Rusell: I'm kicking myself about the final run

The Briton was looking good for pole after he topped FP3 in Mexico, as the Silver Arrows seemed to come alive at the high altitudes where the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is situated, as thin air meant the eight-time Formula 1 Constructors' Champion's W13's drag was less of a detriment.

However, and on his final lap, Russell locked up at Turn 12, and that meant pole was out of the question, second being the best he could secure, Max Verstappen taking the top spot.

"It feels like the team deserved more today," Russell said after qualifying. "The car has been great this weekend and it's a testament to the hard work that has been going in for so long.

"At this high altitude, drag is less of a factor for us on the straights, and the update we brought to Austin is performing well," he revealed. "We saw last week with Lewis what the car was capable of, and this weekend, it felt like pole position was there for us.

"I'm kicking myself about the final run," Russell admitted, "but at the end of the day, there are no points for qualifying and I'm excited to be back on the front row.

"We will be going for it in the race and our long runs looked decent yesterday, so I'm excited to go racing and see what we've got," the one-time polesitter concluded.

Toto Wolff revealed Russell was on his way to challenge Verstappen for pole as he was setting identical times right until his error at Turn 12.

"We had a mega car today in FP3," Wolff said. "As we saw from the lap times in that session, but then conditions changed a bit and it really closed up at the front.

"All the way through the session, we couldn't really match Verstappen in the stadium section, but George's lap was zero to him on the final run until the lock up at Turn 12," Wolff lamented.

"Still, those are good starting positions for tomorrow - and there will be opportunity in the race. We brought our final upgrade to Austin, which is working well, and we have been at our best in high downforce configuration this year - so slowly but surely, we are creeping back to the front," the Austrian explained.