Norris Claims Dominant Pole as Piastri Struggles in Mexico GP

Lando Norris Secures Crucial Pole Position in Mexico Grand Prix

Lando Norris has claimed a vital pole position in the 2025 Formula 1 title race at the Mexico Grand Prix, as his rivals faced significant challenges. The British driver from McLaren managed to outpace the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, securing his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix. Norris set a time of 1m15.586s in the final qualifying session, overtaking initial Q3 leader Leclerc and solidifying his position at the top.

Hamilton finished third, followed by George Russell, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen struggled with grip in the fast second sector and could only manage fifth place. This was still an improvement over championship leader Oscar Piastri, who had been behind Norris all weekend and qualified eighth behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz, although Sainz will face a five-place grid penalty.

Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman impressed by making it into Q3, and the rookie duo will share the fifth row on Sunday.

Q2: Piastri Faces Challenges

In Q2, Norris set a time of 1m16.252s, two tenths clear of Hamilton and three seconds ahead of Russell, Verstappen, and Sainz. In the other McLaren, Piastri struggled to advance to the top 10 shootout. The Australian was tenth after the first run, albeit on used soft tyres, but even on new softs, the championship leader found it difficult to keep up with the frontrunners.

Piastri eventually advanced in seventh place, just 0.079s ahead of 11th-placed Yuki Tsunoda. Alongside Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg were eliminated. Fernando Alonso was only 14th in the quickest Aston Martin, while a botched final lap cost Liam Lawson a better position.

Q1: Hadjar Leads While Albon’s Qualifying Struggles Continue

In Q1, track conditions improved rapidly, with drivers trying to eke out two push laps on a single set of tyres as the track gripped up. This led to a jumbled-up order, with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar topping the session from Hamilton, Russell, and Norris. Verstappen managed to go through in ninth after struggling for adhesion through the high-speed sector two Esses, which would become a recurring theme, ahead of Piastri.

Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber was the first driver to be eliminated in 16th, followed by another poor showing for Alex Albon in the Williams. At the back of the field, the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were split by Aston’s Lance Stroll, with Colapinto left to rue a mistake which ruined a more promising looking lap.

Mexico Grand Prix – Qualifying Results

Position	Driver	Team	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Time	Interval	Tyres	km/h
1	L. Norris	McLaren		McLaren	Mercedes	6	1’15.586	S	204.990
2	C. Leclerc	Ferrari		Ferrari	Ferrari	6	+0.262	1’15.848	0.262
3	L. Hamilton	Ferrari		Ferrari	Ferrari	6	+0.352	1’15.938	0.090
4	G. Russell	Mercedes		Mercedes	Mercedes	6	+0.448	1’16.034	0.096
5	M. Verstappen	Red Bull Racing		Red Bull	Red Bull	6	+0.484	1’16.070	0.036
6	A. Antonelli	Mercedes		Mercedes	Mercedes	6	+0.532	1’16.118	0.048
7	C. Sainz	Williams		Williams	Mercedes	6	+0.586	1’16.172	0.054
8	O. Piastri	McLaren		McLaren	Mercedes	6	+0.588	1’16.174	0.002
9	I. Hadjar	RB		RB	Honda	6	+0.666	1’16.252	0.078
10	O. Bearman	Haas F1 Team		Haas	Ferrari	6	+0.874	1’16.460	0.208