Hamilton claims first "pole" for Ferrari in thrilling qualifying in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton achieved his first pole position with Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1:16.514. He narrowly beat George Russell by 0.009 seconds, while Charles Leclerc secured third place. Hamilton expressed his joy at breaking the pole drought, emphasizing the team's hard work. Russell acknowledged the close margin but remained optimistic about the race strategy. Max Verstappen, initially fourth, was penalized and dropped to fifth, promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fourth. Antonelli is close to securing his first F1 title, needing a ninth-place finish or better. Oscar Piastri faced disappointment, eliminated in Q2 due to strategic miscalculations and tire issues.