News Summary
- Max Verstappen lashed out at Lando Norris over team radio, accusing the McLaren driver of compromising his final Q3 attempt in Mexico City.
- The Red Bull driver set the fastest opening sector but lost time in the stadium section, where he encountered traffic and locked up his front-left tyre.
- Verstappen qualified fourth, 0.178s behind Lewis Hamilton, but will start fifth after a one-place grid penalty for his collision with Liam Lawson.
Max Verstappen was left furious with Lando Norris after qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday (31), accusing the McLaren driver of getting in his way during a decisive Q3 attempt. The Dutchman appeared to be challenging for a stronger starting position before encountering traffic near the stadium section of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, ultimately finishing fourth on outright pace.
Verstappen’s frustration was immediately apparent over the Red Bull team radio after he completed the lap.
“Fucking brilliant from Norris, puts the car there,” the four-time world champion complained.
Verstappen loses time after strong start to final Q3 lap
Verstappen had started his flying lap strongly, recording the fastest opening sector and maintaining competitive pace through the middle part of the circuit.
However, the Red Bull driver encountered several cars as he approached the stadium section, with Norris among those ahead.
Verstappen locked up his front-left tyre under braking for the chicane, compromising his final sector and preventing him from improving sufficiently to challenge for pole.
The Dutchman blamed Norris’s positioning, although the available account does not establish that the McLaren driver committed a regulatory infringement.
Verstappen ultimately recorded 1:16.692, finishing 0.178s behind Hamilton, who secured his first Ferrari pole position and ended a 1,197-day wait.
George Russell qualified second, just 0.009s behind Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
Verstappen drops to fifth after Lawson penalty
The qualifying disappointment was compounded by an outstanding grid penalty from Friday’s practice.
Verstappen and Liam Lawson were each handed a one-place grid penalty following their collision during FP2.
The sanction drops Verstappen from fourth to fifth on Sunday’s starting grid, promoting Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fourth.
The Dutchman had already criticised Lawson’s decision to challenge him during practice, warning the New Zealander that such behaviour was unwise while his future within the Red Bull organisation remained uncertain.
Verstappen also insisted he had consistently supported Lawson within Red Bull.
The two incidents have therefore left Verstappen facing a more difficult race from the third row, with Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc and Antonelli ahead of him.
Norris, meanwhile, qualified sixth after leading final practice by just 0.001s over Antonelli.
The Mexican Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, November 1, at 14:00 local time, corresponding to 20:00 GMT in the United Kingdom.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
