Lewis Hamilton took pole for the Mexico City Grand Prix with a 1m16.514s, his first grand prix pole for Ferrari and the team's first of 2026. George Russell was 0.009s behind in second. Title-chasing Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth but will line up fourth after a one-place grid penalty for Max Verstappen.
Hamilton's first pole since Hungary 2023
According to RaceFans and GPFans, it is Hamilton's first pole since the 2023 Hungarian GP. GPFans said it extends his record to 105 poles and makes the 41-year-old the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982. The Race noted it is Ferrari's first pole of 2026. Charles Leclerc was third on 1m16.633s, 0.119s back; a formula1.com video carried his quote: "I didn't do a good job, Lewis did a great job – it's as simple as that."
Top ten and grid
| Pos | Driver | Q3 time | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton (Ferrari) | 1:16.514 | 1 |
| 2 | Russell (Mercedes) | 1:16.523 | 2 |
| 3 | Leclerc (Ferrari) | 1:16.633 | 3 |
| 4 | Verstappen (Red Bull) | 1:16.692 | 5 (one-place penalty) |
| 5 | Antonelli (Mercedes) | 1:16.707 | 4 |
| 6 | Norris (McLaren) | 1:16.824 | 6 |
| 7 | Hadjar (Red Bull) | 1:16.900 | 7 |
| 8 | Lawson (Racing Bulls) | 1:17.029 | 9 (penalty) |
| 9 | Lindblad (Racing Bulls) | 1:17.117 | 8 |
| 10 | Gasly (Alpine) | 1:17.153 | 10 |
formula1.com confirmed the top five times; the rest match across RaceFans, The Race, GPFans and Crash.net. The Verstappen and Lawson penalties stem from their FP2 collision, covered in our earlier report; RaceFans said Lawson's penalty swaps the two Racing Bulls. Sidebar headlines on RaceFans and The Race mention a possible Lawson disqualification over an MGU-K rules breach, but we could not read those articles, so the grid may change.
What decided Q3
Accounts differ. RaceFans wrote that Norris lost time mid-lap after catching Hadjar, and that Verstappen then locked up into Turn 13 while passing him. Crash.net said a lock-up cost Norris any chance of pole; GPFans said a lock-up in the stadium section thwarted Verstappen's final effort. Norris had led Q1 and Q2 times but ended sixth, 0.310s off.
In Q1 a red flag came about nine minutes in when Fernando Alonso's car lost water pressure; he was eliminated in 18th and, per RaceFans, reprimanded by the stewards for a "general safety" violation. In Q2 Nico Hulkenberg missed the top ten by 0.028s on the printed times (RaceFans says under three-hundredths; Crash.net's text says 0.036s) behind Pierre Gasly.
Championship picture
GPFans lists Antonelli on 365 points, Russell 242 and Hamilton 241, so he leads Russell by 123. He starts fourth, with Russell and Hamilton on the front row. These standings appear to predate the weekend and exclude the race.
Sources
- RaceFans, Hamilton claims first pole position for three years ahead of Russell in Mexico
- The Race, F1 2026 Mexican Grand Prix qualifying results
- GPFans, F1 Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton snatches pole with incredible Mexican Grand Prix lap
- Crash.net, F1 Mexico Grand Prix: Full qualifying results
- formula1.com, Mexico City Grand Prix 2026