Liam Lawson will begin the Mexican Grand Prix in ninth spot after a one-place grid penalty relegated the Kiwi from starting in eighth.
Lawson was handed the penalty after a practice session squabble with four-time world champion Max Verstappen ended with an investigation into the irresponsible driving of both drivers.
In a post-session interview on Sunday, Lawson said the contact wasn't necessary and the penalty was "obviously not ideal".
"Obviously what happened yesterday didn’t need to happen, so I went to see Max this morning to apologise," he said.
However, Lawson believed the double top 10 qualification for Racing Bulls was solid as it placed them in the "best-of-the-rest" position.
"It's a good result for the team to have both of us leading the midfield, it’s positive," he said.
Verstappen was also handed a one-place penalty and will begin Monday's race in fifth, behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Earlier, Lawson completed Sunday's third practice session in ninth, one spot ahead of his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad and half a second behind leader Lando Norris.
Hamilton back on top
Lewis Hamilton rebounded from a wretched Saturday practice to capture pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Kimi Antonelli could become the youngest champion in Formula 1 history.
Hamilton edged out Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
This marks the Italian team’s first pole position since Hungary in 2025.
Hamilton, who has crowned himself world champion twice in Mexico, will aim to become the first Ferrari driver to win a race from pole position since Carlos Sainz in Mexico in 2024.
“I feel great, that feels good, I am at a loss of words,” Hamilton said. “We did a pretty good job with the setup in the weekend. It feels special for me in Mexico, my first pole for Ferrari here.”
During Saturday's second practice, he suffered a loss of power that forced him to retire.
Shock replacement for Haas
Haas is giving Ryo Hirakawa a Formula 1 race debut after announcing abruptly that he would replace veteran Esteban Ocon.
In a rare change part-way through an F1 weekend, the Japanese driver stepped in for Ocon for the third practice and qualifying, as teammate to Oliver Bearman.
Haas did not explain the change, saying only that Ocon was not being replaced due to illness. Other drivers including series leader Kimi Antonelli have been unwell this week.
“I can’t tell you much but I can tell you he’s not ill,” Haas team director Ayao Komatsu told Sky Sports before the third practice. "The only thing I can say is we are focused on what’s in front of us and getting Ryo in the best shape for qualifying.”
Hirakawa qualified in 19th, four places behind teammate Bearman and matching his position earlier in the day during FP3.
At 34 years, seven months, Hirakawa will become the oldest driver to make his F1 debut since André Lotterer, who was two months older at the 2014 Belgian GP.
Hirakawa’s appointment also comes as a surprise because he has never raced in Formula 2 or 3, and his most significant experience is in Japan’s Super Formula, where the grid consists primarily of Japanese drivers. He is a former Le Mans 24-hour race winner for Toyota.
Haas left open who would race next week in Brazil, one of four more races scheduled this year.
Hadjar's off-track battle
Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar received a formal warning from the governing body of Formula 1 after pushing a fan in the paddock area before the third practice session.
Footage on social media showed Hadjar using his right hand to push away an adult man who attempted to hug him and take a selfie.
Seconds before the incident, the French driver agreed to take a photo with a different spectator.
During a meeting with the stewards, Hadjar explained that he was running late for the first free practice when he paused to take a photo with a young fan. He said another individual then approached him “aggressively,” adding that security personnel were nearby but failed to prevent this “invasion of the driver’s private space", which triggered the push.
While the FIA sporting code permitted financial or sporting penalties depending on the severity of an infraction, it also accounted for mitigating circumstances, which stewards applied in this instance.
The stewards opted to issue only a formal warning, concluding that the “driver was reacting to an uninvited and rather aggressive action by another person". Also factored in was Hadjar navigating a congested area with inadequate security; the spectator breached his personal space without consent; and paddock congestion remained a persistent issue for drivers.
Paddock crowds at the Mexico City GP have frequently grown so dense that drivers including Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton have resorted to using rear access routes to bypass fans.
– additional reporting by 1News
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