Hirakawa says traffic cost him a Q2 chance in Mexico

Ryo Hirakawa qualified 19th for the Mexico City Grand Prix, but said he believed he could have reached Q2 easily in his first Formula 1 qualifying session if traffic had not disrupted his final lap. The Japanese driver made his F1 debut with Haas as Esteban Ocon's replacement.

His final attempt began with a personal-best first sector. He then encountered Alex Albon through the sweeping corners of sector two and Franco Colapinto in the closing part of the lap. Hirakawa said traffic from Turn 6 and in the high-speed sections cost him downforce.

He felt the track had evolved enough for him to make Q2 and called missing out a shame, while saying he was still pleased to be there. In the conditions, he said, sliding was costly in sector three, where he had to push while managing the car.