Mexico City F1GP Qualifying on Saturday

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Front-Row for George in Intense Mexico Qualifying

• George Russell qualified second for tomorrow’s Mexico City Grand Prix with Kimi Antonelli fifth in an incredibly tight qualifying session. 
• That will become P4 for Kimi on Sunday’s grid by virtue of Max Verstappen’s one-place grid penalty.
• In what was a closely fought affair, George put together a strong final effort in Q3 to take P2, just 0.009s shy of Lewis Hamilton’s pole position time of 1:16.514. 
• Kimi was also in the fight at the front, setting a 1:16.707 to take P5, just 0.193s away from pole position. 
• The difficulty throughout the session was getting tyre warm-up correct, with the optimal finely balanced between needing a preparation lap and going for it on the first lap.
• Tomorrow’s race will likely be dominated by the challenge of cooling, with all teams needing to manage brake and power unit temperatures at the high altitude of Mexico City.

Driver	FP3	Q1		Q2		Q3
George Russell	P7	8 Laps	P5	7 Laps	P5	7 Laps	P2
		1:17.659	Soft	1:17.027	Soft, Soft	1:16.523	Soft, Soft
Kimi Antonelli	P2	9 Laps	P9	7 Laps	P7	8 Laps	P5
		1:17.918	Soft	1:17.133	Soft, Soft	1:16.707	Soft, Soft

George Russell

That wasn’t an easy session, but I was pleased with my final lap. It came together when it mattered and we were able to get a good result out of the session. It was tricky getting the tyres into the right window and we took a slightly different approach with our preparation compared to some of those around us. We opted to go for it on the first lap at the end of Q3, rather than take a preparation lap, and that proved the right call. The performance was clearly in the car, but we need to understand why we haven’t been able to access it as consistently as we would like recently. 

It’s very close between the four teams at the front, so tomorrow should be an interesting race. Overtaking will be difficult and managing the power unit and brake temperatures will be important, but we’ll see what opportunities come our way. My focus is on finishing the season strongly and maximising every opportunity we have.

Kimi Antonelli

It wasn’t my best qualifying today. I struggled to find the grip from the tyres in Q3 and didn’t put together the lap I wanted, with a few too many mistakes. It’s disappointing as I felt more comfortable earlier in the session and hoped we could be fighting further forward. That said, we’re still P4 and there is plenty to play for tomorrow.

The run to Turn One is very long here, so getting a good start and staying out of trouble will be important. We’ve also saved a set of Soft tyres which could give us some options in the race. I think we have a good chance to fight for a strong result, so I’ll get some rest tonight, reset and focus on doing the best race we can tomorrow.

Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal

It was incredibly close out there today. The gap between Lewis (Hamilton) and George was probably no more than 50 centimetres on track, which shows how fine the margins were. It was a difficult session for us though overall. The tyre was tricky to get into the right window and the grip dropped away quickly, so getting the preparation right was important. George’s quickest lap came without a preparation lap, whereas we took a different approach with Kimi, so we need to look at that and understand whether we could have optimised it better.

The race will be a different challenge. The margins were just as small on Friday’s long runs as we saw on the single lap today, so getting the start, strategy and tyre management right will be important. We are starting from a position where we can fight, and our focus will be on executing a clean race with both cars and seeing what opportunities come our way.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

We had a relatively straightforward FP3, evaluating the changes we made overnight and doing some work to better understand the tyres on lower fuel. We made some progress with the set-up, although we were still struggling with a loose rear on corner entry and understeer at the apex of the slower corners. That made it difficult to put a complete lap together. Our pace on the Medium tyre wasn’t particularly strong, but the additional grip from the Soft helped and, by the end of the session, it looked like we might have the performance to fight for pole.

We didn’t change much on either car going into qualifying, but it was a slightly messy start to the session, and we were lacking some pace early on. The track temperature continued to drop, which would normally help us, but after the first runs in Q2 we still looked to be a few tenths away. We improved as the session progressed and George produced a very strong final lap in Q3 to take a place on the front row, just a few milliseconds from pole. Kimi finished P5 and wasn’t especially happy with either the car or his own performance. With penalties applied, we will start P2 and P4 tomorrow. Given the long run to Turn One, that puts us in a reasonable position. Our long-run pace on Friday looked competitive, but managing brake and Power Unit temperatures is likely to be one of the key factors in the race. Both drivers can fight for the podium and, if we can manage those temperatures and use the performance in the car, hopefully we can be in the fight for the win too.

