Oscar Piastri's team radio after learning he will line up down in seventh place for today's Mexican Grand Prix while team-mate Lando Norris starts in pole position spoke volumes.
Piastri is leading the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship but is only 14 points ahead of McLaren team-mate Norris with five race weekends to go, which comprise a quintet of Grand Prix events and two Sprint races.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen has hauled himself back into the conversation for the title as well after a run of brilliant recent form has seen him close to within 40 points of Piastri.
However, around Mexico City, it was Norris who emerged in pole position after a scintillating lap.
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Norris will line up ahead of the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes driver George Russell starting fourth.
Four-time world champion Verstappen could only qualify fifth and will line up on the third row of the grid alongside the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.
Piastri meanwhile could only post the eighth fastest time in the final qualifying session, but will line up in seventh due to Carlos Sainz having to serve a five-place grid penalty he picked up following a collision with Antonelli at last weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin.
It means Norris has the chance to take even more points out of Piastri's slender championship lead, and could even leave Mexico City leading the standings if the points swing is large enough.
Norris was shocked by his own effort, saying on team radio: "Ah, what a lap. What a lap! Even I don't know how I did that!"
The Briton is hoping to make the most of lining up on pole for today's Grand Prix, as he said after getting out his McLaren: "I've been feeling good all weekend, especially today. I got a little bit nervous of the Ferrari at the end, but I pulled it out when it mattered and I'm very happy.
"I've not been sleeping well lately so maybe that's the key to it all?
"I've had some good races here in the past and will focus on what I can control. That's all I can do."
Typically on cool down laps after a qualifying session has ended, drivers have discussions with their race engineers to begin the debrief.
However, on this occasion, Piastri was completely silent after being told by race engineer Tom Stallard that he will start the Mexican Grand Prix in seventh position.
Stallard said: "So we box this lap, that is P8, I'm afraid, P8. But Sainz does have a penalty to come and he's seventh.
"Box now. When you get to parc ferme, we need to switch fully off so that's kill the engine, wait five seconds, and then switch fully off."
Following the radio silence in the car, Piastri did speak to the media in the TV pen, and was at a loss to explain his lack of pace as he looks towards salvaging positions in the Grand Prix today.
He said: "There’s just no pace which is a bit of a mystery.
"It’s been more or less the same gap all weekend, so we’ll have a look at where it was going wrong. Obviously it’s a bit frustrating.
"Not a huge amount has changed around how I’m feeling in the car. It’s just this weekend and last weekend it’s felt like the pace hasn’t come.
"I’m not 100 per cent sure why yet, so we’ll do some digging.
"That’s [turn one] going to be an opportunity to make some progress forwards.
"We’ll see what I can do."
Topics: Formula 1, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen
John McDougall