Max Verstappen saw a golden opportunity to snatch pole position at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez slip away following a costly mistake in the dying seconds of qualifying at the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing star was flying through the timing screens and on course to challenge for the top spot with a blistering purple sector two.
However, drama struck as he entered the stadium section. Verstappen encountered the slow-moving McLaren of Lando Norris, triggering a severe lock-up into Turn 13 and forcing him to abandon his final flying lap.
"Well, I arrived at 12 and I see a car still in front of me, so that’s already where you don’t lose time," Verstappen explained to media including Motorsport Week. "With the dirty air, and then I see also then the car parking it on the right, which in that corner you don’t want. Because I arrived at 13, already doing a bit of a different line, you lose your reference, because you always have your references when you brake and there’s a car so you cannot see it."
He further elaborated that losing crucial braking markers at the absolute limit of qualifying makes drivers vulnerable. The altered angle and unexpected traffic completely disrupted his rhythm, leading directly to the mistake that ruined his final push.
Although finishing fourth fastest in qualifying, Verstappen will start Sunday's race from fifth on the grid following a one-place penalty incurred from a practice incident with Liam Lawson on Friday. Despite the frustration of missing out on a front-row start, the Dutchman remained philosophical and praised the significant turnaround and performance gains engineered by his crew on the RB22.
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