Sainz hails ‘almost perfect’ performance for Mexico pole as he vows to ‘finish the job’ with race win

Carlos Sainz expressed his satisfaction after he put on a charging display during qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix – the Ferrari driver leaving the competition in his wake en route to pole position.

Sitting on provisional pole after his first lap, with Max Verstappen having lost a lap time over track limits, Sainz improved to a 1m 15.946s next time around to finish two-tenths clear of his Red Bull rival at the chequered flag.

READ MORE: Sainz clinches sensational Mexico pole position ahead of Verstappen and Norris

Asked to reflect on the sixth pole of his F1 career, which he will be aiming to turn into a fourth victory, Sainz said: “[I’m] very happy. A great couple of laps.

“A lot of times around Mexico you always have the feeling like you cannot put a lap together and it’s extremely difficult with how much sliding there is, but today honestly my two laps of Q3 were pretty much identical, almost perfect.

“I just put two really solid laps [together] in Q3, enough for pole, and I’m very happy because that’s not normally the case around Mexico with how tricky it is.”

After Ferrari’s one-two finish last time out in the United States, Sainz added: “We’ve done – it seems like especially on my side – a step up. Also in qualifying, trying to find something extra with the out-lap and tyre preparation, and it seems like we’re going in the right direction.

READ MORE: ‘We were just struggling too much’ – Perez identifies ‘main issue’ as he reflects on dispiriting home Q1 exit

“Obviously I’m looking forward to finishing the job tomorrow, but at least the pole position of today I’ll take it, because it shows progress and some really solid laps.”

Ferrari head into Sunday’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez holding third in the constructors’ standings, eight points behind Red Bull and another 40 behind McLaren.

With Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri knocked out in Q1, it gives Ferrari a clear chance to boost their championship chances as they search for a first title win since 2008.

On the importance of tomorrow’s encounter, with this in mind, Sainz said: “For sure it’s our number one priority. First of all, to bring both cars home.

AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix

“Especially if you win the race, those extra seven, eight points that you get when you win is important for the team in the constructors’.

“I’ll be just looking forward to keep that P1 into Turn 1 and from there hopefully our race pace should be good enough to win it.”