Mexico GP starting grid as Oscar Piastri flops again and driver hit by FIA grid penalty

Lando Norris declared: "I'm here to win", after producing a monster lap to take pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Brit was imperious throughout qualifying and has been boosted further by the fact his Formula 1 title rivals struggled to make an impression.

But he will be looking nervously over his shoulder at the two Ferrari cars starting behind him. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez features the longest run down to turn one of the year and, so often, those in second and third can use the powerful slipstream effect to get the better of the pole-sitter.

Charles Leclerc found huge pace in Q3 and used it to join Norris on the front row. And Lewis Hamilton rounded off the top three to record his best Grand Prix qualifying result of the entire season and put himself in a strong position to perhaps finally end his long wait for a first F1 podium as a Ferrari driver.

While Norris shone, the other two drivers in the title conversation put up a feeble challenge for pole. In-form Max Verstappen did not find the final flying lap he was looking for and had to settle for just fifth on the grid, behind George Russell in the Mercedes. And Oscar Piastri was only eighth quickest, rising one place on the grid to seventh because Carlos Sainz will serve a grid penalty.

Full 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying result

1. Lando Norris - McLaren

2. Charles Leclerc - Ferrari

3. Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari

4. George Russell - Mercedes

5. Max Verstappen - Red Bull

6. Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes

7. Oscar Piastri - McLaren

8. Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls

9. Oliver Bearman - Haas

10. Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull

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11. Esteban Ocon - Haas

12. Carlos Sainz - Williams (dropped five places because of a grid penalty)

13. Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber

14. Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin

15. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls

16. Gabriel Bortoleto - Sauber

17. Alex Albon - Williams

18. Pierre Gasly - Alpine

19. Lance Stroll - Aston Martin

20. Franco Colapinto - Alpine

Sainz carries the penalty over from last weekend's United States Grand Prix, where the Williams driver was penalised for colliding with Kimi Antonelli but could not serve a time penalty because he was forced to retire with damage. So he drops from seventh to 12th on the starting grid, though he is still well ahead of team-mate Alex Albon who suffered a Q1 exit.

Brit Oliver Bearman continued his fine form with a third Q3 appearance in as many Grands Prix in his Haas, and starts ninth as a result. Yuki Tsunoda also benefits from Sainz's grid penalty to rise to 10th having narrowly missed out on a place in the final part of qualifying.