Friday Report -- Mexico City F1 GP, Mercedes Benz Team

 

Solid first day in Mexico City

• The team had a decent first day of practice in Mexico City: Kimi, George and Fred drove in the W17 and finished in the top four in both practice sessions.
• Fred completed his third rookie session of the season in FP1. He took over the car from George and did an excellent job of completing his program in full and setting the third fastest time of the first practice session.
• He was the fastest rookie in the session, less than a tenth of a second behind Kimi, who finished second.
• George returned to the car in FP2 and, together with Kimi, built on the work done in FP1.
• George set the third fastest time of the day, just 0.106 seconds behind Charles Leclerc's best time in the Ferrari.
• Kimi was only 0.111 seconds behind his teammate in fourth place. In this session, four different teams were represented among the top five.
• In the long runs, it once again looked incredibly close between the top four teams, with both the soft and medium tyres being used.

Driver	FP1				FP2
George Russell	-	-	-	-	31 para.	1:17.933	P3	Medium, Soft, Soft
Kimi Antonelli	30 para.	1:18.787	P2	Hard, Soft	33 para.	1:18.044	P4	Medium, Soft, Medium
Fred Vesti	24 para.	1:18.861	P3	Hard, Soft	-	-	-	-

George Russell

Fred did a really good job in the car and prepared me optimally for the training session. It was good to get back into the rhythm so quickly after skipping the first practice session. Mexico is always a special challenge because of the altitude and the low grip, which is even more noticeable this year. Due to the way the cars work on the straights, we were running with a lot of downforce on most tracks. Therefore, the increase in downforce is not as strong this time as is usually the case on this route. This makes the car particularly tricky to drive. In addition, there is the challenge of turbo lag at this altitude.

It's incredibly close, and every tenth of a second will be decisive. Ferrari seems to be the strongest at the moment. Given the characteristics of this track, this may not be a surprise, but I think that can change between now and Q3 tomorrow. We have to get everything out of the car because the gaps will be very small.

Kimi Antonelli

First of all, it was nice to be back in the car today and to feel fit. It was an interesting Friday here in Mexico. It's never easy to get a feel for the car, especially in the first practice session when the track still needs to be driven cleanly. We tried a few different things between sessions to put the balance of the car in a better window and it seems like we improved for the second practice session.

There are definitely things we can improve on tomorrow and we still have some work to do overnight. Ferrari looked very fast, but we'll focus on ourselves, see where we can get more performance out of it and hopefully put ourselves in a good starting position for tomorrow.

Fred Vesti

I'm very happy with my FP1 today. We completed our entire program, collected a lot of valuable data for this weekend and the future and created the basis for the rest of the day. Personally, I was also very satisfied with my performance during training. I knew my lap on the soft tyres was good, but when I saw third place on the timesheet, I was overjoyed. Since the start of development two years ago, I have put an enormous amount of work into this car together with the team. So it's very special for me to have the opportunity to ride it here in Mexico and put in a strong lap.

I'm very grateful for the trust the team has placed in me and for giving me the opportunity to prove my skills. These training sessions are very important for all of us rookies, so I'm happy to have made the most of them today. I felt comfortable in the car, put in a good lap and was really happy to finish third. It was a great experience that I enjoyed very much.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

It was a solid first day in Mexico. Kimi and Fred both did a good job in the first practice session, especially given the difficult conditions here due to the altitude and low grip. Fred completed the program provided for him and showed an excellent performance with third place. This provided us with valuable information for the second practice session, in which George was back at the wheel.

The track in Mexico is the most difficult to prepare for, as it is impossible to simulate all the effects of altitude. We are using Friday to understand the different issues we are facing and to develop an approach on how to overcome them in qualifying and in the race.

As far as the Power Unit is concerned, we seem to be in good shape and have a lot of power delivery out of the corners. However, the cooling of both the brakes and the power unit is always an issue here. However, we were able to do decent long runs with both cars. While we'd like to see a little more wiggle room, it seems like all the teams here need to do some level of management.

The field is close together and after today we wouldn't be at the top. We struggle with a lack of stability at corner entry, which leads to understeer at the apex. The problems on a fast lap are similar to those on the long runs. That should make it a little easier to make progress. But it's also clear that we still have to improve if we want to fight for the front row of the grid.

Top Selling Motor Vehicles in the U.S. between 1969 and 1980: Ford F 100 Trucks already dominated sales long before the Home Depot / Lowes Era!

