Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas surprisingly secured the best starting position for the Formula 1 race in Mexico.
The Finn took pole position in qualifying on Saturday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in front of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
The favorite World Cup leader Max Verstappen had to be content with third place in the Red Bull.
Before the fifth to last race of the season on Sunday (8 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker on Formula 1 and on Sky), Verstappen has a twelve point lead over defending champion Hamilton in the overall standings.
Sebastian Vettel in eleventh and Mick Schumacher in 18th were eliminated early in the qualification, but will still move up because of penalties for some competitors at the start.