Hamilton secures his first pole in over three years and becomes the sport’s fifth oldest polesitter, while Piastri misses out on Q3 for the first time in two years. Here are the facts and statistics from qualifying at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix!
HAMILTON ON POLE AT THE 2026 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, securing a record-extending 105th pole. This was his first pole position in over three years – his first since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Taking his first pole position with Ferrari, Hamilton became the latest of 17 drivers to secure poles with as many as three different constructors.
Hamilton became the oldest driver to secure pole position in Formula 1 since Mario Andretti at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix, as well as the first driver in his 40s to take pole position since Nigel Mansell at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton is now the fifth oldest polesitter in the sport’s history.
Hamilton extended his record for the longest gap between the first and last pole positions in a driver’s career. His latest came 19 years, 4 months and 22 days after his first at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. His interval between first and last poles is now over four years longer than that of Kimi Raikkonen’s, who sits second on the list.
This was Hamilton’s second pole position in Mexico. His last was ten years ago, at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix.
Ferrari recorded their sixth pole at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, equalling Lotus for the most pole positions at the track.
IN THE TOP TEN
George Russell joins Lewis Hamilton on the front row of the grid at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, making this the first time since its debut on the F1 calendar in 1963 that two British drivers will line up on the front row in Mexico.
This was Russell’s second front row qualification at the Mexico City Grand Prix, after 2022.
Qualifying third, Charles Leclerc qualified in the top four in Mexico for the fourth successive season.
This is the third time in the last four years that both Ferrari drivers have qualified in the top four at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
With Russell second and Kimi Antonelli fifth, this was the first time since 2022 that both Mercedes drivers qualified in the top five in Mexico.
Max Verstappen qualified fourth for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, qualifying off the front row for the first time since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He will start the race fifth, having taken a one-place grid penalty.
Verstappen and Hamilton remain the only drivers who’ve reached Q3 at every F1 race in Mexico since it returned to the calendar in 2015.
For the third race in a row, both Racing Bulls drivers reached Q3. This is the team’s first streak of three double top ten qualifications since the 2025 Belgian, Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix. It was the team’s first double Q3 appearance in Mexico since 2021.
This was Lawson’s first Q3 appearance in his three appearances in Mexico City. Eighth place equalled his best qualifying result of the season so far – but he was later disqualified from the session and will start from the back of the grid.
Arvid Lindblad qualified in the top ten for the tenth time in the last 12 races. This was his sixth ninth place qualification of the season.
Pierre Gasly reached Q3 for the fifth time in the last seven races.
ELIMINATED IN Q2
Oscar Piastri was eliminated in Q2, ending a streak of 46 consecutive double Q3 appearances for McLaren. Piastri was the last McLaren driver not to reach Q3, when he recorded a Q1 elimination at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. Those are the only two times he failed to qualify in the top ten at the last 68 race weekends.
This was Piastri’s first qualification outside of the top eight since the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Audi recorded a double Q2 exit for the third race weekend in a row. Nico Hulkenberg made this the ninth time that an Audi driver has qualified in 11th place so far this season.
Carlos Sainz qualified 16th for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. This was the first time he failed to qualify in the top ten at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez since his debut season in 2015.
OUT IN Q1
Alex Albon was eliminated in Q1 for the fourth race in a row. It is now the second-longest Q1 streak of his career – the only longer such streak being the seven races between the 2022 Saudi Arabian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix.
This was the second year in a row that Albon qualified 17th in Mexico. It was his third Q1 exit here in total.
2026 is Williams’ eighth consecutive visit to Mexico City in which they have recorded at least one Q1 exit.
Ryo Hirakawa is making an unexpected Formula 1 debut at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas. He exited in Q1, setting the 19th fastest time in the session.
Aston Martin recorded their 16th double Q1 elimination of the season. It was the team’s second double Q1 exit here – their first since 2022.
Stopping on track early in the session, this was the first time since 2015 that Fernando Alonso recorded a Q1 exit in Mexico.
Lance Stroll has recorded Q1 exits on seven of his nine appearances at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Cadillac continued their streak of recording double Q1 exits at every Grand Prix so far in 2026.
Valtteri Bottas set the slowest lap time in qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. It was the first time he qualified outside of the top 15 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Like his team-mate, Sergio Perez recorded his worst qualifying result to date. Qualifying 21st, this was only the second time – after his last appearance in 2024 – that he qualified outside of the top 13 positions on the grid.