 

1970 Ford F-100

At times I prove myself quite wrong! Before the 1980s, Ford f-100 trucks already were the best selling vehicles in America. But the mix within the top ten during the decade of the 1970s are a story worth telling.

In 1969, the Ford F 100 sold over 364,000 units more than 2nd place Chevrolet Chevelle (335,000), and 3rd place Chevrolet Impala (303,000), Performance-oriented cars that aimed at younger drives followed -- Ford Mustang, Pontiac Lemans Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Camaro Dodge Charger, and Plymouth Roadrunner, with the only exception being the Volkswagen Beetle (65,000). The 1960s were coming to a close, but the cars that in many ways helped define automotive history of the decade remained strong fixtures, But it was not meant to be much longer.  By 1971, only the Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Camaro remained in the top ten in sales. As Lee Iacocca would later state, the Mustang was becoming a "fat pig."

The Ford F-100 remained the best-selling vehicle throughout the remainder of the 1970s, but the list of the other popular cars was in flux from year to year, with Volkswagen falling out, Toyota Corolla moving in by 1972 and Honda in 1978. Dodge Ram and D-series pickups became significant in the marketplace by 1977.  Then in 1980 after Oil Shock II front wheel drive economy cars rose to prominence, with the top passenger car being the new Chevrolet Citation, and the Ford Escort and Fairmont following behind.

1980 Chevrolet Citation

Of course, the automobile consumer had many choices, and Plymouth Dusters, Chevrolet Novas, and  Dodge Darts enabled working class families to also purchase new cars. There were classes of vehicles that clearly aligned with classes of Americans, with the solid middle classes making the Oldsmobile Cutlass the favorites car of buyers in 1978.

United States Grand Prix F1 Results 2026: Three-Pointed Star Shines Brightest in Lone Star State as Kimi takes Stunning Win

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• Kimi Antonelli took his ninth victory of the season in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, putting him on the verge of sealing the Drivers’ World Championship in Mexico next weekend. 
• The race was shaped by the strategic decisions in the opening 15 laps, with Red Bull committing Max Verstappen to a two-stop strategy and both Ferraris following suit. 
• We trusted the degradation and lap times we were seeing and opted not to cover, committing Kimi and George to the one-stop strategy. 
• That proved to be the right call, as Kimi took the checkered flag 13 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc and Verstappen. 
• George endured a more difficult afternoon, struggling with the balance of the car and receiving a penalty following an incident on the opening lap. 
• Despite a strong start to his second stint, his progress was halted when he caught the McLaren of Piastri and was unable to find a way through. 
• Kimi’s victory is the team’s sixth at the Circuit of the Americas, following our wins in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. 
• Pierluigi Orsi, Chief of Aerodynamic Technology, represented the team on the podium.
• Kimi now leads the standings by 123 points meaning a P9 finish or higher will secure the title for him. 

Driver	Grid	Result	Fastest Lap	Start Tyre	Stop One
Kimi Antonelli	P1	P1	1:39.086	Medium	Hard (L24)
George Russell	P6	P8	1:39.928	Medium	Hard (L22)

Kimi Antonelli

What an incredible feeling. After Friday, I don’t think any of us expected to be standing here with the win, so to turn the weekend around like this is really special. The car felt great today, and I was able to control the race, but it definitely wasn’t easy. There was pressure throughout and I knew I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. I just tried to stay calm, focus on each lap and execute the race.

A huge thank you to everyone here at the track and back at Brackley and Brixworth. We kept working after a difficult Friday and never gave up. To repay all that work with a victory feels amazing. I’m very proud of what we achieved today.

George Russell

It was another difficult day for me today. I just didn’t have the pace and I’m unsure why that is. My first stint wasn’t great, and I was struggling initially on the Medium tire but after the pitstop my pace felt stronger and I felt I could make some progress. However, once I caught up with the McLaren of Piastri, I just couldn’t overtake and ended up stuck behind him for the remaining laps of the race. 

The time penalty from the opening lap cost me a couple of places but overall, the pace just wasn’t good enough today for me to be fighting at the front. The lack of performance is something me and the team will look at and work on over the next couple of days. Hopefully we can make some improvements ahead of next weekend in Mexico and come back stronger for the rest of the season.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

That was an exceptional drive from Kimi. He and the team didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon, showing strong pace throughout along with making all the right decisions strategically. What makes today particularly satisfying is where we came from on Friday. We didn’t look like we had a car capable of winning this race, but the team kept working, made good decisions and turned the weekend around. That is a credit to everyone here in Austin and back in Brackley and Brixworth.

