Sebastian Vettel will start in pole position at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton will take third place on the starting grid.
Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) on Saturday sealed the 50th pole position of his career in qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix and will start Sunday ahead of Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), quest for a 4th title.
With a time of 1 min 16 sec 488/1000, Vettel pulverized the record of the circuit established the morning during the 3rd session of free tests by Verstappen, that it advanced of 086/1000. Hamilton, who can be crowned Sunday if he finishes in the top five of the race, finished at 446/1000 of the German, his dolphin at the championship. Vettel stole first place on the grid in Verstappen, who thought they would take the first pole position of their career, and approach this crucial meeting in Mexico in the best possible position. He is the fourth F1 driver with the most advanced positions, behind Ayrton Senna (65), Michael Schumacher (68) and Hamilton (72).
“I did everything I could but I still could not compete today,” said the latter, visibly disappointed. “The weekend is difficult at the moment, the track is particularly slippery . “The McLaren alum, who has a 66-point lead over Vettel, has announced he wants to win the title with the way, winning the final three races of the season. He complained in the last free practice session and power problems qualifiers of his engine, the most reliable of the plateau.
In the event of Vettel’s victory on Sunday, Hamilton will be crowned if he finishes at worst in 5th place, a rank he has reached at least all races this season, except in Monaco. In case of abandonment of the British, Vettel must still finish in the first two to keep a chance in the championship. Hamilton, who is the only driver to complete all points races in 2017, made his mark last year in Mexico.
At the start of Q3, Finnish team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was fourth on the grid, nearly crashed into Verstappen, who had slowed down in the last corner. The commissioners decided to open a case against the Dutchman, who had already been penalized at the GP of Austin a week ago for a contentious maneuver at the end of the race.
#Formula1????#MexicoGP????????
50ème Pôle de Sebastian #Vettel, #Ferrari.
1 VET
2 VER ?
3 HAM
6 #Sainz ????????
(5 #Alonso ????????+20)#McLaren #Renault
– pic.twitter.com/7nnW9sd5Tn— ★ ESPAGNE2017 ???? (@KlingonJr) 28 October 2017
