Lewis Hamilton Secures Pole for Mexico Grand Prix, Outshining Russell and Leclerc
Hamilton leads the field into the Mexican weekend, giving Ferrari its first pole of the 2026 season.
Lewis Hamilton clinched pole position for the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, beating teammates George Russell and Charles Leclerc in a tight qualifying session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The 44‑year‑old Mercedes driver recorded a lap time of 1:20.123, a fraction ahead of Russell’s 1:20.145 and Leclerc’s 1:20.212. The result gives Ferrari its first pole of the campaign, a milestone that could boost the team’s confidence heading into the high‑altitude weekend.
The session was marked by a battle for the front row, with both Mercedes drivers pushing hard on the long straight. Hamilton’s consistent pace and flawless tyre management allowed him to maintain the edge over Russell, who was hampered by a slightly softer tyre compound. Leclerc, meanwhile, struggled with a minor suspension issue that slowed his final laps. Motorsport.com noted that the 2026 season has seen a tighter grid, and this pole demonstrates Hamilton’s ability to extract performance from the car under pressure.
For Indian fans, the race will be broadcast live on FanCode from 5:30 PM IST, with commentary in Hindi and English. The Mexican GP is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM local time, which translates to 5:30 PM IST. Fans can also follow the live commentary on the F1 official app, which offers real‑time lap times and driver statistics.
With the pole position secured, Hamilton will start the race from the front of the grid, giving him a clear advantage on the high‑speed layout. The Mercedes team will be looking to defend the front against the Ferrari‑led midfield, while Russell and Leclerc will aim to capitalize on any mistakes from the leaders. The Mexican Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling start to the season, and Indian viewers can look forward to an exciting battle for the top spots.
Source: Motorsport.com