Hamilton takes first Ferrari pole at Mexican Grand Prix as Antonelli eyes title

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, took pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday, his first with Ferrari. He beat his former Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 0.009 seconds. It was his first pole since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and the 105th of his career.

The result matters because Sunday's race could decide this year's drivers' championship. Mercedes' 20-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli, who took Hamilton's seat at the team, starts fourth. If he wins the title, he will become the youngest champion in F1 history.

How the title could be decided

Antonelli can only miss out if Hamilton or Russell wins the race. If Russell wins, Antonelli needs to finish ninth; if Hamilton wins, he needs tenth.

Antonelli was fifth fastest in qualifying, 0.184 seconds behind Russell, but a one-place penalty for Red Bull's Max Verstappen moved him up to the second row alongside Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He said he had not done a good enough job and had been more tense than usual because of the stakes.

Hamilton's improved form

Hamilton made his 43rd start for Ferrari. His debut season with the team was difficult, and team-mate Leclerc was generally ahead. This year the two are closer: Hamilton leads Leclerc by eight points in the championship, and their qualifying head-to-head stands at 12-10.

Hamilton called the pole "one of the greatest feelings" and noted he has now won poles with three different teams. A breakdown in second practice meant he could not complete his race-simulation run, so he expects a challenging race.

The run to the first corner in Mexico is more than 800 metres long, and drivers on the second row have several times used the slipstream to take the lead.