2026 Mexico City GP: Hamilton on Pole After Verstappen Penalty and Lawson Disqualification

Lewis Hamilton will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from pole position, his first for Ferrari and the 105th of his F1 career. George Russell joins him on the front row, with Charles Leclerc third and Kimi Antonelli fourth in a race that could make the Italian F1's youngest world champion.

Why it matters:

The grid has been reshaped by penalties and a disqualification, turning a straightforward qualifying order into a strategic puzzle. Hamilton's Ferrari speed gives him track position, but the long run to Turn 1 and the championship stakes around Antonelli keep the race open.

The details:

• Hamilton's late qualifying lap delivered Ferrari's first pole of his tenure; Russell kept Mercedes within reach in second.
• Leclerc starts third and Antonelli fourth, putting both Ferraris and the title contender in prime position for Turn 1.
• Max Verstappen lines up fifth after a one-place grid penalty for his second-practice incident with Liam Lawson.
• Lawson received the same penalty but starts from the back after being disqualified from qualifying for a technical breach.
• Lando Norris is the top McLaren in sixth; Oscar Piastri starts 12th after a Q2 disaster.
• Valtteri Bottas carries a 50-place grid penalty for Cadillac.

What's next:

The run to Turn 1 will be critical. Hamilton needs a clean launch to convert Ferrari's pole, while Antonelli must balance aggression and championship risk from fourth. Verstappen and Norris will look to profit from any early chaos, and Lawson's charge from the back adds another variable.