Max Verstappen took pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix - setting himself up for a record-breaking 14th win of the season on Sunday.

Mercedes had looked strong all day but you can never discount the Red Bull juggernaut and so it proved in the thin air of Mexico City.

Not that Verstappen was not brilliantly quick, bursting the 1min 18sec barrier - the only man to do so. He ended up on 1min 17.775sec, 0.304sec ahead of second-quickest George Russell, who made a mistake on his final flying lap, and 0.0309sec ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was third fastest.

So it is Red Bull-Mercedes-Mercedes on the grid at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with its long run into the first corner. Interesting.

Hamilton did well to recover third spot on the grid after having his first Q3 time deleted for exceeding track limits. He had just set the third best lap before it was scrubbed. He came back out and held his nerve but could not pip Russell or in any way match Verstappen.

Sergio Perez was fourth best for Red Bull, but three-and-a-half-tenths off Verstappen's pace.

Mercedes had thought their best chance might be in Austin for the US Grand Prix and they brought a host of upgrades to that race. 

Hamilton led there when Verstappen was trapped in his pit box as the wheel gun misfired, but he was easily passed by the Dutchman and finished runner-up.

Mercedes have come to Mexico City armed with a new front wing and that seems to be working well. They are helped by the thin air, 7,740ft above sea level, reducing the car's drag.

Lando Norris qualified eighth for McLaren.

Sportsmail's Ryan Walker provided live blog updates for qualifying at the Mexican Grand Prix.