Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position for Ferrari during the qualifying session at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, setting a time of 1:16.514. This achievement also made him the oldest pole sitter since 1982. Hamilton edged out George Russell, who qualified second for Mercedes by just 0.009 seconds, while Charles Leclerc secured third place for Ferrari despite facing tyre temperature challenges on his final Q3 lap.
The session highlighted a close competition between Ferrari and Mercedes, with Kimi Antonelli qualifying fifth but starting fourth due to Max Verstappen’s grid penalty. Verstappen himself qualified fourth but will drop to fifth on the grid following a penalty incurred after a collision in practice. Red Bull Racing’s Isack Hadjar qualified seventh but expressed frustration over car behaviour and lock-ups. McLaren encountered difficulties, with Lando Norris qualifying sixth and Oscar Piastri eliminated in Q2 in 13th place.
Other teams showed mixed fortunes. Racing Bulls had both cars in Q3; however, Liam Lawson was disqualified for a technical breach and will start ninth, while Arvid Lindblad qualified ninth. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto reached Q3 in 10th and 12th respectively, benefiting from Lawson’s disqualification. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed Q3, qualifying 11th, and Gabriel Bortoleto secured 14th despite limited running. Haas introduced rookie Ryo Hirakawa, who qualified 19th, with Oliver Bearman in 15th. Williams’ Carlos Sainz reached Q2 in 16th, while Alexander Albon was eliminated in Q1.
Aston Martin faced setbacks as Fernando Alonso retired in Q1 due to an ERS issue, and Lance Stroll also exited early because of car balance and engine braking problems. Cadillac’s Sergio Perez qualified 21st after missing FP3 due to a power unit change, while Valtteri Bottas started 22nd carrying a 50-place grid penalty. Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi noted that both one-stop and two-stop strategies remain viable for the race, with tyre management and traffic expected to play significant roles.
Teams emphasized the importance of a clean start and effective tyre management, especially given the long run to Turn 1 and the challenges posed by overheating in dirty air. The qualifying session provided a clear snapshot of the competitive order heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix, with Ferrari and Mercedes closely matched at the front and other teams facing various challenges.
Charles Leclerc’s qualifying was marked by a struggle with tyre temperatures on his final lap, which affected his ability to improve beyond third place. His result was shaped by these conditions rather than any technical issue. Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism about Ferrari’s prospects based on the qualifying performance, suggesting the team had reason for encouragement at this stage of the weekend. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli acknowledged that his fifth-place qualifying effort involved some overdriving, indicating the fine margins involved in extracting maximum lap time.
The tyre strategy discussion ahead of the race remains focused on the balance between one-stop and two-stop approaches, with tyre degradation and traffic management expected to influence decisions. The session underlined how crucial these factors will be for the teams as they prepare for the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.