Hamilton hails 'special' first Ferrari pole after Mexico qualifying thriller

Lewis Hamilton ended a three-year pole drought with a decisive final Q3 lap at the Mexico City Grand Prix, beating George Russell by 0.009s to take his first Ferrari pole and the 105th of his F1 career. After a weekend disrupted by an engine issue and limited long-run running, Hamilton was almost speechless, calling the result “special.”

Why it matters:

The pole comes just over four months after his maiden Ferrari win, suggesting the partnership is gaining momentum. It also makes him the oldest polesitter since Mario Andretti at the 1982 Italian GP, a reminder that his single-lap speed remains sharp in F1’s tightest eras.

The details:

• Hamilton’s 1m 16.514s edged Russell in a Q3 fight decided by thousandths, ending his wait since the 2023 Hungarian GP.
• He led Q1 but had to reset after his first Q3 run, delivering under pressure.
• The weekend’s engine problem and limited long-run data left Ferrari on the back foot, though setup work recovered performance.
• It was his second Mexico pole after 2016, making Mexico the 22nd circuit where he has multiple poles.
• “I’m lost for words,” he said. “It’s been a really tough weekend... My first pole with Ferrari. And 105... I like that number.”

What’s next:

Hamilton will chase a second win of 2026 on Sunday, with a strong result also giving him an edge in the fight for P2 in the Drivers’ Championship. If Ferrari can convert qualifying pace into race trim, Mexico could become another marker in his late-career resurgence.