Mexico: Hamilton/Ferrari on pole, Verstappen P4 but with a penalty, Antonelli in P5

That was a thrilling qualifying session for the traditional Mexican Grand Prix! Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time on the Mexican circuit, ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc, securing the 41-year-old Briton’s 105th Formula 1 pole position and his first for Ferrari!

In the first qualifying segment, the track surface was hotter than at any point during the previous weekend: almost 50 degrees (air temperature 26 degrees). This clearly had a significant impact on the delicate interplay between the race car and the tyres. There was also more wind than on Friday.

Seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan-Pablo Montoya said: “Ferrari will be strong in qualifying – Antonelli certainly will be, but Norris also has a chance. It will come down to who can put in a flawless lap at the decisive moment.”

Before qualifying, it was clear that Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas would start 50 places back on the grid (due to an engine change), whilst the two rivals, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, would each start one place back following their unnecessary tussle in the second free practice session. So much for the starting position.

In Q1, to the delight of the fans, local hero Sergio Pérez in the Cadillac was the first driver out on track. Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg was also out early, as was his team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto with a fresh power unit.

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Pérez made a mistake on his first flying lap, thereby squandering the chance to appear in first place, at least for a few seconds.

A brilliant lap from the ageless Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin, six tenths faster than Hülkenberg, the earlier leader. Alonso’s team-mate Stroll skidded into the grass after braking too late.

Then came the bad news for Alonso: “Stop the car on the track,” the two-time F1 champion was told over the radio. Fernando, in disbelief: “What’s going on? The engine’s working fine.” Another order from the control centre – stop immediately! Alonso pounded the steering wheel in frustration.

The reason for the retirement: a leak in the energy recovery system’s cooling circuit in the Aston Martin-Honda.

Red flag!

This ruined the first flying lap for numerous drivers, including Leclerc, Verstappen, Antonelli and Norris. Lewis Hamilton had just managed to cross the finish line and took the lead.

After an eight-minute break, the race resumed, with Alonso still in third place at that point (behind Hamilton and Piastri) – a truly bitter blow. To make matters worse, he received a warning because, in his frustration, he’d forgotten to click the racing steering wheel back into place after getting out of the car.

A collective groan from the Mexican fans: Pérez was off the track at the end of the long start-finish straight.

Leclerc took the lead, ahead of Norris and Verstappen, then Antonelli moved up to third place ahead of the Dutchman. Kimi, however, had a messy lap.

Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad sounded flustered over the radio: “I’ve got smoke in the cockpit.” He brought his car back to the pits.

Lewis Hamilton took the lead, ahead of Leclerc, Piastri, Norris, Antonelli and Verstappen.

As Q1 drew to a close, the following drivers were eliminated early: Albon in P17, followed by Alonso, Hirakawa, Stroll, Pérez and Bottas.

Top ten in Q1: Hamilton, Hadjar, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Bortoleto, Norris, Hülkenberg, Antonelli and Verstappen.

In the second qualifying segment, Piastri led ahead of Hülkenberg, Bortoleto and Norris, then Hamilton squandered his chance of a fastest time when he ran wide in the stadium section, finishing only eighth. The other Ferrari driver fared better – Leclerc took the lead.

What was it Montoya said? “It’s not enough to be fast here; you’ve also got to manage to put in a flawless lap.”

Then Max Verstappen flexed his muscles: faster than Leclerc, Max’s first truly brilliant lap of this Mexican Grand Prix weekend, in a car that seemed willing to do exactly what the Dutchman wanted.

Norris moved up to P3 behind Verstappen and Leclerc, whilst Hamilton, still without a good time at that stage, was in P16. The Englishman knew: there was no room for error now. And he delivered – third behind Verstappen and Leclerc!

Eliminated at the end of Q2: Hülkenberg in P11, followed by Colapinto, Piastri, Bortoleto, Bearman and Sainz.

In the top ten and thus through to Q3: Norris with the fastest time right at the very end, then Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Hadjar, Antonelli, Lindblad, Lawson and Gasly.

In Q3, the track temperature dropped further (now down to 41 degrees). Norris messed up the first sector, Russell the second; Hamilton did better – taking the lead in the Ferrari for two seconds, before Leclerc in the other Ferrari was four tenths of a second faster!

Russell and Antonelli couldn’t keep up, finishing P3 and P4. Then world champion Norris moved up to second place behind the impressive Leclerc.

Max Verstappen put the pedal to the metal – just 45/1000 behind Leclerc, second fastest!

Isack Hadjar in the other Red Bull Racing car, however, went off the track, his lap a write-off.

Standings after the first set of tyres: Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, Russell, Gasly, Antonelli, Lawson, Lindblad and Hadjar. The Frenchman Hadjar, in a moment of frustration as he entered the pits, drove over the white line on the left, which earned him a warning.

With his second set of soft Pirelli tyres, Russell shot up to first place. But Hamilton was nine thousandths of a second faster!

Leclerc was down to P3, but Antonelli, Verstappen and Norris were still to come.

Antonelli was only in P5; Verstappen messed up the stadium section whilst chasing the fastest time, and Norris was unable to improve on his time.

So pole position goes to Lewis Hamilton – wow!