P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen rescued a second place start at the Mexico City Grand Prix after a track limits violation.
Max Verstappen expressed his shock at his Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying result after facing immense pressure. His first lap in Q3 was initially for provisional pole, only to be deleted for track limits violation at Turn 2, leaving him 10th without a time for the crucial second runs. Despite Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz ultimately securing pole position, Verstappen managed to secure a front-row start alongside his former teammate, with title rival Lando Norris in third. An engine issue in practice had previously troubled Verstappen during the challenging weekend, but he was pleased to deliver a P2 time under pressure.
Verstappen admitted to feeling significant pressure during the second Q3 lap, emphasizing the catch-up mode after a laps-sparse day and a lackluster FP3. While losing his initial lap heightened the pressure, he was pleasantly surprised by his front-row placement. Mexico’s track complexity was acknowledged by Verstappen, who highlighted the difficulty of navigating low downforce street circuits prone to lock-ups and overheating tires, ranking it among the toughest on the calendar.
