The time for qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix has arrived. Ferrari got here into the session after ending second and fourth in FP3, with Lewis Hamilton forward of Charles Leclerc this time. Nonetheless, each drivers have been fairly removed from Lando Norris, who emerged as the favourite for each pole place and victory on Sunday. Regardless of that, the Ferrari SF-25 appeared able to preventing for high positions as soon as once more on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Mexican GP, Q1: strong efficiency from Ferrari
For the primary stint, each Ferrari drivers went out on the Mushy compound. Observe circumstances have been excessive, with asphalt temperatures reaching 48°C, making preliminary tire warm-up administration important. After their preparation laps, each started to push: Lewis Hamilton made a number of small errors, significantly between the primary and third sectors, whereas Charles Leclerc, though cleaner, discovered visitors on the finish of his lap and couldn’t full a satisfying try.
Each then did two cool-down laps to carry tire temperatures again underneath management. Hamilton reported to the pit wall that he nonetheless lacked clear references for the proper thermal window of the tires. The British driver remained a bit off the tempo, whereas Charles Leclerc, though not totally happy together with his lap, was solely a tenth and a half away from the perfect time. On his subsequent try, Hamilton had a short energy snap by way of the snake part in Sector 2, however nonetheless managed a clear lap that positioned him sixth.
Charles Leclerc additional improved his time by one other tenth and a half. The SF-25 seemed properly balanced, though each vehicles misplaced some precision and traction within the center sector. Over workforce radio, Bryan Bozzi urged optimizing the transition between Turns 7 and eight to cut back time loss in that space. After a short cease within the storage, each Ferraris went out once more for a remaining try with small setup tweaks.
Lewis Hamilton fitted a brand new set of Softs, whereas Charles Leclerc went out on used tires. Observe place was superb for each. Hamilton’s lap was usually strong, although a small slide on the exit of Flip 7 pressured him to partially raise off the throttle, barely affecting traction. Regardless of that, he managed to enhance his time. Charles Leclerc, however, didn’t full his remaining try, having already secured passage to the subsequent stage together with his earlier lap. Out in Q1 have been Bortoleto, Albon, Gasly, Stroll, and Colapinto.
Mexican GP, Q2: the SF-25 continues to impress
Earlier than tackling the second a part of qualifying, it’s price noting that the SF-25’s stability remained nearly unchanged and total fairly convincing. On this part, each small element grew to become decisive—particularly the order of monitor entry, because the floor saved bettering with each lap. Lewis Hamilton opted for a used set of Softs to evaluate grip evolution, whereas Charles Leclerc selected new tires, although he struggled to finish a totally clear lap.
The Monegasque made a couple of errors within the opening corners and failed to search out superb smoothness within the remaining sector, the place he visibly corrected the steering a number of occasions. Each drivers returned to the pits to attend for the optimum monitor circumstances for his or her decisive runs. When the session resumed, the state of affairs was reversed: Hamilton switched to recent tires, whereas Charles Leclerc went out on the identical set he had used earlier than.
The British driver fastidiously managed the warm-up part to maximise grip. His lap was constant and tidy by way of the primary two sectors, with solely a slight miss at Flip 13 the place he didn’t hit the apex completely. He nonetheless completed with a aggressive time, simply two-tenths behind Norris. Leclerc, regardless of Bozzi’s instruction to decelerate, selected to finish his lap anyway, crossing the road earlier than advancing to Q3. Eradicated in Q2 have been Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso, and Liam Lawson.
Mexican GP, Q3: pole place simply out of attain
The decisive a part of qualifying started with Norris seemingly having the higher hand over a tightly packed group consisting of Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Piastri, and Verstappen—all within the combat for the entrance row. In such an in depth battle, each minor element would matter, because the monitor continued to evolve and even the smallest enchancment might shift grid positions.
Managing tire temperatures appropriately and timing the ultimate run to perfection have been subsequently essential. Each Ferrari drivers waited within the storage whereas the mechanics exactly labored on activating the brand new Mushy tires for his or her first Q3 makes an attempt. Hamilton started his flying lap aggressively and set a robust time that originally positioned him in third place.
Shortly after, Charles Leclerc responded with an excellent stronger lap to take the highest spot, splitting the Ferraris with Norris in between. His engineer Bryan Bozzi praised him on the radio, noting that solely Turns 7 and 16 nonetheless supplied room for enchancment. Charles Leclerc requested a slight front-end adjustment to extend downforce. For the second, he was on provisional pole, though McLaren nonetheless appeared to have an edge within the first sector.
Within the remaining runs, each SF-25s went out on brand-new tires. Lewis Hamilton made a small mistake at Flip 4 however accomplished a superb lap, bettering his time by a number of tenths. Charles Leclerc additionally bettered his mark, securing a spot on the entrance row alongside Norris. It was a extremely encouraging outcome for Ferrari, which confirmed strong competitiveness with out introducing any main technical updates. The Maranello workforce ended qualifying with a robust and convincing efficiency that confirms the SF-25’s rising consistency throughout completely different circuits.
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