Hamilton takes record 105th pole and first for Ferrari as Antonelli lurks

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Lewis Hamilton became the oldest man to claim a pole position since 1982 when he secured his first pole for Ferrari ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell in Saturday’s qualifying for the Mexico City Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Hamilton and Russell needed to be fastest. They are the only drivers who have a chance of preventing Kimi Antonelli clinching the title on Sunday. Each of the front-row pair needs to win and hope the Italian finishes worse than ninth.

For seven-time champion Hamilton it was a first-pole success since the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2023 and enlarged his record total to 105 poles. It was his second pole in Mexico after taking the prime grid position in 2016.