Lando Norris Fights His Way Through the Field | 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix

It is high speed, it is high intensity. This is Mexico City and we have reached the qualifying hour. So Lando Norris went out there earlier on the medium tyres, bailed out of that lap, six minutes to go. Risky strategy if it goes wrong, cool as you like if it works. Norris has had a problem out there, so Norris is going to have to go again currently in the drop zone and this is the downside to the tactic. Okay Lando, let's prepare for another go then. Let's have a look. This is Fernando Alonso at the first turn. And what is going to happen here? Is he going to drop it over the kerb? That is a strange one. There is a yellow flag interrupting the laps of so many drivers at the moment and unless there's a mighty improvement to be found, Lando Norris is out in a mighty shock. Yellow flags here, but keep going. Yeah, I can't, I'm out of the box. Yeah, out of the box. And Norris is eliminated in Q1 for the third time this season, but by far the most significant. Yeah, the pace is good. Oskar's doing a good job. I probably should have gone P1 if I put my lap in before, but there's a lot of shit where the cut is from me at the minute, so yeah, a shame. But points will be our target, so we'll see what we can do. Good afternoon and welcome to the Mexico City Grand Prix. This is Formula One Live. And Lando Norris, the big shock of qualifying, getting the run plan wrong and going out. He's 17th on the grid. And the Mexico City Grand Prix is go, with a good reaction time for the Ferraris, but Max Verstappen is trying to der between the pair of them. The slipstreaming that we normally see is not happening. Gekko Perez trying to go around the outside. He's made contact! He's made contact with Charles Leclerc into the first corner. Lando Norris is up two, and this is him getting past Fernando Alonso over the bumps into turn number one. Pit confirm, yeah? Yes, box this lap, please, box this lap. So, Lando, in front of you, you've got Ocon and Alonso there together. Ocon's got DRS. Alonso does not have DRS to stroll ahead of him. Now Lando lining up Fernando Alonso. Easy pass here with DRS. Lando Norris taking that place. There he goes. British driver to the inside. The driver making progress, but nowhere near the expectations of his season, given he's on the back of four consecutive podium finishes, which was the best streak in Formula 1 coming into today. Valtteri Bottas runs out of tyres. That is a tidy pass. That's the sort of thing you need to do if you're going to efficiently make your way through the field. These passes have been clean, and there's another one past Alex Albon and up to eighth place. And Kevin Magnussen has had a big crash, and this could change the complexion of the Grand Prix. Lando, we're going to box this lap. We're going to box this lap. The red flag is understandably flying around this circuit. The barrier is damaged. Most importantly, the driver is OK. And the race is on once again. Max Verstappen will cut across Charles Leclerc. Charles Leclerc is under pressure though for Lewis Hamilton. Great reaction time for Carlos Sainz. Just horrific start from Lando Norris, was slow off the line and lost, I mean, four spots. He was really the big loser on that one. Lando Norris made a place, trying to recoup the positions that he lost. At the start, the second start of the Mexico City Grand Prix. One McLaren defending, one McLaren attacking. Lando Norris trying to improve up to 11th position. He's got the inside line, but they're on similar tyre strategies, these two. Through goes the McLaren driver. That was like for like on the medium tyres. Tell you what, Lando Norris, he's absolutely flying at the moment. He gets past the Haas like he isn't even there. Oh, and this is tight once again. Needs contact once again and round goes Yuki Tsunoda. On the outside of turn number four to get the apex for five, Lando Norris goes past another car. What a cameo he is having in this second part of the Grand Prix. Is this going to be the swap? The answer's yes. They swap positions. Thank you. We're on board with the British driver. Up against a man ahead. His old teammate who's starting Grand Prix 246 today. So he knows how to defend down into turn number four. Norris trying to go all the way around the outside. Outside of four, inside of five. Another move completed. What a second stint this has been in the Grand Prix for Lando Norris who takes sixth place. And we know what Russell is like. He's all or nothing. So we just have patience with him. And we see Lando Norris forcing his rival off the racing line. Tries the up and under. Is it going to be another classic move? Elbows out. Lando Norris has done it again. The crowd adore it. It's another fine overtake and a great way to take fifth place. Max Verstappen wins the Mexico City Grand Prix. It will be Hamilton and Leclerc across the line. And then it will be Sainz, Norris, Russell and Daniel Ricciardo. Great job, mate. Great job. And I genuinely think that's one of our best places ever. Aye, aye. Yeah. It's getting really clear now, huh? As I start cooling it down from now on. But yeah, amazing race. What a great pace. So sorry about yesterday. And once I put it together, we'll be back on the podium. Thank you, guys.