2017 Mexican Grand Prix Free Practice & Qualifying Thread

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:44 pm

So the big question in q3 is: can ferrari and merc higher engine modes cover verstappen’s pace.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:45 pm

kleefton wrote:So the big question in q3 is: can ferrari and merc higher engine modes cover verstappen’s pace.

Max wants an extra warm-up lap for Q3 to emulate his Q2 exploits, where the double yellows caused him to abort a fast lap.

LBET · Post by **LBET** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:49 pm

Very close at the top!

LBET · Post by **LBET** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:50 pm

Renault reliability issues resurface yet again. It's like a flippin lottery but not in a good way.

Herb Tarlik · Post by **Herb Tarlik** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:52 pm

Max ruins Bottas' lap.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:53 pm

That's pole for Verstappen

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:54 pm

Herb Tarlik wrote:Max ruins Bottas' lap.

It put Bottas off but I think it won't be viewed as a block I think he left enough room.

ynot22 · Post by **ynot22** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:55 pm

I hope this quali stays like this to shake things up

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:55 pm

Max repeats his 1:16.5 using an extra warm-up lap (well he aborted a fairly fast lap later into the lap).

Big target for the rest.

Zoue · Post by **Zoue** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:55 pm

Max 9 tenths ahead of Dan!

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:55 pm

pokerman wrote:That's pole for Verstappen

Yep he has more pace in that car too. Didnt nail sector 3 on that last lap.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:56 pm

ynot22 wrote:I hope this quali stays like this to shake things up

I think Bottas can get second

Herb Tarlik · Post by **Herb Tarlik** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:58 pm

The FIA is investigating Max.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:58 pm

Absurd to even investigate it. Verstappen has to be somewhere.

Banana Man · Post by **Banana Man** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:58 pm

I don't think Max had anywhere better to go in those circumstances.

PRFAN · Post by **PRFAN** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 6:59 pm

MAX should be on the clear, Bottas messed up all alone there.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:01 pm

Superb from Vettel.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:02 pm

Unlucky for Verstappen, I think he will get away with the incident but still a bit naughty to back up.

Herb Tarlik · Post by **Herb Tarlik** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:02 pm

50 poles for Vettel. Well done.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:03 pm

Vettel denies Verstappen his first pole position.

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:03 pm

Woah I couldn’t see anyone touching Verstappen for pole after those first runs. Looked like it was just a case of drivers not being able to get into the window for the tyres.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:03 pm

Lol I predicted vettel would get pole here but it really was max’s to lose and he lost it.
Congrats to seb. Always there when it counts it seems.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:03 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:Absurd to even investigate it. Verstappen has to be somewhere.

It's backing off from the flying lap that might be a problem to be investigated but I think he will be alright.

F1Tyrant · Post by **F1Tyrant** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:04 pm

The Ferrari has been the car to beat on the shorter, less engine dominaed tracks all year. Kudos to Vettel punting Max into P2.

2018 is going to be fascinating if Mercedes have to change their aero concept.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:05 pm

Excellent lap from Vettel for pole.

Black_Flag_11 · Post by **Black_Flag_11** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:05 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:Absurd to even investigate it. Verstappen has to be somewhere.

he put himself off the racing line and slowed so he wouldn’t interfere at the next corner. He couldn’t have done any more and it’s not his fault if Bottas locked up.

Lt. Drebin · Post by **Lt. Drebin** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:05 pm

Magnificent from Vettel to beat the "super annoyed" Max and Hamilton in his prime. One of the worst quali for Mercedes.

Back to Vettel - he did this in a champ way.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:06 pm

F1Tyrant wrote:The Ferrari has been the car to beat on the shorter, less engine dominaed tracks all year. Kudos to Vettel punting Max into P2.

2018 is going to be fascinating if Mercedes have to change their aero concept.

The car has certain deficiencies

Fiki · Post by **Fiki** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:06 pm

Waiting to hear the penalty for Verstappen. I doubt it can be overlooked.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:07 pm

Lt. Drebin wrote:Magnificent from Vettel to beat the "super annoyed" Max and sliding Hamilton. One of the worst quali for Mercedes,

Its another track were Mercedes just lack a bit.

mikeyg123 · Post by **mikeyg123** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:07 pm

pokerman wrote:
mikeyg123 wrote:Absurd to even investigate it. Verstappen has to be somewhere.
It's backing off from the flying lap that might be a problem to be investigated but I think he will be alright.

I pretty sure you're allowed to back off a flying lap if you want to.... I've never heard of that being a problem before. He had backed off way before Bottas caught him. It's not unusual.

veffy · Post by **veffy** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:08 pm

So is the VER > RIC gap due to the upgraded engine? It's a solid upgrade if so

veffy · Post by **veffy** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:09 pm

veffy wrote:So is the VER > RIC gap due to the upgraded engine? It's a solid upgrade if so

And it's great news for Mclaren next year if it's the case

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:09 pm

Vettel and Verstappen destroyed their team-mates. The cars looked very balanced around the track. Mercedes showed excellent pace during long runs in practice so I think we'll have a three-way battle for the win.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:10 pm

veffy wrote:So is the VER > RIC gap due to the upgraded engine? It's a solid upgrade if so

Maybe it makes up a couple of tenths?

UnlikeUday · Post by **UnlikeUday** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:10 pm

Fiki wrote:Waiting to hear the penalty for Verstappen. I doubt it can be overlooked.

Verstappen was off the racing line. Bottas screwed his lap by locking.

It's natural to blame one's mistake on another.

pokerman · Post by **pokerman** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:10 pm

mikeyg123 wrote:
pokerman wrote:
mikeyg123 wrote:Absurd to even investigate it. Verstappen has to be somewhere.
It's backing off from the flying lap that might be a problem to be investigated but I think he will be alright.
I pretty sure you're allowed to back off a flying lap if you want to.... I've never heard of that being a problem before. He had backed off way before Bottas caught him. It's not unusual.

Bottas would not have seen him before he came around the corner but like I say not an obvious block.

Herb Tarlik · Post by **Herb Tarlik** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:11 pm

Invade wrote:Vettel and Verstappen destroyed their team-mates. The cars looked very balanced around the track. Mercedes showed excellent pace during long runs in practice so I think we'll have a three-way battle for the win.

Kimi is such a non factor.

Invade · Post by **Invade** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:12 pm

Seb nailed two exceptionally technical tracks this year in Singapore and Mexico.

kleefton · Post by **kleefton** » Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:13 pm

veffy wrote:So is the VER > RIC gap due to the upgraded engine? It's a solid upgrade if so

It has to be. Looking at the s1 times max wasnt losing anything to ferrari and merc here. Its probably due to the track as well but the gap to Ric is huge.