While Lewis Hamilton has a shot to clinch the Drivers’ Championship at the 2018 Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, it’s a front-row lockout for Red Bull going into Sunday’s action. The race is set for 3 p.m. ET on ABC (live streaming via WatchESPN, ESPN App, F1 TV Pro).
Daniel Ricciardo just barely qualified in pole position ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, denying the young driver his first Formula 1 pole at the last moment.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has been kind to the Red Bulls this weekend, with Verstappen leading the bulk of the practice sessions and throughout qualifying until he was unseated by Ricciardo.
“If you look at his middle sector, there was no way I could get that,” Hamilton said of Ricciardo’s pole-setting lap. “To be as close as I am, I’m really quite happy with that, and to be on third, it’s not a bad start.”
Behind the Red Bulls are the two title contenders — Hamilton in his Mercedes in third and Sebastian Vettel with his Ferrari in fourth. Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes out-qualified Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. The remainder of the top ten was made up of Renault’s Nico Hulkenburg and Carlos Sainz, and Sauber’s Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson.
Hamilton is 70 points ahead of Vettel in the race for the Drivers’ Championship, and only 75 points are available over the next three races. That means a seventh-place finish or better will give him the championship, while Vettel needs all wins and a whole lot of misfortune for his rival, Hamilton.
Below is all you need to know to watch the action.
How to watch the 2018 F1 Mexican Grand Prix
Date: Sunday, Oct. 28
Location: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
