Mexico City GP qualifying: Hamilton beats Russell by 0.009s for first Ferrari pole
Lewis Hamilton took his first Grand Prix pole for Ferrari in Mexico City, 0.009s clear of George Russell, with title leader Kimi Antonelli starting fourth.
Lewis Hamilton ended a long wait on Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. He took his first Grand Prix pole position as a Ferrari driver, edging George Russell by just 0.009 seconds in qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. It is the 105th pole of his career and his first since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. At 41, he is the oldest driver to start a Grand Prix from pole since Mario Andretti in 1982.
A last-gasp lap in Q3
Hamilton had spent most of the weekend behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who led the way in practice and looked the quicker Ferrari after the first runs in Q3. Leclerc could not improve on his final attempt, though, and Hamilton produced a 1:16.514 on his last flying lap to go top. Russell came within a hundredth of a second of taking pole for Mercedes. Leclerc was third, 0.119s off his team-mate.
Max Verstappen set the fourth-fastest time but will start fifth because of the one-place grid penalty he received after his practice collision with Liam Lawson. He also lost time in the final sector of his last lap after running up behind Lando Norris and locking up. That penalty moves championship leader Kimi Antonelli, fifth fastest in qualifying, up to fourth on the grid.
The front of the grid
Racing Bulls driver Lawson qualified eighth, but stewards later disqualified him from the session over a technical breach on his car. That sends him to the back and moves the cars behind him up one place. The top ten for Sunday's race therefore lines up as follows:
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
Media outlets published slightly different orders for the lower half of the grid after the late disqualification and other penalties. The FIA's final starting grid is the reference.
Surprises further back
The biggest shock of the session was Oscar Piastri's exit in Q2. The McLaren driver was only 13th fastest, while Norris made it through to sixth. Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto, Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz also went out in Q2, along with Hulkenberg.
Q1 was disrupted by a red flag after Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin suffered a water pressure problem, leaving him 18th. Ryo Hirakawa was also eliminated in Q1 on his qualifying debut. He was called up by Haas after the team stood down Esteban Ocon for the rest of the weekend. Home hero Sergio Perez did not make it out of Q1 for Cadillac. His team-mate Valtteri Bottas will start from the back regardless after a 50-place grid penalty for new power unit parts.
Why it matters for the title
This front row puts both of Antonelli's closest pursuers ahead of him. Russell and Hamilton are the only drivers who can still stop the Mercedes rookie wrapping up the championship on Sunday, and both would need to win the race to do it. Antonelli starts fourth, with Leclerc between him and his rivals and Verstappen right behind.
Key takeaways
- Hamilton took pole with a 1:16.514, 0.009s ahead of Russell, his first Grand Prix pole for Ferrari.
- At 41, he is the oldest Grand Prix pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982.
- Verstappen qualified fourth but starts fifth after a grid penalty, so Antonelli starts fourth.
- Lawson was disqualified from qualifying and starts at the back; Piastri was knocked out in Q2.
FAQ
Who is on pole for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix? Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, with George Russell alongside him on the front row and Charles Leclerc third.
Where does Kimi Antonelli start? Fourth. He was fifth fastest in qualifying but moved up one place because of Max Verstappen's grid penalty.
Is this Hamilton's first pole with Ferrari? Yes, it is his first Grand Prix pole since joining Ferrari, and his first since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sources: Sky Sports, Formula1.com, RacingNews365, Speedcafe, PlanetF1