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Lando Norris Claims Pole for Mexican GP After Thrilling Qualifying Duel with Leclerc and Hamilton

David Castro by David Castro
October 25, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Lando Norris Claims Pole for Mexican GP After Thrilling Qualifying Duel with Leclerc and Hamilton

Mexico City – Under the blazing sun and thin air of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Lando Norris delivered another masterclass in qualifying, storming to pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix, Round 20 of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The McLaren driver was untouchable when it mattered most, clocking a 1:15.586 to secure his 14th career pole, his fifth of the season, and his first since Belgium.


McLaren’s Title Fight Heats Up

The result couldn’t be more critical in the McLaren camp. Norris’s rival — and current championship leader — Oscar Piastri could manage only seventh, giving Norris a golden chance to close the gap in their tense title duel.

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc continued Ferrari’s late-season resurgence, pushing Norris all the way to the final seconds before settling for second, just 0.405s behind the Briton. Lewis Hamilton, in the second Ferrari SF-25, will start third, completing a thrilling top three that includes three world-class qualifiers separated by mere tenths.


Q1: Chaos, Upgrades, and Last-Minute Drama

The opening 18-minute session was frenetic from start to finish. Norris initially led with a 1:16.899, but Isack Hadjar — one of the day’s shock stars — briefly stole the spotlight with a 1:16.733 before the track evolved dramatically.

The midfield battle was fierce as Gabriel Bortoleto fought to make the cut, but his 1:17.437 wasn’t enough. He was pushed out late by Nico Hülkenberg, joining Albon, Gasly, Stroll, and Colapinto on the list of early eliminations.

At the front, Norris, Leclerc, and Hadjar traded fastest sectors in a tantalizing preview of what was to come.


Q2: Ferrari and McLaren Take Control

Q2 began with Verstappen briefly seizing control, but the Dutchman’s joy was short-lived. Norris struck again, laying down a 1:16.252 to reclaim the top spot, while Leclerc slotted into second, and Hamilton found extra pace to sneak into the top three.

There was heartbreak for Yuki Tsunoda, who narrowly missed Q3, finishing 11th. Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Hülkenberg, and Lawson also fell short, while the top 10 featured both Ferraris, both McLarens, and Russell, Sainz, and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the mix.


Q3: Norris Unstoppable in the Thin Air of Mexico City

The battle for pole was electric. Max Verstappen drew first blood with a 1:16.455, but Norris immediately responded, going purple in all three sectors to snatch provisional pole by nearly three-tenths.

Leclerc then produced a stunning 1:15.991 lap, briefly dethroning the McLaren, while Hamilton muscled into second with his own perfectly executed run.

With less than three minutes left, the track came alive for one final shootout — and Norris delivered. His final lap was a statement of intent, his 1:15.586 nearly half a second clear of Leclerc’s time and untouchable through all three sectors.

Behind him, Hamilton held onto third, George Russell secured fourth, and Verstappen salvaged fifth ahead of rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli.


The Takeaway

It was another signature performance from Lando Norris — calm under pressure, flawless through the corners, and brutally fast when it counted.

“It was all about precision today,” Norris said. “The car felt perfect in sector two, and that gave me the confidence to push flat-out in the final run. We needed this.”

For Ferrari, the double top-three finish hints at serious race pace potential, while Piastri’s seventh place adds another twist to the McLaren civil war for the title.

At 2,200 meters above sea level, Mexico’s altitude leaves no room for error — and Lando Norris just proved he can breathe rarefied air better than anyone.

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