Sunday, November 1, 2026 Editions
ENESNEHIFR
Breaking
US Embassy Warns of Credible Mass Casualty Threat at Moscow Museum as Site Closes and FSB Acts on US TipUS Embassy Warns of Credible Mass Casualty Threat at Moscow Museum as Site Closes and FSB Acts on US Tip
Trending
Sports

Hamilton Takes First Ferrari Pole at Mexico City Grand Prix, His 105th Career Pole

Lewis Hamilton beat George Russell by 0.009 seconds in Mexico City qualifying on October 31, 2026, taking his first pole position with Ferrari and the 105th pole of his career.

By Orbit Post2 min read
Read inENESNEHIFR
Hamilton Takes First Ferrari Pole at Mexico City Grand Prix, His 105th Career Pole

Key points

  • Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
  • It is Hamilton's first pole position since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and his first pole with Ferrari.
  • "My first, I think this is my first pole with Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. His fastest lap of 1 minute 16.514 seconds beat George Russell of Mercedes by 0.009 seconds and gave Hamilton the 105th pole position of his career, extending his own Formula 1 record.

It is Hamilton's first pole position since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and his first pole with Ferrari. He also became the oldest polesitter in Formula 1 since Mario Andretti at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix.

"My first, I think this is my first pole with Ferrari. And 105... I like that number," Hamilton said, via Formula 1. "It feels special for me in Mexico, my first pole for Ferrari here," he said, via the Associated Press.

Ferrari lock two of the top three

Charles Leclerc qualified third in the other Ferrari, 0.119 seconds behind Hamilton. Ferrari start the race with two cars in the top three on the grid.

The result is Ferrari's first pole position of the 2026 season. The Associated Press reported it was also the Italian team's first pole position since Hungary last year, 30 races ago.

Verstappen penalty reshapes the front rows

Max Verstappen qualified fourth, 0.178 seconds behind Hamilton. A one place grid penalty for his Friday practice clash with Liam Lawson drops Verstappen to fifth on the grid for Sunday.

Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth and will start fourth after Verstappen's penalty. Antonelli can clinch the world title on Sunday if he finishes ninth or better.

Oscar Piastri failed to reach Q3 and qualified 13th. McLaren sent Piastri out in Q2 on a used set of soft tyres before switching him to a fresh set, and he did not advance.

Red flag in Q1

The first part of qualifying was interrupted by a red flag after Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stopped at the Foro Sol stadium section with a power unit problem.

The Mexico City Grand Prix race starts at 14:00 local time on Sunday, with Hamilton at the front of the grid for Ferrari for the first time.

The grid for Sunday

Hamilton and Russell share the front row, with Leclerc third and Antonelli fourth after the penalty is applied. Verstappen starts fifth, and Piastri starts 13th, at the back of the group that fought for pole. Antonelli starts the race as championship leader, and a finish of ninth or better gives him the title on Sunday.

Timeline

  1. Oct 31, 2026Q1 is interrupted by a red flag after Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stops at the Foro Sol stadium section with a power unit problem.
  2. Oct 31, 2026Lewis Hamilton sets a fastest lap of 1:16.514 in qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, beating George Russell by 0.009 seconds.
  3. Oct 31, 2026Hamilton takes his first pole with Ferrari and the 105th pole of his career, with Charles Leclerc third and Max Verstappen fourth before a one place grid penalty.

Sources