Lando Norris Stuns to Take Pole at 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix Ahead of Ferrari Pair Leclerc and Hamilton

McLaren’s British star delivers a masterclass in Mexico as title rivals Verstappen and Piastri qualify outside the top four

Mexico City, October 25, 2025 — Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) delivered a sensational late lap to claim pole position for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling qualifying session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The Briton’s final flying effort of 1:15.586 put him 0.262 seconds ahead of Leclerc and 0.352 clear of Hamilton, earning McLaren their first pole since Singapore and reigniting Norris’ F1 Drivers’ Championship challenge.

After being narrowly beaten to provisional pole on the first Q3 runs, Norris found almost six tenths of a second on his final lap to secure a commanding P1.

“I’m happy to be back on pole. It’s been quite a long time,” said Norris. “It was one of those laps where everything just clicked. When I crossed the line and saw a 15.5, I was very pleasantly surprised.”

Behind the top three, George Russell (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) completed the top five, while Oscar Piastri could only manage eighth, setting up an intense grid for Sunday’s race.

Norris Sets the Tone Early in Q1

McLaren signaled intent from the start as Norris topped Q1 with a 1:17.147, marginally ahead of Russell and Leclerc. Verstappen struggled for rhythm, ending the session ninth, while rookies and midfielders mixed it up — Isack Hadjarimpressing for Racing Bulls and Esteban Ocon sneaking into Q2 for Haas.

Eliminated at the end of Q1 were:
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Alex Albon (Williams), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), and Franco Colapinto (Alpine).

Norris Dominates Q2 as Rivals Falter

In Q2, Norris again led the way with a time of 1:16.252, two-tenths clear of Leclerc and Hamilton. Verstappen struggled to match the pace, finishing fourth, while Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed the top 10 by just 0.012 secondsbehind Hadjar.

Also eliminated in Q2 were:
Yuki Tsunoda (P11), Esteban Ocon (P12), Nico Hülkenberg (P13), Fernando Alonso (P14), and Liam Lawson (P15).

Q3: Norris Unleashes the Perfect Lap

Max Verstappen was the first to set a benchmark in Q3 with a 1:16.455, but Norris immediately responded, going three-tenths faster. Moments later, Leclerc stunned the crowd by becoming the first driver to break into the 1:15s, taking provisional pole.

As the final laps began, Norris unleashed a near-perfect run, improving by almost six tenths to reclaim the top spot with a 1:15.586 — a lap that no one could touch.

Hamilton slotted into third behind his Ferrari teammate, while Russell, Verstappen, and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonellirounded out the top six.
Carlos Sainz, who qualified seventh, will drop five grid places to P12 for a collision penalty from Austin, promoting Oscar Piastri and Isack Hadjar up one place each.

2025 Mexico City Grand Prix – Full Qualifying Results

Norris Back in the Title Hunt

With Verstappen starting fifth and Piastri eighth, Norris has a golden opportunity to close the gap in the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. The McLaren driver will be eyeing his third win of the season on Sunday, while Ferrari’s front-row lockout signals a fierce challenge ahead.

Expect fireworks at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where slipstreaming and tyre strategy could prove decisive in the high-altitude battle for victory.