Max Verstappen hunting down Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in title charge - McLaren rivals wobbling as Red Bull’s reigning four-time world champion makes dramatic late push

LANDO NORRIS showed he means business in the title fight as he bagged pole position in Mexico City. Meanwhile it was a woeful afternoon for his team-mate Oscar Piastri – who will start the

Oscar Piastri admits he’s at a loss to explain the gap to teammate Lando Norris in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix.Norris took pole position with a stunning final lap in Q3, beating the two Ferrari drivers who offered the closest threat in qualifying.

Lando Norris didn't know he had taken pole position for Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix until he crossed the line as his title rivals failed to make the top 3.

Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa paid McLaren just over £2.5million to drive Oscar Piastri ’s car at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 31-year-old drove for McLaren in FP1 in the Persian Gulf at the end of last year, with the arrangement also including two Testing of Previous Car (TPC) events in preparation.

McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella is confident Oscar Piastri can brush off a difficult United States Grand Prix weekend in Mexico

The race-used helmet, signed by Piastri, sold for an impressive A$107,000 (£52,000) through F1 Authentics, Formula 1’s official memorabilia platform.

Brit Oliver Bearman continued his fine form with a third Q3 appearance in as many Grands Prix in his Haas, and starts ninth as a result. Yuki Tsunoda also benefits from Sainz's grid penalty to rise to 10th having narrowly missed out on a place in the final part of qualifying.