Charles Leclerc’s foul-mouthed reaction after Carlos Sainz takes pole at Mexico City Grand Prix

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Carlos Sainz bagged a fabulous pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc only fourth. It was his first pole since the 2023 Singapore GP.

Both of Sainz’s laps in Q3 would have been good enough for first place. He eventually landed on a 1:15.946 – the only driver to break the 1:16.0 threshold.

In fact, second-place Max Verstappen was more than two-tenths back, with former McLaren teammate Lando Norris third. Ferrari were on course for a one-two after the first runs but Leclerc’s second lap was scruffy.

He made a mistake in the middle sector, losing the rear of his car through the fast, flowing corners. He’d gone purple through the first portion of the lap but the slide stalled his progress.

It’s a setback for the Monegasque after his fine victory at the US Grand Prix. Leclerc led home Sainz by a comfortable margin at the Circuit of the Americas.

He can take solace from the fact that he won from fourth that day. And the season-longest run to turn one on Sunday will present an opportunity.

Charles Leclerc was livid after losing out on Mexican Grand Prix pole to Carlos Sainz

Leclerc is known for being self-critical and he was furious with himself after squandering a potential front-row start, or indeed pole. Sainz has narrowed his advantage in the qualifying head-to-head to five (12-7).

The Spaniard also started ahead in Texas, only to find himself boxed in at the first corner. It’s the first time he’s been quicker on back-to-back Saturdays since Great Britain and Hungary in July.

“S***. S***. F****** s*** lap,” Leclerc said in a foul-mouthed radio message.

Engineer Bryan Bozzi reminded him that other drivers had yet to cross the line. He replied: “Whatever, f****** s*** lap.”

Ferrari will have a new driver line-up in 2025 as Lewis Hamilton replaces Sainz. Leclerc will be confident of shading Hamilton over one lap after watching him struggle against George Russell this year.

Why Charles Leclerc ‘cannot be happy’ despite Ferrari improvement

Leclerc was incandescent at the same stage of the weekend in Austin. Russell spoiled drivers’ second runs in Q3 by crashing late on.

That saw Leclerc beat his steering wheel as he slowed down to heed the regulations. He may not be a realistic candidate for the drivers’ title, but his emotional investment is glaringly obvious.

He and Sainz could become the first duo to deliver a constructors’ crown for Ferrari since Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa in 2008. They closed to within 50 points of leaders McLaren last time out.

Still, Leclerc ‘cannot be happy’. He admits he’s still too ‘impatient’ at times, which sees him occasionally stray beyond the limit on track.