Lando Norris has looked unstoppable this weekend, with a mesmeric final lap in Q3 giving him pole by a healthy margin.
What will doubtless please him even more – though he’s far too diplomatic to say it – is that the three cars behind him are red and silver, rather than blue and orange. Ferrari are second and third, with George Russell fourth, before Max Verstappen, struggling for grip, appears in fifth, one row ahead of Championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will start seventh.
But this isn’t a race that’s won on Saturday. Pirelli have bridged their tyre compounds to produce some intriguing strategy options, and Mexico City has a history of throwing its own brand of mayhem into the works. We’re in for quite a race.