Hamilton Takes First Ferrari Pole in Mexico City
Lewis Hamilton has taken pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, his first for Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli starts fourth and is still on course for the title.
A long wait ends
Hamilton beat Mercedes driver George Russell by just nine-thousandths of a second. The lap came at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, in his second season with Ferrari.
It is the 41-year-old's 105th career pole. It is also his first since the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2023, and Ferrari's first since Budapest last year. He last took pole in Mexico in 2016.
"Thank you so much, that's been such a long time coming," Hamilton said. "My first pole with Ferrari. 105 poles, I like that number."
His first season with the team was described as very difficult. He has since won for Ferrari in Barcelona.
How Q3 played out
The Ferraris set the early pace. Charles Leclerc posted 1min 16.647sec on the opening runs. Max Verstappen came within four-hundredths of a second of that time. Lando Norris was one-tenth back.
Antonelli managed only seventh on his first run. On the final laps Russell found his best form of the weekend and went top. Then Hamilton edged him. Leclerc could not improve on his teammate and ended third. Verstappen had a minor lockup in the final sector and lost his chance.
Verstappen qualified fourth on track but drops a place because of a one-place grid penalty for a clash with Liam Lawson in practice on Friday. Lawson, eighth, has the same penalty. Norris was sixth. Oscar Piastri went out in Q2 and finished 13th, complaining of a lack of rear grip.
What Antonelli needs
Antonelli leads Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124. If he is 100 points ahead after the race, he is champion.
Russell or Hamilton must win on Sunday to keep the fight alive. Even then, Antonelli takes the title if he finishes ninth or higher. If neither wins, he is champion even if he fails to finish.
At 20, he would be the youngest world champion in Formula One history. He would also be the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Ocon dropped by Haas
Haas announced on Saturday morning that Esteban Ocon will not take part in the weekend. Ryo Hirakawa replaces him and will make his F1 race debut on Sunday. The team gave no explanation.
Ocon had an angry exchange with his race engineer Laura Müller during Friday's second practice session. Afterwards he returned to the garage without removing his helmet. Reports of a physical altercation followed.
Ocon admits a disagreement took place. He rejects any suggestion of physical violence. In a statement he said a "difference in viewpoints led to a discussion with the parties involved". He asked for speculation to be avoided and said more updates would follow.
Ocon is due to be replaced next season by Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara.
Our view
Pole does not decide the title. Antonelli only needs a clean race from fourth on the grid. Hamilton and Russell hold the front row, and a win by either is the only way to delay the champion's coronation. The Haas story may also develop, since the team has promised further updates.
Source: the Guardian