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<strong>Qualifying:</strong> Ricciardo beats Verstappen to pole

Qualifying: Ricciardo beats Verstappen to pole

Published on 27 Oct 2018 21:00
7
By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo has taken his second pole position of the season after setting a lap time of 1:14.759, beating his teammate Max Verstappen to the top spot. Just 0.026s separated the two Red Bull's who lock out the front row for the first time since USA, 2013.

Verstappen looked on form throughout the whole weekend and dominated during practice. However, the 20-year-old has to settle for second after setting the provisional pole lap time following the first runs in the final stage of qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton was third, 0.135s down on Ricciardo. The Briton only has to finish in seventh place tomorrow in order to win the championship, provided that rival Sebastian Vettel doesn't win the race. Vettel will start alongside Hamilton on the second row.

Valtteri Bottas won the battle of the Finns, edging out compatriot Kimi Raikkonen by almost two-tenths. All of the top six drivers will start on the ultra soft tyre, as they set their fast laps in Q2 on the purple-walled compound.

Ricciardo will be vying to convert his pole into victory, which may well be his last with Red Bull. Mercedes and Ferrari mostly got over their struggles from Friday, with a cooler track and boosted engine modes allowing them to get closer to the energy drink squad.

Renault will come away from the day feeling pretty pleased as it locked out the fourth row. Nico Hulkenberg got the better of his teammate Carlos Sainz with just under three-tenths separating the duo for seventh and eighth place.

Renault is aiming to finish the season in fourth place and currently holds a 22 point gap over rivals Haas. The American squad had a tough day, with both cars exiting after Q1 which gives Renault's fight to finish as 'best of the rest' a significant boost.

Sauber also put on an impressive display at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as it will start the race from row five, with Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc beating Marcus Ericsson, who will become the Hinwil squad's third driver in 2019.

However, Sauber will be forced to start the race on the hyper soft tyre which could see them be beaten on strategy from the Force Indias and the McLaren of Fernando Alonso behind, who will have free choice of tyres for the start of the race.

F1Grand Prix Mexico - Qualifying

Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez - 27 October 2018

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

Laps
1

Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull Racing

1:14.759

16
2

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:14.785

+0.026

16
3

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:14.894

+0.135

21
4

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:14.970

+0.211

16
5

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:15.160

+0.401

22
6

Kimi Räikkönen

Ferrari

1:15.330

+0.571

20
7

Nico Hülkenberg

Renault

1:15.827

+1.068

18
8

Carlos Sainz jr

Renault

1:16.084

+1.325

18
9

Charles Leclerc

Sauber

1:16.189

+1.430

20
10

Marcus Ericsson

Sauber

1:16.513

+1.754

20

Q2
11

Esteban Ocon

Racing Point

1:16.844

+2.085

16
12

Fernando Alonso

McLaren

1:16.871

+2.112

12
13

Sergio Perez

Racing Point

1:17.167

+2.408

16
14

Brendon Hartley

Toro Rosso

1:17.184

+2.425

12
15

Pierre Gasly

Toro Rosso

no time

11

Q1
16

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:16.911

+2.152

9
17

Stoffel Vandoorne

McLaren

1:16.966

+2.207

6
18

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:17.599

+2.840

9
19

Lance Stroll

Williams

1:17.689

+2.930

5
20

Sergey Sirotkin

Williams

1:17.886

+3.127

6

F1 News Max Verstappen Daniel Ricciardo

Replies (7)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Amazing lap by Ricciardo, delivered when it mattered. Max seemed massively pissed off during the interview. It should be an exciting race tomorrow. There was basically nothing between the RB. Good to see Daniel get one from Max, he had been dominated up to this point.
- + 0
- Oct 27 2018 - 21:10
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
A good quali session. Interesting how strong Renault has looked this weekend, and how far behind Haas is.
- + 0
- Oct 27 2018 - 21:28
KyalamiKid

Posts: 146
I think Max thought he had it in the bag... great parting shot by Danny. Will make for a very interesting turn 1 tomorrow...
- + 0
- Oct 27 2018 - 21:48
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  You get the drinks, I'll bring some popcorn. ;)
  + 0
  
  Oct 27 2018 - 23:15
xoya

Posts: 583
I sense fireworks.
- + 0
- Oct 28 2018 - 02:14
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Sure that second line looks great. Ric vs Max, Ham vs Vettel, Kimi vs Wingman. We need popcorn chips and beers. Everyone enjoy !!! The racing this year has been great ;it's one of the better years. So much enjoying the battles and the drama.
  + 0
  
  Oct 28 2018 - 07:02
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  And dont forget pizza! But yeah, this year has been great.
  + 0
  
  Oct 28 2018 - 08:21