Hamilton Takes Pole in Mexico City as Antonelli's Title Lead Narrows Its Options

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Saturday, setting a lap of 1:16.514 for Ferrari. Formula 1 reported the time. Pole means starting first on the grid, at the front of the line when the lights go out.

It is Hamilton's 105th career pole, which extends his all-time Formula 1 record. Reuters noted the record. The Guardian said it was Ferrari's first pole in Mexico for a while and that Hamilton, now in his second season with the team, is the oldest Formula 1 polesitter since 1982.

Mercedes' George Russell was second, just nine-thousandths of a second behind Hamilton. His lap was 1:16.523. Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, and Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver who leads the championship, was fifth. Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren.

Max Verstappen was fourth on track but takes a one-place grid penalty for a clash with Liam Lawson during Friday practice. Lawson, who qualified eighth, also has a one-place penalty. Penalties like these push drivers back a place or more from where their lap put them.

Ferrari's pole was the team's 255th, according to Ferrari. Hamilton called it "special", and in his post-qualifying comments he recalled Michael Schumacher, who drove for Ferrari for much of the 2000s.

The result matters for the championship. Before this race, Antonelli led Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124. Antonelli can clinch the title even if Russell or Hamilton wins, provided he finishes ninth or higher. For Russell or Hamilton to keep the fight alive, one of them has to win the race.

Sunday's race will decide how much of that scenario plays out. Hamilton starts from the front, with Russell right behind him on the clean side of the grid. Antonelli starts fifth, and a strong start from him could take the title off the table quickly.