Mexico City GP Qualifying: Verstappen and Antonelli Lead Pole Fight

Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying will set the grid for a weekend that could crown a new Formula 1 world champion. Max Verstappen headed Kimi Antonelli in free practice, but the fight for pole at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez remains wide open.

Why it matters:

Qualifying is unusually important here. The long main straight rewards top speed, while the fast sweeps through Sector 2 demand commitment and downforce. A good lap requires drivers to blend both without losing time in the slower first and third sectors. With a title scenario possibly looming, every grid slot carries extra weight.

The details:

• The session starts at 15:00 local (21:00 UK) and runs for 60 minutes.
• Only Charles Leclerc is a multiple Mexico City polesitter among the current grid.
• Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris have each taken pole at this circuit before.
• Verstappen's practice advantage over Antonelli suggests the Red Bull driver is a serious pole contender, but the margins are likely to be fine.

What's next:

Track evolution and tyre prep will decide who nails the final run. If Antonelli can match Verstappen's pace, the rookie's first Mexico pole would add another twist to the title fight. If not, Verstappen's experience could give him the edge when it matters.