While Mick Schumacher is having a really bad time qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix, world champion Max Verstappen is on pole position. So he has good cards for the race and also for a possible record, which he still shares with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
World champion Max Verstappen is reaching for the next victory and a record in Formula 1. The Red Bull star secured pole position in 1:17.775 minutes at the Mexican Grand Prix this Sunday (9 p.m. / Sky) and has the Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on his neck. Local hero Sergio Perez, who was loudly celebrated along the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, finished fourth.
"It was a good qualifying. We have a fast car, that's the most important thing," said Verstappen after the race. The hunt for times was disappointing for the German pilots, who clocked the same time of 1:20.419 minutes. Mick Schumacher's fastest lap in Q1 was canceled because he crossed the track barrier, in the end it was only enough for 15th place on the grid. Vettel starts in 16th place in the Aston Martin.
Verstappen would set a record for most wins in a season with his 14th win. Since his triumph in Austin last weekend, he has shared the best with Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013).
However, the records are only comparable to a limited extent due to the different number of races in one year. In 2004 there were 18 races, in 2013 there were 19, the current season ends after 22 races in Abu Dhabi.
Mick Schumacher fought in vain for a good starting position for the race, in which he had to recommend himself for continued employment with the US racing team. From position 15 on the grid, getting into the points becomes a challenge. In Q1, Schumacher's fastest lap was canceled due to crossing the track barrier. In his last attempt, the 23-year-old didn't improve significantly.
"Of course it's a shame and frustrating because the performance is there," said Schumacher. Team boss Günther Steiner recently indicated that after the race in Mexico a decision on the last free Formula 1 cockpit should be announced.