For George, it was a more difficult afternoon, and the result doesn’t reflect the pace we know he has. He was hindered by a five-second time penalty that dropped him behind the McLarens and then he got stuck behind Piastri. We will look at this weekend overall, understand what we could have done differently and work together to make sure he can have a stronger weekend in Mexico.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Well done to Kimi and everyone in Brackley and Brixworth on the win. After Friday, a race victory simply didn’t look achievable given our single-lap and long-run pace, so it’s been a remarkable turnaround and a very satisfying result.

For George, it was a frustrating afternoon. The penalty for going off track on the opening lap didn’t help and, despite making a strong start to his second stint, he got stuck behind Piastri and couldn’t find a way through.

There were encouraging signs with the car pace, although since the update it does feel like the set-up window has become a little harder to hit. Operationally though, the team did a very good job. The strategy decisions weren’t clear-cut, but we held our nerve, made the right call to stick with the one-stop, and the pit stops were solid.

Most of all, Kimi should be incredibly pleased with his performances. It was a difficult Friday, but what he produced in qualifying, and the race today, was exceptional.

The Psychology of owners who drive old Mercedes-Benz Cars -- Very insightful!

 There is plenty to learn from in watching this video. What caused me jump at posting this is that it explained to me far more about myself than any psychiatrist or self-help book could. One point really struck home -- the issue of my need for autonomy. That has been at the heart of my personality my entire life. I detested service in the army; at jobs that demanded I follow "their" formulas or rules or schedules or timeline.  No wonder I hated working at a Catholic university! The administration was always interfering with my lehrfreiheit and lernfreiheit.  I just wanted to be left alone to do a job I knew how to do. Deans ,Associate Provosts, etc. always threw roadblocks by setting up curricula structures that I did not want to follow. So did colleagues who I would label a part of the "Confederacy of Dunces."

Autonomy -- anytime it is compromised even in retirement I chafe.  The Church and a call for obedience -- I am more than a little wary.

And it explains why I like to drive my 1982 Mercedes 380 SL when I could drive a new S class if I wanted to.

United States F1 Grand Prix Preview -- Mercedes-Benz -- "Circuit of the Americas"

 

Toto on Austin

The weekends in Malaysia and Singapore were difficult for us and we worked hard to identify our weak points. In Austin, we now have the opportunity to respond to this. We will use our latest update package on both cars while continuing to drive the development of the car. The field is incredibly close, so we need to keep improving if we want to keep up with the front runners in the closing stages of the season.

The United States Grand Prix heralds another challenging triple-header. The stakes are high, but we don't want to rush into anything. Our priority is on the upcoming weekend: we want to do our job in the best possible way, maximise our performance and take every race as it comes.

For us, Austin will also be an important weekend away from the track, as there will be numerous commercial activities taking place throughout the city. The focus is on the takeover by AMG and MANUFAKTUR, which will bring the performance, craftsmanship and individuality of the entire Mercedes family to life throughout the weekend. We look forward to showcasing this and ultimately convincing where it matters most: on the track.

Insights from the third driver

Austin always has a fantastic atmosphere and an incredible fan base. I'm really looking forward to seeing you at our fan hub event in the city centre and to great racing. The "Circuit of The Americas" represents a unique challenge for both the drivers and the team. The track surface is notoriously bumpy, which makes it difficult to find the right balance with the car and manage the performance of the tyres over a lap and stint. It is crucial to find the right setup. That's why we spend so much time preparing in the simulator before the race weekend.

The first sector is one of the most exciting sections of the track. Turn one is a steep climb before descending into a series of fast, flowing corners where the car is pushed to its limits. It's incredibly satisfying when you succeed, but it's also very easy to make a mistake and go off the track.

Overall, it's a fantastic circuit with a great mix of technical challenges and overtaking opportunities, which usually makes for exciting races.

Did you know?

• This year's United States Grand Prix will be held again in the usual race weekend format after three years of sprint weekends.
• The difference in altitude from the starting grid to the apex of the first corner is a good 40 metres (134 feet), making it one of the largest on the entire F1 calendar.
• Mercedes has scored four one-two finishes at the United States Grand Prix in Austin so far - more than any other team.
• Lewis Hamilton remains the most successful driver at COTA with five wins in Austin, including four consecutive wins between 2014 and 2017. At this track, he also secured his third (2015) and sixth (2019) F1 titles while driving for the team.
• COTA has been the venue for the United States Grand Prix since 2012.