Qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City is always a uniquely challenging session. The sensitivity of these cars to environmental factors is becoming increasingly pronounced, and when combined with a circuit that sits over 2000 meters above sea level, it creates a delicate balance for those who can find the optimal performance window at the right moment. Occasionally, this results in outcomes that feel almost random, akin to last year’s Ferrari front row or the Mercedes lineup in 2021. However, this time around, it seems that merit has been duly recognized. Following a weekend in Texas where Carlos Sainz demonstrated his comfort with the SF24 in its end-of-season configuration, he arrived in Mexico in commanding form. The qualifying session certainly rewarded the ideal blend of a driver in peak condition and a car that was clocking impressive times in the crucial sections of the track.
In contrast to Sainz, Charles Leclerc encountered greater challenges in finding the right rhythm for his qualifying lap. This struggle may be attributed to the disrupted schedule during free practice. Despite this, he showcased a notably competitive race pace, as indicated by our long-run analysis in yesterday’s video, which drew upon data from the first two free practice sessions. A marginally cleaner lap, just a tenth faster, would have placed the Monegasque driver on the front row as well. Overall, the Maranello team has reason to celebrate, not only for securing pole position but also for placing both cars in the top four, while both McLaren and Red Bull saw one of their drivers exit early in Q1. The lap data from the top four drivers reveals several intriguing observations that we will explore in this video.
To start, the data indicates that while McLaren appears to have greater downforce, Ferrari boasts superior speed. Examining the load indicators, it is evident that McLaren exhibits the highest aerodynamic load in terms of downforce index and speed variance. Red Bull is only slightly less loaded than the Woking-based team, while Ferrari seems to have opted for a setup that is one notch less loaded. This difference is reflected in the speed profiles, where the SF24 demonstrates impressive acceleration, gaining significant time on the straights, though it loses some speed in the “snake” section of the middle sector. Generally, on a mixed-layout track, it is often easier to gain more time through improved performance in slower corners, even if there are marked disadvantages in high-speed turns. This phenomenon is evident in Ferrari’s performance, as both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc display remarkable speed in corners 2-3 and the subsequent 4-5-6. According to our calculations before entering turn 7, Carlos Sainz has a lead of approximately four tenths over Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc trails by just under three tenths. However, in the snake section from turns 7 to 11, Ferrari faces challenges on the qualifying lap, as previously discussed. This is due to their slightly less loaded setup, softer suspension designed for better curb handling, and the inherent difficulties of the SF24 in optimizing the lateral grip offered by the soft tires.
OUTLINE:
00:00:00 Introduction to Qualifying at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
00:00:38 Environmental Sensitivity and High Altitude Challenges
00:00:51 Unexpected Results and Merit-Based Outcomes
00:01:06 Carlos Sainz’s Dominant Form
00:01:23 Charles Leclerc’s Qualifying Struggles
00:02:19 Ferrari’s Strong Performance
00:02:42 McLaren’s Aerodynamic Load
00:02:47 Load Indicators and Speed Profiles
00:02:56 Ferrari’s Setup and Performance
00:03:03 Speed Profiles and Sector Analysis
00:03:16 Performance in Slow Corners vs. High-Speed Turns
00:03:27 Corner Performance and Time Gains
00:03:44 Struggles in the Snake Section
00:05:00 Turn 13 decides the starting order
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3 Comments
How's the racepace? Is it as strong as austin?
Sainz deserves another win.
lets go ferrari !!! , lets go CS 55 and CL 16