BREAKING NEWS: F1 FIA 2024 Mexican Grand Prix starting grid....

FIA Confirms Starting Grid for 2024 Mexican Grand Prix with Penalties Applied

The FIA has officially released the starting grid for the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz securing pole position after an intense qualifying session on Saturday. Sainz’s lap time of 1:15.946 was enough to hold off fierce competition, placing him ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris, who will start second and third, respectively.

Sainz’s pole position marks a continuation of Ferrari’s strong form following their impressive one-two finish at the United States Grand Prix just a week prior. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, who will start from fourth on the grid, will be hoping to join Sainz at the front during Sunday’s race to further boost Ferrari’s efforts in the constructors’ championship. Ferrari has shown considerable improvement in recent races, and their strong performance in qualifying puts them in a favorable position heading into the Mexican Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, was just 0.225 seconds off Sainz’s pace and will be looking to capitalize on his front-row start to add another victory to his tally. However, Red Bull’s day was far from perfect, as Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, shockingly failed to advance past Q1, meaning he will start from 18th on the grid. Perez’s early exit in front of his home crowd was a significant blow, especially as Red Bull had hoped for a stronger showing from both drivers.

McLaren, too, experienced mixed fortunes during Saturday’s qualifying. While Lando Norris impressed with a third-place finish, his teammate Oscar Piastri was also eliminated in Q1, mirroring Perez’s disappointment. Piastri will start from 17th, leaving him with a tough task ahead if he hopes to climb through the field.

Mercedes enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, qualifying session, with George Russell securing fifth place and Lewis Hamilton taking sixth. Both drivers will be looking to challenge for podium positions during the race, but they will need to find extra pace to contend with the front-runners. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, was 0.705 seconds off Sainz’s pole time and will be aiming to close the gap in race conditions.

Kevin Magnussen of Haas delivered an impressive qualifying performance, securing seventh place and outpacing many of the midfield competitors. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly will start eighth, while Williams’ Alex Albon continued his strong form by qualifying in ninth. Rounding out the top 10 was Nico Hulkenberg in the second Haas, with both Haas cars making it into Q3, which is a significant achievement for the team.

Further down the grid, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, both driving for VCARB, will start 11th and 12th, respectively. Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will line up 13th and 14th, followed by Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas in 15th. Franco Colapinto, driving for Williams, will start 16th, while Oscar Piastri and Sergio Perez will begin their races from 17th and 18th, respectively. Zhou Guanyu, also driving for Sauber, will start 19th.

In a late ruling, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon has been relegated to the pitlane after making changes to his car under parc fermé conditions. This setback will make Ocon’s race particularly challenging, as he will have to work his way up from the very back.

With the starting grid confirmed and penalties applied, all eyes will now turn to Sunday’s race. The Mexican Grand Prix promises to be an exciting spectacle, with several storylines to follow, including Ferrari’s resurgence, Verstappen’s attempt to regain the top spot, and local hero Perez’s efforts to fight his way through the field after a disappointing qualifying session.

Race Timing and Time Zone Adjustments

The race is set to begin at 2:00 PM local time in Mexico City. However, with time zone shifts occurring overnight in Europe and the United Kingdom due to daylight savings changes, the start times for viewers outside of Mexico have been adjusted accordingly. For fans in the United Kingdom, the race will begin at 8:00 PM GMT, while those in Central European Time (CET) zones will see lights out at 9:00 PM. In the United States, the start times vary by region, with Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) starting at 4:00 PM, Central Daylight Time (CDT) at 3:00 PM, and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) at 1:00 PM.

The race is expected to be a thrilling one, with multiple drivers eager to take advantage of the chaotic starting grid and potential for dramatic on-track action at the high-altitude circuit. Fans can expect an intense battle at the front, with Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren all in contention for victory, while Mercedes and the midfield teams will be eager to spring surprises.