F1 Q&A: Verstappen, Russell, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull

Why is the driver in pole position on the left side of the track at the start, even if the first corner is to the right? –John

In Mexico City, the pole position is on the left because that is the racing line, and quite often it is considered an advantageous position, even though it is on the outside on the approach to turn one.

This is because the racing line tends to have more grip than the inside line because it is ridden on it all weekend, so it is cleaner and has more rubber laid down. Theoretically, the driver in pole position should have a better start than the second, all other things being equal.

This approach actually harkens back to the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix and the controversial accident of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the first corner.

During this race, Senna and Prost disputed the title. Senna qualified in his McLaren on pole position, while Prost’s Ferrari was second.

FISA (as the sports arm of the FIA ​​was then called) placed the pole on the right side – on the inside line. Senna asked to move the track to the grippier outside line, but then FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre refused.

This angered Senna, who already believed that Balestre had interfered to ensure Prost won the 1989 title after the two drivers had collided together at a chicane in Japan the previous year when they were McLaren team-mates.

Senna decided that if Prost overtook him in the first corner, the Frenchman would not proceed. Prost had the better start and Senna deliberately hit him, eliminating them both.

Back to the present day, while diarrhea is more likely to be found on the outer line, this is not always the case. For example, in Belgium and Canada, the pole is on the inside.

Generally, pole position is placed on the side that is considered most advantageous for the driver who has qualified there.