Lewis Hamilton became the oldest driver to claim a Formula 1 pole position since 1982 after securing his first pole for Ferrari during an intense qualifying session ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion clocked a blistering lap time of one minute and 16.514 seconds to edge out Mercedes driver George Russell by just 0.009 seconds on Saturday.
At 41 years old, Hamilton surpassed expectations to extend his all-time record to 105 pole positions, marking his first P1 start since the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix and his maiden pole since joining Ferrari. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc secured third place on the grid, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fifth for Mercedes, though he will move up to fourth following a penalty for Max Verstappen.
Qualifying Drama and Title Implications
- Lewis Hamilton clocked 1:16.514 to claim his milestone 105th career pole position.
- George Russell finished second, missing out on top spot by a minuscule 0.009 seconds.
- Charles Leclerc took third for Ferrari, followed by Max Verstappen in fourth.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth and remains on course to claim the title.
What Happens Next in Mexico
Saturday’s dramatic session was briefly halted during the opening phase when Fernando Alonso was forced to pull his Aston Martin off the track due to a mechanical issue, bringing out a red flag. Meanwhile, local favourite Sergio Perez prepared for his milestone 300th Grand Prix start.
Heading into Sunday’s showdown, Kimi Antonelli holds a commanding advantage in the drivers’ standings, leading Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124. To seal the world championship in Mexico, the young Italian driver simply needs to finish inside the top nine, provided that neither Hamilton nor Russell manages to secure the race victory. With Hamilton and Russell locked out on the front row, the Italian rookie will face early pressure to manage his race strategy carefully from the second row of the grid.
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