Ricciardo storms to Mexican GP pole

Daniel Ricciardo put his woes behind for the time being as the Australian out-qualified teammate Max Verstappen by the slightest of margins to take top honours for Saturday. It is increasingly looking like a Red Bull 1-2 tomorrow.

Ricciardo was never in the top charts in any of the practice or qualifying sessions until the last few seconds of Q3. He sprung to life in the middle and final sectors to set purple times and has seemingly left his hoodoo behind for now.

He will be starting from pole for the first time since Monaco, almost six months ago. He had gone on to win the race then and will be hoping for more of the same come tomorrow.

Verstappen was expected to create history and become the youngest pole sitter but his part was ruined by his teammate. However, Ricciardo will still have to be wary of the Dutchman as he won from second position last year, leaving his rivals in his wake.

This is how twitter reacted to an incredible Q3 lap from Ricciardo:

https://twitter.com/beckyastbury/status/1056259719604699139

https://twitter.com/Motors_images/status/1056262761011965956

https://twitter.com/kiwicroissants/status/1056270214738927616

Meanwhile, Vettel will start his bleak title aspirations from fourth place as he just could not muster up the pace to beat either the Red Bulls or Lewis Hamilton. It had looked a close fight between Red Bull and Ferrari, much like last year but the former were just too strong on the occasion.

Even Hamilton pipped Vettel, who looked uncharacteristically out of touch, to third place at a track considered the weak point for Mercedes. If it was not clear earlier, the Brit surely looks in prime position now to taste his fifth championship title at Mexico, like he did last year.

It will tie him with Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles and he’ll be two off Michael Schumacher, who has the most titles at seven.