F1 starting grid: Valtteri Bottas claims pole position at Mexican Grand Prix

Race day update: We’ve updated the starting grid to reflect grid penalties for five difference drivers. George Russell will start at No. 16 due to a new gearbox, while Yuki Tsunoda, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, and Lance Stroll are in slots 17-20 after taking on new power unit elements.

5:30 p.m. update: Valtteri Bottas won the pole position at Saturday’s qualifying. He’ll start Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix in the No. 1 slot and Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will join him on the front row.

5:10 p.m. update: The second qualifying period is a wrap and Lewis Hamilton led at the end. The five drivers eliminated were Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Esteban Ocon. They will occupy spots 11-15.

4:46 p.m. update: The first qualifying period resumed at 4:33 and we have the first five eliminations. Fernando Alonso, Nicholas Latifi, Mick Schumacher, Nikita Mazepin, and Lance Stroll were the first five out. Stroll wrecked and his status for Sunday’s race is uncertain.

4:10 p.m. update: Lance Stroll ran into the barriers and had his car spin out in the first stage. He appears to be alright, but the clock has been stopped with 11 minutes remaining in Q1 to clear up the debris.

Formula One racing has arrived in the Mexico City this weekend for the first time in two years. The Mexican Grand Prix was canceled last year due to COVID-19, but it returns on Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The green flag drops at 2 p.m. ET on ABC and it will be available for live stream at WatchESPN.

On Saturday, qualifying will run from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on ESPNews and ESPN Deportes to determine the starting grid. The 20 drivers will race to establish the fastest time and secure pole position. F1 qualifying is broken up into three stages with a 20-minute stage determining spots 16-20, a 15 minute stage determining 11-15, and a final ten minutes to determine pole position and spots 2-10 for Sunday’s race.

Max Verstappen will look to claim his tenth pole of the season and is the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, with odds installed at -165. He is followed by Lewis Hamilton (+215), Sergio Perez (+900), Charles Lecler (+1400), and Valtteri Bottas (+1600). It’s a steep drop-off from there, with Carlos Sainz installed at +4000.

Here is the full entry list for Saturday’s Mexican Grand Prix as qualifying gets underway. We’ll provide updates with each driver’s time and how the starting lineup settles.