EL3 in Mexico: Red Bull confirms, hydraulic failure for Mercedes

On a circuit washed out by the violent showers that hit Mexico City on Friday evening, the drivers took time to venture onto the track. After half an hour and only a few laps of installation on Intermediate and Maxi-Wet tires, the Mexican track began to come alive; all competitors then coming out with Hyper-Soft tires. 

As the track dried out, the times quickly fell to improve on the marks seen on the opening day. At the end of the last free ride, it is finally Max Verstappen who once again finished at the top of the rankings with a benchmark set in 1’16”284. The Dutchman, however, complained about his battery, reporting that he could not recharge it.

Verstappen precedes the Mercedes de Lewis Hamilton, who can be crowned for the 5th time in his career on Sunday, by 0,254s. His only rival for the title, Sebastian Vettel, is in 3rd place, just three hundredths behind. 

follow Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), who has not tasted the joys of the podium since his victory in Monaco at the end of May, and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari), recent winner in Austin. The usual Top 6 should have included the second Mercedes, that of Valtteri Bottas, but the Finn suffered a hydraulic failure which immobilized him 10 minutes from the checkerboard. 

Charles Leclerc takes the honorary position of “best of the rest” with his Sauber. Dashing Friday, Renault fall slightly into line with Carlos Sainz 7th and Nico Hulkenberg 10th. The gap with the lead does not change, since the Spaniard and the German emerge respectively 1s and 1,3s from Verstappen. Between the yellow and black single-seaters slips the Toro Rosso de Pierre Gasly, who bounced back well after a complicated first day, and the second Sauber of Marcus Ericsson. 

The Force India of Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon finish at the gates of the Top 10, just in front of the Haas de Romain Grosjean. New difficult session for his teammate Kevin Magnussen, who brings up the rear by not having been able to set a timed time. 

After the surprises of Friday, Saturday morning we find a more traditional hierarchy with the three big cars at the front. The rain forecast for this afternoon in Mexico could, however, reshuffle the cards in qualifying. They will be followed live with commentary on CARhebdo.fr from 13:00 p.m. local time, or 20:00 p.m. in France.

Different conditions, but the same face at the top of practice in Mexico@Max33Verstappen makes it three out of three #MexicoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/1rBNjcF6Q4

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2018