Hamilton takes first Ferrari pole in Mexico as Antonelli starts fourth with title in reach

Lewis Hamilton will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from pole position after beating George Russell by 0.009 seconds in qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Saturday afternoon, in the early hours of Sunday in India.

The seven-time champion set a lap of 1 minute 16.514 seconds in the final shoot-out. It is his first pole as a Ferrari driver, in his second season with the team, and his first anywhere since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, more than three years ago.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were the last two drivers who could have taken it away. Norris lost time after catching Isack Hadjar on his final lap, and Verstappen locked up at turn 13 while passing the McLaren, leaving Hamilton’s time untouched.

Antonelli in position to finish the job

Charles Leclerc was third quickest, putting both Ferraris in the top three. Verstappen qualified fourth but drops one place for a collision with Liam Lawson in practice, which moves championship leader Kimi Antonelli up to fourth on the grid.

That is a comfortable spot for the 20-year-old Mercedes driver. He arrived in Mexico 123 points clear of his team-mate Russell, and ninth place on Sunday will make him champion even if Russell wins. Norris starts sixth, with Hadjar seventh.

It was a harder day for others. Oscar Piastri failed to join Norris in the top ten, going out in the second session after struggling for rear grip. Fernando Alonso was told to park his Aston Martin in the first session after a loss of water pressure, and the stewards later reprimanded him over the incident. Ryo Hirakawa, standing in for Esteban Ocon at Haas, qualified 19th.

Hamilton now has the clean air at the front. Behind him, the season’s biggest prize could be settled by the car starting three places back.