F1 2026 Mexico Grand Prix: Full starting grid after penalties including Max Verstappen

October 31, 2026

Lewis Hamilton secured his 105th career pole position and the first for Ferrari in Mexico City, lining up at the front of the grid for the first time in three years at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The seven-time world champion topped qualifying ahead of George Russell, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli completing the top four.

The grid was reshaped by penalties, however, as Max Verstappen dropped to fifth after a one-place grid penalty for a collision in FP2, while Valtteri Bottas faced a 50-place demotion due to Cadillac’s extensive power unit changes, starting from the back of the field. Liam Lawson, who initially qualified eighth, was disqualified from qualifying for failing to meet MGU-K deployment regulations, causing a cascade of positions behind him.

The top ten also includes Lando Norris, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hülkenberg, with Antonelli now in position to clinch his first world title in this race.