Formula 1 in Mexico: Esteban Ocon rejects allegations of violence

Kimi Antonelli can prepare to be crowned the youngest Formula 1 world champion. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver didn't get past fifth place in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, but due to a penalty against Max Verstappen he started from fourth position and therefore from the second row. In the race, ninth place was enough for the Italian to achieve a great triumph.

Record world champion Lewis Hamilton took pole for the Grand Prix (9 p.m. CET/Sky) in a Ferrari. It is the first for the Scuderia this year, the 105th for the 41-year-old Brit and his first in more than three years. Hamilton remembered Michael Schumacher. “When I achieve my first pole position with Ferrari, I just have to think about how Michael got these poles with his Ferrari and achieved all these victories,” said the Brit. »This is something very, very special.«

George Russell came in second in the second Mercedes. Hamilton and Russell are the only two who are mathematically still in the World Cup fight. As second in the World Championship, Russell is 123 points behind Antonelli, Hamilton 124. If Antonelli gets at least two points - ninth place - both pursuers can no longer catch him. He would replace Sebastian Vettel as the youngest champion. Vettel was over 23 years old when he won his first title in 2010; he ended up winning four.

The Haas racing team caused a stir off the track. Esteban Ocon was canceled as a driver for this weekend at short notice. The team announced the decision just three hours before Saturday's practice in Mexico City. It didn't give any reasons. It just said that it was not a case of illness. Ocon will be replaced by Rafael Câmara from Brazil after this season anyway.

The Frenchman himself made this comment shortly after qualifying, in which - as in free training - the 32-year-old Japanese Ryo Hirakawa drove in his place. Ocon reported on Instagram about a discussion the evening before that resulted from “different perspectives.” He categorically rejected "reports or allegations" of a violent confrontation and asked that such speculation be refrained from, and announced further information in due course.

Ocon's further appearance for Haas in the four remaining races to Mexico appears to be out of the question. Ocon has almost 200 Grand Prix appearances and completed his first race in 2016. During training on Friday, he complained bitterly over the radio after his German race engineer made an announcement about tire choice. With the Alpine racing team, he did not finish the season with the team in 2024 after Zoff.