MEXICO CITY – Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz couldn’t help but feel mixed emotions as he claimed pole as the team’s form continued in Mexico.

Sainz, who will make way for Lewis Hamilton next year, completed two stunning Q3 laps to beat Max Verstappen by 0.2 seconds for his sixth pole of his F1 career.

Ferrari has emerged as a contender for the Constructors’ Championship in recent times, with Charles Leclerc winning the Italian Grand Prix in September and leading a one-two in Austin last week.

Sainz said the new reality made it difficult to process the feeling.

When asked how nice it felt to potentially end his Ferrari stint on a high, Sainz said: “Very sweet, given how good the car is and how well I’ve been driving lately, it’s very optimistic if I finish the last into five races.

“At the same time, it’s bittersweet because it makes me feel like Ferrari might be in contention for the world championship next year and I won’t be there to take advantage of that. I feel like I played a pretty big part of this team for the four years that they were trying to prepare the team to fight for that championship next year, you know?

“The fact that I’m driving well, I’m fast with the car and I’m leaving in five races leaves me a bit… I don’t know how to say it, but not with a very good feeling. But it is what it is.

“I’m going to try to win more races, stay on the podium for these five races as long as possible, enjoy that and then we’ll think about next year.”

Ferrari is third in the Constructors’ Championship, 48 points behind leaders McLaren, while Red Bull is just eight points ahead.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will start between Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc, but are locked in a battle in F1’s other championship, the drivers’ title race.

Sainz hopes the battle can help him consolidate his long-term lead into Turn 1.

“Relatively confident because I know my race pace should be good tomorrow. Probably the biggest difficulty will be entering Turn 1 and starting on pole with the slipstream. I think you can still defend, you can still go for it make sure you stay in turn 1, start from pole, and that will be my goal tomorrow.

“I just have to make sure I get a good zero to 100. That’s the most important thing when you start on pole. Just make sure you get a good jump. From there you obviously have to do your best to defend. I did that.” two guys behind me who are fighting for very important things tomorrow and the run-up to Turn 1 should be interesting. In that sense I clearly have less to lose and I will try to make sure I keep P1.”