Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli will start fourth on the grid on Sunday with a chance to become Formula One's youngest champion.
Hamilton's pole, in a time of one minute 16.514 seconds, was a record-extending 105th of his career. It was his first at a regular grand prix since Hungary in July 2023 when he was at Mercedes, a wait of 1,197 days. He has taken two sprint poles since joining Ferrari last year.
"Thank you so much. It has been such a long time coming," Hamilton said over the team radio on Saturday. "Mega job, guys. I am so grateful for the hard work you guys put in."
At the age of 41, Hamilton became the oldest pole-sitter since American Mario Andretti, at 42, at Monza in Italy in 1982. "It feels great to be able to reward them with a pole, and to have your first Ferrari pole, I mean, it just takes me back to watching Michael get all those pole positions when he was at Ferrari and all those wins. So it's very, very special," Hamilton said.
Mercedes's George Russell was second fastest, just 0.009 seconds adrift after taking provisional pole only for Hamilton to beat his time. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third, 0.119 seconds off the pace. Both Hamilton and Russell need a win to keep the title fight alive past this weekend.
Antonelli, who qualified fifth fastest, moves up a place due to Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking a grid drop. The 20-year-old needs only a ninth-place finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday to become Italy's first champion since 1953. "I struggled to get a good feeling from the tyres in Q3. I just didn't have the most confidence. I was a bit tense, I am not going to lie," the Italian said. "It was a poor lap, too many mistakes."
McLaren's Lando Norris, the reigning champion, qualified sixth, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar seventh. Oscar Piastri was knocked out in 13th place in a blow for McLaren's hopes of edging ahead of Red Bull in the battle for third overall.
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson was disqualified from qualifying for a technical breach and sent to the back of the grid after an earlier one-place penalty for a clash with Verstappen in practice. "I went to see Max this morning to apologise because what happened doesn't need to happen and I don't want it to happen in future," Lawson said.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso halted the first session with a suspected water pressure issue. Japanese Ryo Hirakawa qualified 19th for Haas on his F1 race debut at the age of 32, replacing Esteban Ocon.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Hamilton's first Ferrari pole is a landmark for the sport's most successful driver under a new team, highlighting Ferrari's resurgence.
- Kimi Antonelli, at 20, could become Formula One's youngest champion, a historic moment for Italy and the sport.
- The tight constructors' battle between McLaren and Red Bull adds tension to the final stretch of the season.
Background
Hamilton, 41, is a seven-time world champion who joined Ferrari last year after a storied career at Mercedes. Antonelli is in his debut season with Mercedes and leads the drivers' championship heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix. The championship fight enters its final rounds with only a few races remaining.
Key Perspectives
- Lewis Hamilton: Said securing his first Ferrari pole felt "very, very special" and took him back to watching Michael Schumacher's pole positions for Ferrari.
- Kimi Antonelli: Said he was "a bit tense" and admitted his qualifying lap was "poor" with "too many mistakes."
- Liam Lawson: Said he apologised to Max Verstappen for a clash in practice, noting "what happened doesn't need to happen."
What to Watch
- Whether Antonelli secures at least a ninth-place finish on Sunday to seal the championship.
- Whether either Hamilton or Russell can win and postpone Antonelli's coronation.
- How McLaren responds to Piastri's early exit in the constructors' battle with Red Bull.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHamilton took his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Lewis Hamilton has taken his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix”
- SupportedAntonelli will start fourth on the grid.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “with Mercedes’s Kimi Antonelli fourth on the grid”
- SupportedAntonelli is likely to become Formula One’s youngest champion.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “for a ground-breaking race likely to make the 20-year-old Formula One’s youngest champion”
- SupportedHamilton ended a 1,197-day wait for a regular-grand-prix pole.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “he has not had one at a regular grand prix since Hungary in July 2023 when he was at Mercedes – a wait of 1,197 days.”
- SupportedHamilton said over team radio: “Thank you so much. It has been such a long time coming,” and “Mega job, guys. I am so grateful for the hard work you guys put in.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Thank you so much. It has been such a long time coming,” Hamilton said over the team radio on Saturday. “Mega job, guys. I am so grateful for the hard work you guys put in.””
- SupportedThe pole was Hamilton’s 105th and came in 1:16.514.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The pole, in a time of one minute 16.514 seconds, was a record-extending 105th of Hamilton’s stellar career.”
- SupportedAt 41, Hamilton became the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti, who was 42 at Monza in 1982.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The pole also made the seven-time world champion at the age of 41 the oldest pole-sitter since American Mario Andretti, at 42, at Monza in Italy in 1982.”
- SupportedHamilton said his first Ferrari pole reminded him of watching Michael Schumacher take poles and wins at Ferrari.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““It feels great to be able to reward them with a pole, and to have your first Ferrari pole, I mean, it just takes me back to watching Michael get all those pole positions when he was at Ferrari and all those wins. So it’s very, very special,” Hamilton said.”
- SupportedAntonelli said he lacked confidence in Q3, felt tense and made too many mistakes.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““I struggled to get a good feeling from the tyres in Q3. I just didn’t have the most confidence. I was a bit tense, I am not going to lie,” the Italian said. “It was a poor lap, too many mistakes.””
- SupportedLawson said he had apologised to Verstappen and did not want the incident to happen again.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““I went to see Max this morning to apologise because what happened doesn’t need to happen and I don’t want it to happen in future,” Lawson said.”
- SupportedAntonelli needs only a ninth-place finish to become Italy’s first champion since 1953.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Antonelli needs only a ninth-place finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday to become Italy’s first champion since 1953.”
- SupportedLawson was disqualified from qualifying for a technical breach and sent to the back of the grid after receiving a one-place grid drop for a practice clash with Verstappen.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson qualified eighth fastest but had a one-place grid drop for a clash with Verstappen in Friday’s practice. The New Zealander was then disqualified from the session for a technical breach and sent to the back of the grid.”