F1 Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: Carlos Sainz starts on pole as Lando Norris challenges championship leader Max Verstappen

Sky F1 pundit Danica Patrick has voted for Donald Trump in this year’s US presidential election – adding that it is the first time she has taken part in an election.

The former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, who was a pundit on Sky Sports’ coverage of the US Grand Prix in Austin last weekend, co-chaired a town hall with Trump’s running mate JD Vance two weeks ago in North Carolina.

The 42-year-old, who is the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race, announced her early vote on her Instagram page on Wednesday, saying: “I voted today, for the first time.

Lando Norris is wary of the threat that Ferrari give McLaren in tonight’s Grand Prix especially after the one-two in Austin last time.

“A couple of weekends ago, they were faster than us. Today we weren’t at that level, but tomorrow is another day,” Norris said after qualifying on Saturday.

“Ferrari is the man to beat and Carlos is on top. It will be a challenge to beat him tomorrow.

“Carlos will be fast and will not lose. We will try our best, but I think we don’t have the speed compared to them now.

Lando Norris continues his challenge to win the Formula 1 world championship as a racing driver at the Mexican Grand Prix tonight. It promises to be an exciting contest with Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz taking pole position and Max Verstappen also on the front row.

Norris started third and hoped to beat rival Verstappen into the first corner and take control of the race. Speaking after qualifying yesterday, Norris said: “I’m happy to be P3.

“I felt a bit on the back foot and not very comfortable. We found some good sectors in qualifying. Q1 and Q2 were very good.

“I couldn’t progress from there, the car was very difficult to drive in Q3. It was very difficult to get three tenths from it compared to Carlos.

“But I’m happy with the third. I think it could have been better, but I think it’s finished somewhere.

“Being on the front row is an incredible result for us,” Verstappen said, “Yesterday was basically a complete write-off. We were at the back and the car didn’t feel good. Everything was very difficult.

“So it was always a tough qualifying, we made some adjustments and from then on I felt better.

“I don’t expect miracles (in race speed). In Austin, Ferrari is very fast, McLaren is competitive, so from my side I will understand.

The Mexico City Grand Prix will be broadcast live Sky Sports in England – and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 18:30 (GMT).

You can watch the highlights on free-to-air Channel 4 at 8:30 (GMT) Saturday morning for qualifying and 12:30 Saturday morning for the race.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action in Mexico City on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky subscriber, you can pick up a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

If you’re traveling abroad and want to watch the Mexican Grand Prix, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming apps. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on The best VPN in the market.

• race: 8pm (GMT) – Coverage begins on Sky Sports at 6.30pm

What is the starting box?

1. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Lando Norris, McLaren
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5. George Russell, Mercedes
6. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
8. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
9. Alex Albon, Williams
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
11. Yuki Tsunoda, RB
12. Liam Lawson, RB
13. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
14. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
15. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
16. Franco Colapinto, Williams
17. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
18. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
19. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
20. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber

The 2025 F1 season begins on Sunday March 16 at Albert Park in Australia.

It will be another 24-race season and there will be no new races on the calendar. However, there are many new drivers in the new team.

British teenager Ollie Bearman has been promoted to the race seat at Haas, with Esteban Ocon partnering him after leaving Alpine. Jack Doohan has taken Ocon’s place while at Sauber, Nico Hulkenberg has taken one seat with the second yet to be confirmed.

A reminder of how the top of the driver standings looks as we approach the start of the Mexican GP.

1 – Max Verstappen – 354 pts

2 – Lando Norris – 297 pts

3 – Charles Leclerc – 275 pts

4 – Oscar Piastri – 247 pts

5 – Carlos Sainz – 215 pts

“I lost everything, that’s why I’ve been bad in qualifying all year, that’s normal, I’m used to it,” Lewis Hamilton told Sky Sports after qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s not like (giving potential), we’ve done everything, we’ve worked hard in the background, like everyone, to get the car in a good place, it feels good in P3, don’t touch anything, the only thing that’s changed is the rear wing.

“It’s a drastic difference, every time I go into qualifying the car is completely different, I can’t tell why, this is what, I hope I can make a balance tomorrow.

“There is a lot to play for tomorrow, I will try and do a good job.”