Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, marking his first pole with Ferrari. The British driver achieved the fastest time of 1:16.514, narrowly beating Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.009 seconds. Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari.
This pole position is Hamilton’s 105th career pole, extending his own Formula 1 record. It is also his first pole since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. At 41 years old, Hamilton becomes the oldest driver to start from pole since Mario Andretti in 1982.
Hamilton indicated that a significant factor affecting his qualifying performance since 2022 has been the change to 18-inch compound tires. He stated that he has struggled to adapt to their construction on the rim side.
Formula 1 transitioned from 13-inch to 18-inch tires in 2022 as part of a technical regulation overhaul. The new tires feature a stiffer construction and a shorter sidewall, which reduces their deformation.
This design change means the tires absorb fewer impacts, transferring more of the suspension work to the car’s mechanical components. The reduced internal volume of the 18-inch tires also makes their temperature and pressure operating windows more sensitive.
Hamilton noted that the previous 13-inch tires were softer and provided more driver feedback. He described the 18-inch compound as ‘rock-solid,’ making it challenging to achieve a perfect qualifying lap due to a smaller operational window.
For the Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying, Hamilton stated he utilised specific ‘tools’ he had not employed for approximately 13 years to bring the tires into their optimal operating window. This approach contributed to his successful pole lap.
Ferrari demonstrated competitive pace throughout the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions, with the SF-26 showing strength particularly in low-speed corners.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit is situated over 2,200 meters above sea level, resulting in approximately 75% of the air density found at sea level. This thin air significantly impacts power unit operation, aerodynamics, and cooling.
Ferrari introduced specific power unit operating modes for the low-density conditions in Mexico, following the ‘ADUO 2’ upgrade in September. This strategy aimed to optimise internal combustion and electrical management.
The circuit’s characteristics, including a long main straight where speeds can exceed 360 km/h before heavy braking into Turn 1, present significant overtaking opportunities. The track also features technical S-shaped sequences and a stadium section.
Despite securing pole, Hamilton acknowledged a lack of long-run data for the race. A power unit issue in FP2 forced him to stop his car, preventing him from completing crucial long-run simulations.
It wasn’t the most straightforward day for me, as I missed some running in FP1 and then had to stop early in FP2. Despite that, the car felt quick, so it was unfortunate that we had to stop before completing the long run.
Max Verstappen qualified fourth but received a one-place grid penalty for an incident with Liam Lawson in FP2, promoting Kimi Antonelli to fifth on the grid.
The final qualifying results for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix were:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:16.514 2. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.009s 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.119s 4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.193s (promoted due to penalty) 5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.178s (with penalty) 6. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.310s 7. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +0.386s 8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +0.485s (with penalty) 9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +0.501s 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.605s
