/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57367763/867565456.0.jpg)
The Mexican Grand Prix is nearly here, and things are getting interesting. Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari put forth an incredible effort on his last lap in qualifying to pass Max Verstappen of Red Bull and earn pole position at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Verstappen has second, and the championship leader, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, will start third on the grid.
Sunday’s race will be broadcast by NBC in the United States, beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Live streaming for the grand prix can also be found via NBC Sports Live in web browsers or the NBC Sports app.
Hamilton can claim the Drivers Championship with a finish of fifth or better in Sunday’s race, while Vettel needs him to do worse than that while winning himself. Hamilton should be able to handily claim fifth place unless something goes seriously wrong. Still, the British driver wants to win the whole race.
“It’s an easy one-stop strategy here,” Hamilton said. “You can’t overtake. You need a 1.4-second delta, I think it is, to the car in front to overtake, so it’s going to be a train. But if you get a good start, or if I’m able to be close enough at a pitstop, maybe? Who knows? We’ll see.”
Hamilton felt strongly that he didn’t mess up anywhere on his lap, and that he gave it everything he could with his Mercedes. Vettel and Verstappen were just better on the day, and got more from their cars.
“I gave it everything I could,” Hamilton said. “It just wasn’t the cleanest of sessions and they were quicker. The car balance was fine, we just needed more.”
Hamilton will be next to teammate Valtteri Bottas on the second row, while Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Esteban Ocon of Force India occupy the third row. Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, will start on the fourth row next to Nico Hulkenberg of Renault.
Carlos Sainz Jr. of Renault and Sergio Perez of Force India round out the top 10.
There have been more drivers switching, but things are essentially back to the new “normal” on that front. Sainz remains with Renault, Jolyon Palmer remains without a seat, and now Pierre Gasly is back in at Toro Rosso.
Gasly originally replaced Daniil Kvyat, who returned for the last race while Gasly raced in another discipline. With Sainz leaving Toro Rosso, that made the way for Brendon Hartley to start. Now Kvyat is out, Gasly is back and Toro Rosso is rolling with the pairing of Gasly and Hartley for Sunday’s race.
Below is all you need to know to watch the action on Sunday as well as the full lineup and starting grid for the grand prix.
How to watch Formula One Mexican Grand Prix
Date: Oct. 29, 2017
Location: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Online Streaming: NBC Sports Live
Mexican Grand Prix Starting Grid
Driver | Team | Best Time |
---|---|---|
Driver | Team | Best Time |
Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:16.488 |
Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:16.574 |
Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:16.934 |
Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1:16.958 |
Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 1:17.238 |
Esteban Ocon | Force India | 1:17.437 |
Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:17.447 |
Nico Hülkenberg | Renault | 1:17.464 |
Carlos Sainz Jr. | Renault | 1:17.794 |
Sergio Pérez | Force India | 1:17.807 |
Felipe Massa | Williams | 1:18.099 |
Lance Stroll | Williams | 1:19.159 |
Brendon Hartley | Toro Rosso | No time |
Marcus Ericsson | Sauber | 1:19.176 |
Pascal Wehrlein | Sauber | 1:19.333 |
Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:19.443 |
Romain Grosjean | Haas | 1:19.473 |
Fernando Alonso | McLaren | No time |
Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren | No time |
Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso | No time |