2024 Mexico GP Qualifying Preview & Tips – JP
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying Preview
James has already posted his Mexican GP outright preview, read that here. Check out James’ 2024 Mexico GP Qualifying preview and tips below.
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying Update
Yesterday’s free practice sessions where not very enlightening. The first session saw five young drivers getting a run out and the likes of Norris, Hamilton and Leclerc sat the session out.
Leclerc then missed part of FP2 after his car, driven by Olly Bearman, was hit by an out of control Alex Albon, damaging the Ferrari, wrecking the Williams to the extent that the car was not fixed in time for FP2 and delaying Leclerc’s start time.
There were two red flags in the session and it was all a bit messy. Max Verstappen only ran 14 laps as he was having engine problems. The session ended with Russell in the Merecedes fastest (Mercedes fast on Friday, who would have guessed?), Sainz second and Tsunoda a surprise third. Bottas was eighth, which sums up that it was a strange session.
Pirelli Test
FP2 was a Pirelli test session. The teams were allocated unmarked prototype tyres for next season. As a practice session it had little value as a form guide. However, Verstappen only got four laps in, retiring with the engine problem which dogged him in the first session.
George Russell had a big crash which ended his day after a handful of laps. That has to be a concern for Mercedes as he crashed last week and Hamilton retired in Texas after going off the track. Sainz finished the session on top, from Piastri and again, Tsunoda in third and Bottas eighth.
McLaren have brough their new floor, but it is only on Norris’ car this weekend. Russell is running the ‘old’ spec car after his crash last weekend.
FP3 was especially important this weekend as it is the only ‘normal’ session. McLaren ended that session with a 1-2 finish and over 0.3 seconds faster than the third best car, Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari.
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying: Team by Team
McLaren
Very impressive, but has the new floor really made any difference? Piastri was a fraction faster in the ‘old’ car, but the fact that they were well clear of the opposition, on a short lap, makes them clear favourites to get pole.
Norris is 15-4 vs. Piastri in qualifying. If the new floor is not a step backwards, you have to fancy Norris to be the lead McLaren and looking at his sixth pole of the season and his third in a row.
Ferrari
Looked to be bossing things on Friday, but they fell behind McLaren today. Qualifying is not their party trick outside of street tracks and their long run pace looks good for Sunday, but today, they may have to play second fiddle to McLaren.
Red Bull
It has not gone well so far for Red Bull. Perez is as dreadful as ever, home race or not. Verstappen had car problems yesterday and today, both drivers were not comfortable with the car’s set up. Verstappen was over 0.5 slower than the McLarens and closing that gap with a set up change looks optimistic.
Mercedes
It all looked so good on Friday. Russell hit the ground running and was fastest in FP1. He hit the wall in FP2. That was a chassis written off and he is running a car cobbled together of bits that the team have found at the back of the garage.
Hamilton is left to lead the charge and he was pretty much on the pace of Verstappen. His best lap impressed him, but he was surprised that McLaren could be so much faster, especially on a short lap.
Visa RB
A head scratcher. Tsunoda looked an artificial third best in both sessions on Friday, and he did drop back today, but only to seventh. Lawson was tenth fastest, so the car is liking Mexico City. They should be getting one car into Q3 and it should be Tsunoda, but maybe they will do the double as they have had both cars in the top ten in all three sessions. Impressive.
Haas
Hulkenberg was fifth in FP1, Magnussen sixth in FP2. The car looked a bit more difficult today, but KMag was ninth. He has suddenly found some great form since the upgrade was introduced, and he might be their best chance today. My worry is that the car is rapid on the mediums, but not on the softs, and that is not good for qualifying. Watch out for them in the race.
Williams
Albon recovered well from his big smash yesterday. He ended up eleventh and very much on the cusp of Q3 territory. Colapinto was thirteenth and is keeping Albon on his toes again.
Sauber
Actually not looking the worst team on the grid for once. Bottas has been top 10 material on Friday and only fell back to twelfth today. I’m stunned, very stunned.
Aston Martin
It might be Alonso’s one millionth GP weekend, but the car is poor. Getting both out of Q1 will be a good result.
Alpine
Signs of a revival in Texas have been brought back down to earth in Mexico. Hard to fancy. They may well be slower than Sauber.
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying: Summary
McLaren look to have this session in their sights. Norris has got pole in four of the last five GPs and while it is never easy, that is dominant form. Ferrari have a good car here and look to be the biggest threat, but they have to find a few tenths on what is a short lap, and that is a big ask.
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying Tip: 1 point Lando Norris to be the fastest qualifier @ 2.25 with Ladbrokes
Down at Alpine, Ocon has got the latest upgrade, and while it isn’t working here, he has been faster than Gasly in all three sessions. He is 13-6 in seasonal qualifying with his teammate and looks a bit of value at 1.74 to extend that lead.
2024 Mexico GP Qualifying Tip: 1 point Ocon to outqualify Gasly at 1.74 with Livescorebet
I want to have a go with Magnussen to beat Hulkenberg. The German is 15-4 vs. his Danish teammate, but Magnussen was faster in qualifying in Texas, and that is when the car got a serious upgrade.
KMag has been faster in two of the three sessions this weekend and maybe the car is now much more in his wheelhouse. However, the odds are just 2.10, and I was expecting much better than that.
The last bet is for another of these wonder rookies to make an impression. Lawson is not a complete rookie having done a handful of races last year and again in Texas last weekend. He impressed last year and scored points on his return last weekend. He has been 9/10/10 in the three timed sessions so far and his teammate 3/3/7. The car looks dialled in on this track.
