Russell after qualifying: Disappointed and happy at the same time

Mercedes ended the last free practice with a comfortable lead over the rest of the field, including Max Verstappen. Normally, such a lead is not overcome within a few hours between free practice and qualifying. But on Saturday in Mexico it was.

Logically, George Russell, who finished second behind Verstappen and thus starts from the front row of the grid, was asked during the press conference what had happened to the car between the two sessions? The answer was quite simple: "Nothing, to be honest. We changed nothing. So, the conditions changed, the wind changed slightly, the grip was a lot lower, temperature had increased. And I think that's always the difficulty with Mexico. It can easily be a front limitation, it can easily be a rear limitation, just depending on the track temperature. And with this really dark colour of tarmac, it can fluctuate very, very quickly."

With such a big lead in the closing free practice, Mercedes was secretly already thinking about pole. But that wasn't in it, then. "So yeah, it was a bit of a shame, but nevertheless, you know, we're starting P2, second best quali of the year and we've got both of us inside the top three. So, there's a lot of positives to take away", Russell said.

Mercedes is 'lucky' that pole is not the best starting position in Mexico. The run-up to the first corner is long and perfect for a slipstream. In recent years, the Grand Prix has been won by the driver who started third. So for Lewis Hamilton the chance to take his first win of the season?