2025 F1 Mexico City GP Qualifying: Norris Takes Pole Ahead of Ferrari

Lando Norris took pole position for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix after a sensational final lap at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The McLaren driver beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to secure the top spot in an intense qualifying battle. The result sets up a thrilling race at high altitude, with Norris’ title rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri starting fifth and eighth respectively.

Norris Finds Perfect Form in Q3

After being narrowly beaten by Leclerc on the opening Q3 runs, Norris produced a remarkable final effort. His 1:15.586 lap was 0.262 seconds faster than Leclerc’s, while Hamilton finished 0.352 behind the leader. It marked Norris’ first pole in several rounds and a statement of intent as the championship fight heats up.

“I’m happy to be back on pole. It’s been quite a long time, so a good feeling,” Norris said afterward. “It was one of those laps where you don’t really know what happened , it just came together perfectly.”

Strong Early Pace in Q1

Norris set the tone early with a 1:17.147 in Q1, just ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Leclerc. As times improved, he pushed again to record 1:16.889, keeping Leclerc 0.125s behind. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar briefly topped the times late in the session with 1:16.733 before Norris and Hamilton backed off on their final laps.

Those eliminated in Q1 included Gabriel Bortoleto, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Franco Colapinto. Verstappen and Piastri both scraped through despite unconvincing pace in their first runs.

Norris Maintains Momentum in Q2

In the second segment, Norris again led the field with a 1:16.252 lap. Ferrari’s Leclerc and Williams’ Carlos Sainz followed closely, while Verstappen and Nico Hülkenberg completed the top five. Norris extended his advantage on the second attempt, finishing two tenths clear of Hamilton. Verstappen remained fourth, while Piastri climbed to seventh.

Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed the cut in eleventh, just 0.012s shy of Haas driver Hadjar. Ocon, Hülkenberg, Alonso, and Lawson joined him among the Q2 exits.

Final Shootout: McLaren vs. Ferrari

Verstappen opened Q3 with a 1:16.455 to set the early benchmark, but Norris immediately went 0.285 faster. Leclerc then stunned the Briton with the first sub-1:16 lap to grab provisional pole, while Hamilton slotted into third.

However, Norris responded emphatically on his final attempt, improving by almost six tenths to reclaim pole position. His 1:15.586 lap left Leclerc and Hamilton unable to respond, while Russell took fourth ahead of Verstappen. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed in sixth, just behind his teammate.

Performance & Grid Outlook

Norris’ McLaren showed exceptional balance and power deployment through Mexico’s high-speed corners and long straights. The MCL39’s setup favored traction and stability under braking, allowing Norris to extract maximum grip on his decisive lap. Verstappen’s Red Bull struggled with rear-end grip, while Ferrari’s consistent pace kept them firmly in contention for race day.

Sainz, who qualified seventh, will serve a five-place grid penalty for a previous collision in Austin. As a result, Piastri moves up to start alongside Antonelli, with Hadjar, Bearman, and Tsunoda completing the top ten starters.

Source: FIA