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Mercedes' wait for a win in 2022 goes on but the Circuit of the Americas almost provided the top step moment the Silver Arrows have been waiting for.

After his tough racing against the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in Austin, Lewis Hamilton said his second place in the upgraded package was a "huge boost" for the team and added that "strategy, pit stops, all of it was on point."

Hamilton is now four points off fifth-placed Carlos Sainz in the drivers' championship after the Ferrari polesitter was taken out of contention by Russell.

Mexico is a race that has not been won from pole position since the seven-time champ took the chequered flag from the front row in 2016.

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Lewis Hamilton is still waiting for his first pole of the season and the seven-time world champion had to watch his step after having his opening attempt in the top-10 shootout scrubbed for exceeding track limits.

Hamilton was the quickest driver in Q1 and Q2 and was overall happy with what Mercedes had to offer.

"No real major issues," Hamilton said. "Some engine issues [in Q2]; some performance left on the table with that, unfortunately.

"Losing the first lap made it a bit more difficult because I had to keep it clean, so not able to push as hard as I would have liked."

He later tweeted: "So so proud of my team, they’ve been on it all weekend and this is best qualifying we’ve had all year."

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

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Can a Mercedes driver win the Mexican Grand Prix, and end a season-long drought for the team? The Mercedes has looked absolutely on the pace all weekend and George Russell and Lewis Hamilton start in great positions in second and third, giving them the chance to slipstream past pole man Max Verstappen down to the first corner, as the Dutchman did to Mercedes last year.

But there is the little matter of that man Verstappen. He has looked unbeatable for some time, barring problems, and not only is the car quick around the lap, it is also prodigiously fast in a straight line, which makes it very difficult to race - if the Red Bull is behind, the added advantage of the DRS overtaking aid makes it almost impossible to keep him there, and if he is in front, the car is extremely hard to pass.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: “I am annoyed about not being on pole because it would have ticked a box but on the other hand having Max with his top speed advantage behind us would have been a problem. I hope we can stick our nose - or both noses - into Turn One and disappear into the distance but that is going to be difficult.

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Mexico has seen plenty of opening-lap drama down the years - which might not be the best news for George Russell to hear.

Last weekend at the US Grand Prix, the Mercedes man started fourth and crossed the line in fifth place but had to offer his apologies to Carlos Sainz after tagging the Ferrari so soon after the lights went out.

"You never want to be involved in an incident that ultimately destroys somebody else's race," said Russell, who explained that he was so focused on three cars around him, he wasn't expecting the Ferrari of Sainz to try and attack around the outside of Max Verstappen.

Russell, who was handed a five-second time penalty for the incident, said he couldn't avoid the accident as it was already too late when he saw Sainz was trying to cut back underneath Verstappen. "Hands up from my side," Russell said. "Should have been aware of that possibility."

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After crossing the line and sealing his place on the front row in P2 alongside Max Verstappen, George Russell let out a frustrated radio message and said "sorry, sorry, sorry" to Mercedes for not taking the coveted pole spot.

"The team deserved more today," Russell said. "They have produced a really great car this weekend. I feel like it was our pole to have and it was just a terrible lap from my side."

However, the 24-year-old is cautiously optimistic about the team's chances. "We think we have a reasonable shot, and having Lewis at the front as well gives us the opportunity to do something different on the strategy," said Russell.

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A week ago in Austin, Max Verstappen equalled the all-time record for wins in a single season when he secured his 13th victory of the year.

Take another chequered flag in Mexico City in a few hours' time and the two-time world champion will move above Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel in the history books.

If Verstappen doesn't achieve the feat from pole today then he gets another two bites of the cherry in Brazil and the finale in Abu Dhabi.

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Mercedes enjoyed their most competitive qualifying performance of the season in Mexico but ultimately the pace of the Red Bull prevailed and Max Verstappen took his sixth pole position of the campaign by just 0.304 seconds.

"A very lovely Saturday," is how the Dutchman described his day on Twitter and added "the atmosphere is incredible, you can really feel the passion of the fans while driving the track."

The noise inside the circuit is deafening. If Sergio Perez did pull off a victory, then the atmosphere is going to be spectacular.

BBC weather forecaster Ian Fergusson can provide us with an update: "Latest FIA forecast to teams continues likelihood of a dry race, citing a low-moderate (40%) shower risk."

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Max Verstappen is at the front of the pack with the two Mercedes just behind the Red Bull. Valtteri Bottas is the Alfa Romeo meat in a Ferrari sandwich in sixth, while Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll prop up the field due to grid penalties.

Did you enjoy your extra hour in bed this morning? Have you said "I can't believe how dark it is" yet?

Lights outs at the Mexico City Grand Prix is at 20:00 GMT, with full commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sounds app and at the top of this page using the audio icon at 19:45 GMT.

It already looks like a riot of colour in the paddock as drivers, teams - and a lot of other people, according to reports today - gear up for round 20 of the 2022 season.

These three drivers were top of the class in Saturday's pole shootout....

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... but there's only one man the electrified crowd inside the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez want to see triumph on Sunday - and he's starting from fourth and answers to the chant, "Checo! Checo!"

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