Lewis Hamilton secured his 105th career pole position and his first for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, edging out former Mercedes teammate George Russell by just 0.009 seconds. The pole is Hamilton's first since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and comes on his 43rd start for the Scuderia.
While Hamilton celebrated, the championship spotlight remains on 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who qualified fourth after a one-place penalty for Max Verstappen. Antonelli stands on the brink of becoming the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. He needs only to finish ninth if Russell wins or tenth if Hamilton wins to clinch the title on Sunday.
Hamilton dismissed any thought of deliberately preventing Antonelli's coronation, saying the team is focused on securing second place in the constructors' championship. Russell acknowledged Antonelli's title is "inevitable" and most likely this weekend.
Antonelli admitted the high stakes made him "tense" and affected his confidence, leaving him 0.184 seconds off Russell's pace. He missed Thursday's media day due to illness but plans to enjoy the evening with family before the race.
Hamilton's pole marks a resurgence after a difficult 2025 season where he questioned his own form. He now leads teammate Charles Leclerc by eight points in the standings, with their qualifying head-to-head at 12-10 in Hamilton's favor. A breakdown in second practice denied Hamilton a race-simulation run, adding uncertainty to his race strategy.
The long run to the first corner — over 800 metres — offers slipstream opportunities, but Antonelli must avoid first-lap incidents. Hamilton praised Antonelli's "phenomenal" achievement and expressed hope for future on-track battles.
