#F1 #Qualifying: @LandoNorris pips @CharlesLeclerc to crucial #MexicoGP pole.
Lando Norris, #4, McLaren Formula 1 Team, Mercedes, MCL39, receives Pirelli Pole Position Award from Rome Flynn in Parc Ferme, Qualifying, Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2025, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, in Mexico City, Mexico. Image credit to Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images. Norris Mexico GP Pole, 2025 Mexico GP Pole, Mexico City Qualifying Results, F1 Mexico GP Qualifying, Formula 1 Mexico Qualifying.
Norris Mexico GP Pole – McLaren’s Lando Norris pipped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to a crucial pole position for tomorrow’s Mexico City GP as Sir Lewis Hamilton completed the top three. Championship leader Oscar Piastri was down in eighth – but will start seventh due to Williams’ Carlos Sainz five-grid-placed-penalty.
This was Norris’s 14th-career pole position, and this puts the Briton in prime position to close in on team-mate Piastri in the World Driver’s Championship standings and potentially overtake the Australian.
In Q3, the initial flying laps saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen post the first time of a 1:16.455 as Norris pips the Dutchman with a 1:16.170 for provisional pole.
Championship leader Piastri ended up third with a 1:16.469 as Hamilton placed second to be 0.383 seconds off Leclerc who put his Ferrari on provisional pole with a 1:15.991.
Mercedes’ George Russell with three personal bests ended up 0.503 seconds off Leclerc’s benchmark to be sixth with his 1:16.494 effort.
The final hot-laps saw Haas’s Oliver Bearman jump to fifth to be 0.469 seconds off as Piastri jumped to third on a 1:16.174.
Verstappen crossed the line second to be 0.079 seconds off Leclerc’s benchmark as Norris hit pole on a 1:15.586 seconds.
Hamilton slotted into second with his 1:15.938 only briefly as team-mate Leclerc pipped him with his 1:15.848 to be 0.262 off Norris’s pole time to line-up on the front-row with the McLaren.
Mercedes’ Russell improved to fourth on his final hot-lap and ahead of reigning world champion Verstappen who took fifth for Red Bull and team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli who ended up sixth in the other F1 W16 entry.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz qualified seventh but will drop five places on the grid due to his penalty received from last time out at the United States Grand Prix from his collision with Antonelli.
Championship leader Piastri ended up eighth as Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar and Haas’s Bearman completed the top ten.
In the middle segment, which was topped by Norris, a late improvement from championship leader Piastri eliminated Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda meaning the Japanese driver missed out by a very narrow 0.012 seconds and qualified 11th.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team’s Esteban Ocon ended up 12th and ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who placed 13th.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso set three personal bests on his final flyer and it was not enough as the Spaniard wounded up 14th whilst RB’s Liam Lawson was the slowest of the Q2 runners qualified 15th with the Kiwi reporting no grip.
In the opening qualifying stage, this was topped by Hadjar, a late improvement from Alonso sent Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto out in Q1 meaning the Brazilian will start the race 16th.
Williams’ Alexander Albon was unable to improve on his final hot-lap ending up a low-17th and in-front of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who took 18th.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and the other Alpine A525 entry of Franco Colapinto brought up the rear.
You can read the full Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2025 Qualifying Results Classification at the link: https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2025/races/1272/mexico/qualifying
2025 Mexico GP Qualifying – The Top Three
2025 Mexico GP Pole Position – Lando Norris, #4, McLaren Formula 1 Team, Mercedes, MCL39 – 1:15.586:
“I mean I’m happy to be back on pole, it has actually been quite a long time. It was one of those laps you don’t know what’s happening, I knew it was decent but when I crossed the line, I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve had some good races here in the past, so I’ll focus on what I can control.”
2nd Place – Charles Leclerc, #16, Scuderia Ferrari, SF-25 – 1:15.848:
“This Qualifying is very difficult – there is very little grip, so the car is sliding a lot. I’m happy with the job we have done, I don’t think there was a lot more in the car.”
3rd Place – Sir Lewis Hamilton, #44, Scuderia Ferrari, SF-25 – 1:15.938:
“I’m honoured to be up here with Charles and Lando, these guys have been so quick this year. P3 is the perfect spot at this track, so I’m hoping I can make the most of that at the start.”
