2026 Mexico GP starting grid: Lewis Hamilton on pole as Liam Lawson starts last

Lewis Hamilton will lead the field away from pole position at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix after the FIA published the provisional starting grid following qualifying and the stewards’ decisions. The seven-time world champion secured his first pole for Ferrari and will share the front row with Mercedes driver George Russell, while Charles Leclerc starts third for the Scuderia.

The 22-driver grid also features several important changes from the qualifying classification. Max Verstappen will start fifth following a one-place penalty, while Liam Lawson has been placed at the back of the field after a qualifying infringement. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, lines up fourth with an opportunity to secure the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.

2026 Mexico GP starting grid: Lewis Hamilton leads Ferrari’s challenge

Ferrari enters the Mexican Grand Prix with an excellent opportunity after Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position with a lap of 1:16.514 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The British driver narrowly defeated George Russell, whose best time of 1:16.523 was just nine thousandths of a second slower.

Charles Leclerc completed an impressive qualifying performance for Ferrari, setting a 1:16.633 to secure third place. The result gives the Maranello team two cars among the leading three starters and strengthens its prospects of challenging for victory.

The achievement is particularly significant for Lewis Hamilton, who secured his first Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari after a closely contested qualifying session.

Mercedes also has both drivers near the front. George Russell starts second, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli occupies fourth position ahead of Max Verstappen, who drops to fifth following his penalty.

The leading positions could prove especially important at a circuit where the long run from the grid towards Turn 1 creates opportunities for drivers starting behind the front row.

FIA provisional starting grid for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix

Following qualifying and the stewards’ decisions, the FIA has issued the following provisional starting order for all 22 drivers. The grid incorporates the applicable penalties and the permission granted for Liam Lawson to start the race.

FIA grid notes: Max Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty for causing a collision. Liam Lawson received a one-place grid penalty for driving erratically and was subsequently permitted to start under the stewards’ decision. Valtteri Bottas received a 50-place grid penalty following the use of additional power unit elements.

Why Liam Lawson will start last at the Mexico GP

One of the most unusual developments following qualifying concerned Liam Lawson. The Racing Bulls driver was involved in an incident related to the management of power delivery from the MGU-K, the motor generator unit responsible for recovering and deploying electrical energy.

The stewards investigated the incident, with Liam Lawson’s qualifying performance ultimately removed from the classification. The New Zealand driver had also received a one-place grid penalty following an incident involving Max Verstappen during FP2.

After reviewing the outstanding cases, the FIA placed Liam Lawson 22nd on the provisional starting grid and confirmed that car number 30 was permitted to start the Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen’s penalty also affects the leading positions. Although the Red Bull driver recorded a qualifying time of 1:16.692, he will start fifth rather than fourth, allowing Andrea Kimi Antonelli to move ahead on the grid.

Ferrari and Mercedes face crucial Mexico GP championship battle

Beyond the grid penalties, the main sporting focus is the contest at the front between Ferrari and Mercedes, with the Drivers’ Championship potentially reaching its conclusion in Mexico City.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell occupy the front row and remain in contention to keep the championship battle open against Andrea Kimi Antonelli. For the title fight to continue, at least one of the two front-row starters must win the Grand Prix, while the Mercedes championship leader must finish sufficiently far down the order to prevent the title from being settled.

The situation places additional importance on the opening lap, when the long straight towards Turn 1 provides opportunities for drivers starting behind the pole-sitter to gain positions. Ferrari will therefore seek to maximise its favourable starting positions, with Lewis Hamilton on pole and Charles Leclerc immediately behind George Russell in third.

The potential advantage of the Scuderia’s two-car starting configuration is particularly interesting given the extremely narrow qualifying margins between Ferrari and Mercedes.

What time does the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix start?

The formation lap for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix is scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time (CET). The race takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Ferrari will attempt to convert Lewis Hamilton’s first pole position for the team into a strong result.

With both Ferrari drivers starting inside the top three, Mercedes occupying second and fourth, and Red Bull and McLaren immediately behind, the first corners could have a major influence on the race.

The full weekend timetable and broadcast information are available in the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule and TV coverage guide.