Hamilton takes first Ferrari pole position at Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton won Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying for Ferrari, beating Mercedes' George Russell. Kimi Antonelli can clinch the title in Sunday's race.
Lewis Hamilton, the British seven-time Formula 1 world champion, secured his first pole position (best starting place) for Ferrari on Saturday. In qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the 41-year-old edged out Mercedes driver George Russell in the closing stage. It is his first pole in more than three years and extends his record career total to 105.
Hamilton is the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982. He shares the sport's record of seven drivers' titles with Michael Schumacher: Hamilton won one with McLaren and six with Mercedes, while Schumacher took five in a row with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004.
Hamilton's comments
The driver said the achievement took him back to his childhood, when he sat on the sofa watching Schumacher take such poles. He said the 105th feels like the first, and that although it seems firsts are gone once you reach 40, he is still having them this year.
Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion and Hamilton's former team-mate, said the driver looked confident in the third part of qualifying. After the first runs Hamilton was four tenths of a second slower than team-mate Charles Leclerc, but he produced his best lap of the weekend when it mattered most.
Title fight and start
Hamilton starts on the front row alongside Russell. They are the only two drivers who can delay Kimi Antonelli's championship celebrations on Sunday. Antonelli starts fourth and needs to finish in the top nine to take the title.
Starting grid: 1. Hamilton (Ferrari), 2. Russell (Mercedes), 3. Leclerc (Ferrari), 4. Antonelli (Mercedes), 5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 6. Lando Norris (McLaren), 7. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), 9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine), 10. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi).
Hamilton called the long run to Turn 1 a big challenge, as cars behind can tow. He added that the engine stopped in Friday practice, so he could not complete a long run. Russell believes Turn 1 will be crucial because overtaking is hard at high altitude.
