Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole position in nearly three years during qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his Formula 1 career. The 41-year-old driver set a lap time just 0.009 seconds faster than his Mercedes teammate George Russell, earning his 105th career pole and becoming the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982.
Hamilton’s performance came after a challenging weekend, including an engine issue that limited his running during free practice. Despite this setback and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc showing stronger pace throughout the weekend, Hamilton delivered when it mattered most, outqualifying Leclerc, who will start third. Russell’s second-place qualifying position followed a difficult race last weekend in Austin, providing a critical boost for the Mercedes team.
The pole is Hamilton’s first with Ferrari, a moment he reflected on by recalling watching Michael Schumacher’s successes with the team. Hamilton expressed his surprise and satisfaction on the team radio, highlighting his enthusiasm for racing, fitness routines, and ongoing motivation to compete at a high level despite the physical demands of the sport.
“Thank you so much, it’s been such a long time coming,” Hamilton said. “I’m lost for words. I love what I do, and that love has not gone.”
The race weekend held additional storylines, including a grid penalty affecting Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. Both drivers received one-place penalties after a collision during the second practice session. Stewards described the incident as unacceptable behavior, criticizing both drivers for not yielding during the on-track encounter. Verstappen described Lawson’s actions as “not very smart,” emphasizing the impact such behavior can have, particularly when competing for a contract position.
Racing Bulls teammates Verstappen and Lawson started fifth and ninth respectively, with Kimi Antonelli moving up to fourth place after Verstappen’s penalty. Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers’ World Championship, can clinch the title this weekend by finishing ninth or higher. Leclerc and Hamilton, starting from the clean side of the grid, appear well positioned for a strong start at the long run into turn one.
Meanwhile, Haas Racing made a mid-weekend change by replacing Esteban Ocon with Ryo Hirakawa for free practice three, qualifying, and the race itself. This move followed tensions reported between Ocon and his race engineer over tire selection and weighed heavily on the team’s management. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu declined to confirm if Ocon will continue to race in Brazil next weekend, fueling speculation about the French driver’s future in Formula 1. Ocon denied reports of any physical altercations with team personnel.
Isack Hadjar received a formal warning after an off-track incident involving a fan, as footage circulated showing Hadjar maintaining physical distance while a fan attempted to take a photo.
The top ten starting grid for the Mexico City Grand Prix features Hamilton on pole, followed by Russell, Leclerc, Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris, Hadjar, Lindblad, Lawson, and Gasly. The race is expected to be a critical decider in the championship as Hamilton and Russell pursue victory to keep their title hopes alive, while Antonelli looks to secure the championship with a solid points finish.