Lewis Hamilton has revealed how difficult it is to find the ideal tyre operating window in Formula 1 after claiming his first Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion credited the Maranello team’s engineers and mechanics for two consecutive weekends of flawless qualifying execution, while also explaining how Mexico’s altitude has helped reduce Ferrari’s straight-line performance deficit.
The achievement was particularly significant for Lewis Hamilton, who had gone three years, 1,197 days and 77 Grands Prix without securing pole position. Already the all-time Formula 1 record holder, the British driver finally returned to the top of the qualifying classification with the 105th pole of his career, overcoming a difficult preparation that included missing much of FP2 because of a technical problem with his Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton explains Ferrari’s tyre temperature challenge
While Charles Leclerc has openly struggled to extract the maximum performance from the tyres over the past two weeks, Lewis Hamilton has experienced a different situation. During the FIA press conference, the British driver provided a detailed explanation of the difficulties involved in preparing the current Formula 1 tyres for a qualifying lap.
“It’s about feeling. Obviously, we have indications of the temperature we need to reach in the tyres, and we all push very hard on the out-laps to try to get them into the right window and make them work,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
The Ferrari driver highlighted how tyre temperatures can change even before the timed lap begins, particularly when a car reaches a long straight after working the tyres through the preceding corners.
“When you’re on the straight, you lose temperature and the tyres are basically hard. In the past, you could just go really slowly and then push, and you would prepare the tyres well. In that respect, the 13-inch tyres were simpler and softer, so they moved around more and you could feel them better. Now they’re solid, like a wall, and they don’t move much because they have a low sidewall.”
The comparison with the previous generation of tyres illustrates the problem facing drivers when trying to bring both axles into their ideal temperature range. Finding sufficient grip at the front without compromising the rear tyres requires a delicate balance, particularly during the preparation lap.
Lewis Hamilton explained that the front and rear tyres do not necessarily reach their optimum operating conditions simultaneously, creating a constant compromise before the driver even begins the decisive qualifying attempt.
“Most of the time, you think, ‘The fronts aren’t ready for Turn 1, but the rears are.’ And when the fronts start working, the rears begin to lose performance. So it’s a constant back and forth. It’s about finding a balance, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. And it’s very, very, very difficult to find. The out-lap is important too; there are so many factors.”
His explanation highlights why tyre preparation can make such a substantial difference during qualifying. The challenge is not simply to generate enough temperature, but to ensure that the front and rear tyres are working effectively at the same moment when the driver starts the flying lap.
Lewis Hamilton praises Ferrari after two perfect qualifying performances
Despite the difficulties involved in tyre preparation, Lewis Hamilton expressed considerable satisfaction with the work being carried out on his side of the Ferrari garage. The British driver believes the team has managed to execute its qualifying programme particularly effectively over the past two weekends.
“Basically, we have a great car. The engineers are doing a great job, as are the mechanics and everyone in the garage. And for two weeks in a row, we’ve had perfect execution in qualifying.”
The comments underline the importance of the work taking place throughout the weekend, from preparing the car to managing the tyres and choosing the right moment to complete a competitive lap. For Lewis Hamilton, that collective execution was particularly valuable in Mexico, where his running during second practice had been limited by a technical issue.
His pole position also represents an important milestone in his Ferrari career, adding to the historical achievements that can be explored through the Ferrari Formula 1 driver records and statistics.
Mexico GP altitude helps Ferrari reduce its power deficit
Lewis Hamilton also offered a more nuanced assessment of the smaller turbo’s effect in Mexico, partially revising comments he had made the previous day. According to the seven-time world champion, the unusual conditions at the high-altitude circuit have helped Ferrari reduce the straight-line disadvantage it has experienced at previous Grands Prix.
“We’re not losing out on the engine like we were at previous races. Normally, we lose an average of three or four tenths on the straights, and through the corners they’re practically as fast as us. Here, the altitude has somehow allowed us to reduce that gap, perhaps to one or two tenths. Fantastic work by the team.”
The assessment suggests that Ferrari’s relative performance in Mexico has benefited from the circuit’s particular conditions. While the team has continued to face a straight-line deficit, Lewis Hamilton believes the gap has been smaller than at other venues, allowing the SF-26 to compete more effectively over a qualifying lap.
That contrast is especially relevant after the technical challenges Ferrari faced heading into the Mexico GP, when the high altitude and the characteristics of the circuit were expected to test the car’s overall performance.
For Lewis Hamilton, the combination of improved relative competitiveness, effective tyre preparation and flawless execution from his side of the garage has produced a long-awaited result. After 77 Grands Prix without a pole position, the British driver has finally returned to the top of Formula 1 qualifying, securing his 105th career pole and his first in Ferrari colours.
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