Qualifying report
Formula 1 Mexican GP
F1 Mexico GP: Lando Norris seizes key pole as Oscar Piastri falters
Lando Norris nets a crucial Mexico Grand Prix Formula 1 pole as his title rivals falter
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Oct 26, 2025, 2:03 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
McLaren's Lando Norris has secured a crucial pole in the 2025 Formula 1 title race at the Mexico Grand Prix, amid struggles for rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
At Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Norris fended off a challenge from Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to secure his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix, toppling initial Q3 leader Leclerc with a 1m15.586s lap.
Hamilton was third ahead of Russell, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen struggled for grip in the fast second sector and could only manage fifth.
That was still better than championship leader Oscar Piastri, who had looked a step behind Norris all weekend and qualified eighth behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz, although the latter will take a five-place grid penalty.
Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman excelled to make it into Q3, and the rookie duo will share the fifth row on Sunday.
Q2: Piastri already suffers scare
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Q2 was topped by Norris' 1m16.252s, two tenths clear of Hamilton and three ahead of Russell, Verstappen and Sainz.
In the other McLaren, Piastri laboured to advance to the top 10 shootout. The Australian was tenth after the first run, albeit on used soft tyres, but even on new softs the championship leader struggled to keep up with the frontrunners.
Piastri eventually advanced in seventh, just 0.079s ahead of 11th-placed Yuki Tsunoda.
Alongside Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg were eliminated. Fernando Alonso was only 14th in the quickest Aston Martin, while a botched final lap cost 15th-placed Liam Lawson.
Q1: Hadjar leads while Albon qualifying struggle continues
In Q1 it quickly became apparent track conditions were rapidly improving, with drivers trying to eke out two push laps on a single set of tyres as the track gripped up. It made for a jumbled-up order, with Racing Bulls rookie Hadjar topping the session from Hamilton, Russell and Norris.
Verstappen went through in ninth after struggling for adhesion through the high-speed sector two Esses, which would become a recurring theme, ahead of Piastri.
Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto was the first driver to be eliminated in 16th, followed by another poor showing for Alex Albon in the Williams.
At the back of the field, Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were split by Aston's Lance Stroll, with Colapinto left to rue a mistake which ruined a more promising looking lap.
Photos from Mexican GP - Practice & Qualifying
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Formula 1
51
Mexico Grand Prix - Qualifying
Q3
All Stats
Cla Driver # Chassis Engine Laps Time Interval Tyres km/h 1 L. Norris McLaren 4
McLaren Mercedes 6
1'15.586
S 204.990 2 C. Leclerc Ferrari 16
Ferrari Ferrari 6
+0.262
1'15.848
0.262 S 204.282 3 L. Hamilton Ferrari 44
Ferrari Ferrari 6
+0.352
1'15.938
0.090 S 204.040 4 G. Russell Mercedes 63
Mercedes Mercedes 6
+0.448
1'16.034
0.096 S 203.782 5 M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1
Red Bull Red Bull 6
+0.484
1'16.070
0.036 S 203.686 6 A. Antonelli Mercedes 12
Mercedes Mercedes 6
+0.532
1'16.118
0.048 S 203.557 7 C. Sainz Williams 55
Williams Mercedes 6
+0.586
1'16.172
0.054 S 203.413 8 O. Piastri McLaren 81
McLaren Mercedes 6
+0.588
1'16.174
0.002 S 203.407 9 I. Hadjar Racing Bulls 6
RB Honda 6
+0.666
1'16.252
0.078 S 203.199 10 O. Bearman Haas F1 Team 87
Haas Ferrari 6
+0.874
1'16.460
0.208 S 202.647 View full results
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 2025 qualifying head-to-head: Mexico GP
Next article Here's the starting grid for F1's 2025 Mexico GP
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
Formula 1 2 d
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1 2 d
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Latest news
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 4 h
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
4 h
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe