Mexico City Grand Prix: Norris Secures Pole as Piastri Struggles
Mexico City, October 28, 2023 – Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix with a standout performance, clocking in at 1m15.586s—0.262s faster than his closest rival, Charles Leclerc. This marks Norris’s first pole since July’s Belgian Grand Prix, establishing him as a formidable contender ahead of the race.
Norris showcased his pace throughout the weekend, finishing fastest in FP3 before delivering a blistering final qualifying lap that included three purple sectors. “I’m happy to be back on pole—it’s been quite a long time,” Norris commented post-session. He added, “I got a little nervous with the Ferrari in Q3 but pulled it out when it mattered.”
Leclerc managed to edge out Lewis Hamilton for second place, finishing just 0.09s behind Norris. “I’m pretty happy with the job we’ve done,” Leclerc stated, emphasizing his aim for a race win from the front row.
Hamilton’s strong performance alongside teammate George Russell, who qualified fourth, secured Ferrari’s first double top-three result of the season. “P3 is kind of the perfect spot,” Hamilton noted, anticipating a competitive start.
Max Verstappen, the championship leader, qualified fifth and appeared less comfortable than in previous sessions, following a setback in FP3. Verstappen was 0.036s off Russell and noted, “We didn’t find the comfort we had before.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz completed the top seven; however, Sainz will start 12th due to a five-place grid penalty for a collision in the previous race. Title contender Oscar Piastri, qualifying eighth, could see his championship lead vanish if both he and Norris maintain their starting positions. Piastri’s time was 0.588s behind Norris, marking one of the largest gaps between the McLaren teammates this season.
Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman rounded out the top 10, with Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missing Q3 in P11, only 0.012s shy.
Qualifying Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:15.586
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:15.848
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:15.939
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:16.035
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:16.071
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:16.150
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – P12 after penalty
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:16.174
- Isack Hadjar – 1:16.200
- Oliver Bearman – 1:16.240
With key contenders placed strategically, the Mexico City Grand Prix promises an exciting race, particularly as championship implications loom large over Piastri and Norris.
