P12 finish.
• McLaren Teammate Performance: Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate, along with Verstappen, will be aiming to out-perform Piastri in qualifying to further close the gap in the drivers' championship.
• Team Principal vs. Advisor: A war of words has erupted between McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
  • Stella suggested Red Bull might be 'happier to give up a little bit' on their 2026 development due to the Monza floor upgrade.
  • Marko dismissed these comments, drawing parallels to Toto Wolff's concerns in 2021 regarding Red Bull's 2022 competitiveness, implying Stella's comments are strategic rather than factual.

The Big Picture:

The battle in Mexico City extends beyond the track, with teams already strategizing and making subtle jabs about future car development. Red Bull's current dominance, fueled by their recent upgrades, is putting pressure on competitors like McLaren, whose drivers are also fighting for critical championship points. This dynamic creates a fascinating subplot to the on-track action, as every decision and every performance now has implications for both the immediate championship fight and the long-term competitive landscape.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the qualifying results to see if Verstappen can secure pole position and continue his charge, or if Piastri or Norris can turn the tide. The outcome of qualifying will set the stage for a potentially thrilling Mexico City Grand Prix, with championship implications for both the drivers and the constructors. The ongoing verbal sparring between team principals also suggests that the competitive intensity will only increase as the season approaches its climax.