Mexico City – Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, securing pole position ahead of the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver's blistering lap marks his first pole since July's Belgian Grand Prix and a significant moment in his championship campaign.
Norris's pole position is McLaren's first in Mexico since Gerhard Berger achieved the feat in 1990. His impressive lap time of 1:15.586 was a quarter of a second faster than Leclerc's best effort, leaving the Monegasque driver to settle for second. Hamilton, in his first season with Ferrari, secured his best qualifying result since joining the team, taking third place on the grid.
The qualifying session saw contrasting fortunes for the championship contenders. While Norris excelled, his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri struggled, finishing eighth, which becomes seventh on the grid due to a penalty for Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen, who has been closing the gap in the championship standings, also had a difficult session, managing only fifth place.
Norris expressed his delight with the result, stating, "It was an incredible lap. There were a couple of places where I thought I messed up a touch". He added, "When I saw a 15.5 there was a big smile on my face. It was one of those laps where it all came together".
Verstappen, on the other hand, lamented his lack of grip, saying, "Just no grip, doesn't turn, no traction, it slides". He acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that he needs to "stay out of trouble and do my own race".
The race could prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race. Norris trails Piastri by 14 points in the championship, while Verstappen is 40 points behind Piastri. A win for Norris, combined with a poor result for Piastri, could see the British driver retake the lead in the championship for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
George Russell will start fourth, marking his and Hamilton's best qualifying results in Mexico since 2022. Daniel Antonelli finished sixth in qualifying. However, a five-place grid penalty for Sainz, carried over from the United States Grand Prix, will move some drivers up the grid.
The long run down to Turn 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is notorious for being a potential hotspot for incidents, presenting an opportunity for drivers to make up positions. However, Verstappen and Piastri will face an uphill battle to challenge Norris, who will be aiming to convert his pole position into a victory.
With Norris starting from the front, followed by the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton, the stage is set for an exciting Mexican Grand Prix. The race will be a crucial test of Norris and McLaren's ability to capitalize on their qualifying success and fend off the challenges from their rivals.
