Lando Norris Leads Mexican Grand Prix Ahead of Ferraris
Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, has secured pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix, the 20th race of the F1 season, taking place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The qualifying rounds were held on Saturday, with Norris clocking the fastest time, surpassing his previous records significantly.
Lando Norris Dominates Qualifying
Norris, currently ranked second in the championship standings, outperformed Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who qualified in second and third, respectively. The reigning world champion, Max Verstappen from Red Bull, will line up in fifth place, while fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, will start seventh.
Qualifying Highlights
- Pole Position: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Second Place: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Third Place: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Fourth Place: George Russell (Mercedes)
- Fifth Place: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Seventh Place: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Penalty Impact: Carlos Sainz (originally 7th, starts 12th due to a penalty)
Championship Context
Norris trails Piastri by 14 points and holds a 26-point advantage over Verstappen. His performance on Saturday marked the 14th pole position of his career, showcasing significant improvement, as he set a new track record, exceeding the previous mark by over two seconds.
Team Strategies
The Ferrari team celebrated placing both cars in the top three. Leclerc recorded his fifth front-row start of the season. Meanwhile, Hamilton achieved his best qualifying result of the year. McLaren’s strong qualifying positions could potentially impact the championship standings, depending on how the race unfolds.
Rounding Out the Top Ten
- 8th: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- 9th: Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- 10th: Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Other notable driving performances included Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who secured positions 11th and 18th, respectively. Gasly’s Alpine struggled once again, highlighting ongoing issues with the team’s performance this season. The stage is set for an exciting race as drivers prepare to compete in Mexico’s vibrant atmosphere.
