Lando Norris Claims Mexico GP Pole in Thrilling Qualifying Battle
What a night it was in Mexico City! Lando Norris pulled off a sensational performance to take pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, edging out Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in an intense qualifying session. The McLaren driver delivered a near-perfect lap when it mattered most, setting a blistering time of 1:15.586 to secure the top spot on the grid.
It’s a big moment for Norris — not just because it’s his first pole in quite some time, but because it comes at a crucial point in the championship fight. into the weekend, he trailed teammate Oscar Piastri by 14 points. Now, with Piastri qualifying only eighth, Norris has a huge opportunity to close that gap or even take the championship lead if things go his way in the race.
The qualifying session itself was full of drama. Early on, it looked like Ferrari might steal the spotlight, with Charles Leclerc producing a brilliant first lap in Q3 to grab provisional pole. But Norris wasn’t done. Under huge pressure, he found another level — nailing three purple sectors to reclaim the top spot by over two tenths of a second. When the dust settled, Leclerc had to settle for second, while Lewis Hamilton, showing renewed confidence in the Ferrari, grabbed third — his best qualifying result of the season so far.
Also Read:- Blue Jays Aim to Tighten Grip on World Series as Game 2 Beckons
- Missouri’s Beau Pribula Carted Off After Injury in Vanderbilt Clash
George Russell lined up fourth for Mercedes, followed by Max Verstappen, who seemed off the pace all afternoon. Red Bull brought a new floor for this weekend, but Verstappen couldn’t get comfortable with the car, especially through the tricky middle sector. Despite multiple setup changes, he never looked like a serious threat for pole.
Behind the leaders, McLaren’s Piastri had a frustrating session. The Australian admitted he simply didn’t have the pace, saying the gap to Norris was “a bit of a mystery.” He’s been struggling for two consecutive weekends now, and with grid penalties elsewhere, he’ll start seventh instead of eighth — but still faces an uphill battle to stay in the title hunt.
Rookie drivers Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman continued to impress, finishing ninth and tenth respectively, while Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed out on Q3 in 11th.
Norris, meanwhile, was beaming after his pole. “It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so it feels really good,” he said. “The lap felt decent, but when I saw the time, I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve been feeling good all weekend — maybe the lack of sleep helped!”
With the Ferraris close behind and the ever-dangerous Verstappen starting just a few rows back, Sunday’s Grand Prix promises to be another high-stakes battle. If Norris can hold the lead through that long run to Turn 1, he could be on his way to one of the biggest wins of his career — and perhaps to the top of the championship standings.
Read More:
0 Comments