During the qualifying session for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for Ferrari. This marks his first pole with the Scuderia and his 105th career pole position. At 41 years old, Hamilton also becomes the oldest polesitter in Formula 1 since Mario Andretti in the 1982 Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s decisive lap of 1:16.514s at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez narrowly edged out Mercedes driver George Russell by just nine-thousandths of a second. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc qualified third, 0.119s behind Hamilton.
The final Q3 runs saw Hamilton, who was initially over 0.4 seconds adrift of Leclerc, deliver three personal best sectors to claim the top spot. Leclerc experienced a wobble at Turn 10, while Max Verstappen locked up at Turn 13, both factors contributing to Hamilton’s pole.
The adjusted starting grid for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix is as follows:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:16.514s
2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.009s
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.119s
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.193s
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.178s
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.310s
7. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.386s
8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.603s
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.639s
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +0.792s
Max Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty for a collision with Liam Lawson during Friday’s second practice session. The incident occurred when Verstappen, on a preparation lap, attempted to overtake Lawson, who was on a cool-down lap, into Turn 12.
Lawson subsequently pushed Verstappen wide at Turn 13, leading to Verstappen cutting over the Turn 14 curb and making contact. Stewards deemed the actions of both drivers ‘unacceptable’ and ‘clumsy,’ escalating the penalty due to prior warnings and similar incidents.
Further grid alterations include Liam Lawson’s disqualification from qualifying. His Racing Bulls car failed to comply with technical regulations, demoting him from ninth to the back of the grid. Valtteri Bottas will also start from the rear due to an extensive power unit change.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who qualified fifth, will start fourth following Verstappen’s penalty. Antonelli is on the verge of securing the 2026 F1 World Championship at this event.
The 20-year-old Italian needs to finish ninth or higher in the Mexico City Grand Prix to clinch the title, regardless of the results of his closest rivals, Hamilton and Russell. Should he succeed, Antonelli would become the youngest F1 World Champion, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record, and the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Antonelli acknowledged feeling ‘more tense than usual’ during qualifying, suggesting it impacted his performance. His teammate, George Russell, noted that Antonelli has been operating at a ‘higher level’ this season.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez presents unique challenges due to its high altitude, which affects aerodynamic downforce, engine cooling, and driver exertion. The circuit has also undergone resurfacing, introducing an element of uncertainty to race strategies.
Race day is forecast for sunshine with air temperatures around 25°C. Track temperatures are expected to reach between 40-45°C, which typically accelerates tyre degradation. A moderate north wind is also anticipated, adding a further layer of complexity to car balance and tyre management, particularly on the long back straight and through fast corners.
