Adjusted 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix starting grid after penalty
Lando Norris put on a dazzling performance at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to take pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, strengthening his bid for the world championship. The McLaren driver delivered a stunning qualifying lap of 1:15.586, outpacing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.262 seconds and Lewis Hamilton by 0.352 seconds. It marked Norris’s fifth pole of the 2025 season and the 14th of his career — a statement of intent as the season heads into its decisive final rounds.
Norris’s pace looked strong all weekend, and when it mattered most in Q3, the Briton pieced together a flawless lap that left his rivals trailing. After qualifying, he admitted that he didn’t expect such dominance but said the lap “just came together perfectly.” His McLaren team has been on an upward trajectory, and this result underlines their consistent improvement since mid-season.
Ferrari also showed renewed strength, with Leclerc and Hamilton securing second and third on the grid, respectively. For Hamilton, it was his best qualifying result since joining Ferrari, and the team will be encouraged by the strong one-lap pace of both cars. With the long start straight at Mexico City offering slipstream opportunities, the two Ferraris will have a golden chance to attack Norris on the run to Turn 1.
Behind the front trio, George Russell placed his Mercedes in fourth, narrowly ahead of Max Verstappen, who had to settle for fifth after struggling with grip. Verstappen admitted that Red Bull lacked the pace to challenge the front-runners in qualifying, describing his car as “tricky to handle.” His teammate Yuki Tsunoda managed 10th, while Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar impressed by taking eighth in the Racing Bulls.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli will start from sixth, a career-best performance that continues to validate the team’s faith in the young Italian. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate and current championship leader, endured a frustrating session and could only manage seventh on the grid. Piastri confessed he was puzzled by the lack of pace, calling it “a mystery,” as he fell short of matching Norris’s speed all weekend.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz initially qualified seventh but received a five-place grid penalty carried over from the United States Grand Prix for a previous incident. This dropped him to P12 and promoted Piastri and others up the order.
The adjusted starting grid for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix now reads as follows:
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)
11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
12. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – Penalty Applied
13. Nico Hülkenberg (Stake)
14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Stake)
17. Alex Albon (Williams)
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
With the race fast approaching, attention now turns to how Norris will handle the immense pressure at the start. The Mexico City circuit features the longest run to the first corner of any track on the calendar — a section where slipstreaming is powerful and positions can be gained or lost instantly. Leclerc and Hamilton will look to capitalize, while Norris must make a perfect getaway to defend his lead.
For McLaren, this front-row start is crucial in the ongoing title fight. Norris has steadily closed the gap in the championship standings over recent rounds, and another strong finish here could swing the balance further in his favor. However, his main rival Piastri faces an uphill battle from seventh, needing to stay clear of midfield chaos and maximize points to maintain his lead.
Red Bull, meanwhile, find themselves on the back foot. Verstappen’s fifth-place start means he’ll need a strong opening lap and strategic brilliance to contend for victory. The reigning champion hasn’t had the smoothest of weekends, but his race-day experience and the team’s tactical expertise could still make him a serious threat.
Ferrari, with both cars in the top three, are poised to play spoiler. Leclerc’s consistency and Hamilton’s racecraft could pressure Norris early, especially in the slipstream-heavy first sector. With two Ferraris chasing one McLaren, team strategy could be decisive.
As the lights go out on Sunday, all eyes will be on that explosive charge to Turn 1 — a moment that could define not just the race but the entire 2025 championship battle.
Note: The grid remains provisional pending final confirmation by the FIA.
