Hamilton topped qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix in 1:16.514, narrowly ahead of George Russell. The 71-lap race is still to come on November 1 local time.
Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix with a qualifying lap of 1:16.514, edging Mercedes driver George Russell by just 0.009 seconds. Charles Leclerc qualified third, followed by Max Verstappen in fourth and Kimi Antonelli in fifth, according to Formula 1’s official results.
The narrow margin made the front of the grid particularly competitive. Hamilton’s pole-winning time was only nine thousandths of a second faster than Russell’s 1:16.523, while Leclerc was another 0.110 seconds behind in third. The result puts Hamilton at the front for the race, but it does not decide the Grand Prix itself.
A demanding venue for car and driver
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is 4.304 kilometres long and the Grand Prix distance is 71 laps, or 305.354 kilometres. The circuit sits more than two kilometres above sea level, making the thin air a distinctive challenge for power-unit performance, cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.
Teams need to manage the compromise between straight-line speed and cornering performance. The stadium section also gives the Mexican Grand Prix one of the calendar’s most recognisable settings, with cars passing through a former baseball venue before reaching the final part of the lap.
What to watch in the race
Starting from pole gives Hamilton track position, but the opening lap, tyre strategy and pit-stop timing can all change the order. Russell and Leclerc are close enough on qualifying pace to remain threats, while Verstappen starts from fourth and can potentially gain places through strategy or race incidents.
The race is scheduled for November 1 at the Mexico City circuit. This article covers the qualifying result only; it does not report a Grand Prix winner or predict the final podium. The key confirmed result is Hamilton on pole, with Russell just nine thousandths of a second behind.