Piastri could only qualify eighth fastest in the final top-10 shootout, though will start seventh due to Carlos Sainz’s five-place grid penalty. Meanwhile, Norris sealed an impressive pole position with Verstappen only fifth on a terrific day for the Briton, who is now eyeing a big points swing on Sunday.

Oscar Piastri did not feel like things were going too bad in his McLaren during Mexican Grand Prix qualifying, yet the final result was emphatic. Managing P7 only on the grid while McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris claimed an impressive pole,

Oscar Piastri admits he’s at a loss to explain the gap to teammate Lando Norris in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix.Norris took pole position with a stunning final lap in Q3, beating the two Ferrari drivers who offered the closest threat in qualifying.

Formula One leader Oscar Piastri said his vanishing speed was "a bit of a mystery" after struggling to seventh on the grid in Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying while teammate Lando Norris took pole position.

Brit Oliver Bearman continued his fine form with a third Q3 appearance in as many Grands Prix in his Haas, and starts ninth as a result. Yuki Tsunoda also benefits from Sainz's grid penalty to rise to 10th having narrowly missed out on a place in the final part of qualifying.

Oscar Piastri was 'frustrated' after a disappointing qualifying session in Mexico. The Australian's Saturday did not go as he would have hoped in Mexico City, as he finished only eighth in qualifying while his teammate Lando Norris claimed pole position.

McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella is confident Oscar Piastri can brush off a difficult United States Grand Prix weekend in Mexico

The race-used helmet, signed by Piastri, sold for an impressive A$107,000 (£52,000) through F1 Authentics, Formula 1’s official memorabilia platform.