Mexican GP qualifying: Piastri’s ‘misery’ as McLaren cop big blow in ‘massive upset’
Oscar Piastri has suffered his worst qualifying result of the season in a “massive upset” and blow to McLaren at the Mexican Grand Prix.
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Oscar Piastri will start the Mexican Grand Prix from 17th after a shocker saw him eliminated in the first qualifying session on Sunday (AEDT).
The Australian had progressed to Q3 at every race this season but struggled to produce a quick lap time in a closely contested Q1.
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Carlos Sainz dominated Q3 to take pole position in 1:15.9sec ahead of Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc as Ferrari’s impressive form continued.
Verstappen’s only recorded lap of Q3 was good enough for second fastest after he had a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits when he cut the corners on Turns 2 and 3.
But the world champion will start one spot ahead of championship rival Lando Norris as he looks to protect his lead in the title race.
“What a swingaround. High drama here in qualifying,” said David Croft after Verstappen’s earlier lap time was deleted.
On the cusp of elimination in Q3, Piastri was on course for a solid lap time until he went wide at Turn 12 and exceeding track limits, meaning his lap time of 1:17.6sec was deleted.
Piastri’s race engineer told him over radio: “Oscar we’ve been knocked out I’m afraid, we’ve been knocked out.”
“I just went off at Turn 12, got beached on the kerb there,” a dejected Piastri said.
“My lap was easily going to be enough … I lost about a second, so painful. I just made a very poor mistake.”
Martin Brundle said on Sky Sports: “Dear oh dear. What on earth is that all about. Not getting the peak of tyre pressure or track limits.
“It’s worth being that said that 17.6 that was deleted wouldn’t have got him in either.”
Commentator David Croft said: “That is not a good lap for Oscar Piastri. His misery continues.”
It comes a week after Piastri made a similar mistake, exceeding track limits in sprint qualifying at the United States Grand Prix that saw him start down the grid.
It was also a disaster for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who was only 18th fastest at his home race in a qualifying result that will ramp up pressure on the Mexican driver.
“That is a massive upset on both counts,” Croft said.
“You’ve just got to feel for Sergio Perez. Whatever is happening in that cockpit is just not working at the moment.”
Franco Colapinto, Zhou Guanyu and Esteban Ocon were also eliminated in Q1. Yuki Tsunoda crashed into the wall late in Q2, red flagging the session and preventing he and teammate Liam Lawson from sneaking into Q3.
Piastri’s Q3 elimination is far from ideal for McLaren, who are hoping the 22-year-old can help Lando Norris fend off Max Verstappen and eat into the Dutchman’s 57-point championship lead.
But it will be all up to Norris, who must win the Mexican Grand Prix on Monday morning (AEDT) to keep his championship hopes alive.
Ferrari is just eight points behind Red Bull and 48 points behind McLaren in the constructors championship.
The resurgent Scuderia achieved a 1-2 at the US Grand Prix last weekend, and another strong result for both Sainz and Leclerc could suddenly put Ferrari within striking distance of McLaren in the team standings.
With Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari next season, Sainz has accepted a demotion of sorts to go to Williams on a multi-year deal, with the hope of returning to a top team later in his career.
“It’s still baffling that he’s not going to be in a top four seat next year,” Sky Sports’ Karun Chandhok said.
CARLOS SAINZ POLE POSITION!!!!!!!
— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) October 26, 2024
WHY IS HE IN A WILLIAMS NEXT YEAR FFS!!!!!
“The guy is delivering at the absolute top level. It is baffling but it’s a stunning job today.
“It’s very rare that a team in the midfield has been able to attract a driver from one of the top four teams. It’s a massive coup. I still feel it’s a little bit of a shame we’re not going to see him in a Red Bull or a Mercedes next year.”
Mexican Grand Prix starting grid
1) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Lando Norris, McLaren
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
8) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
9) Alex Albon, Williams
10) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
11) Yuki Tsunoda, VCARB
12) Liam Lawson, VCARB
13) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
14) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
15) Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber
16) Franco Colapinto, Williams
17) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
18) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
19) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
20) Zhou Guanyo, Kick Sauber
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