MEXICO CITY – Lewis Hamilton revealed that a mutual sense of “belief” between himself and Ferrari was a major factor in helping him secure a maiden Formula 1 pole position with the Scuderia.
The Brit entered this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix quashing any notion of slowing down despite his less-than-tender years, voicing his adamance of being as quick as much younger drivers.
And at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Saturday, Hamilton proved just that by taking his 105th pole position, his first in scarlet red.
Hamilton’s 1:16.154s lap in the final moments of Q3 saw him take top spot by just nine thousandths of a second from George Russell’s Mercedes.
Appearing to be taken aback by the seismic moment, Hamilton reflected that being “millimetre perfect” was key to securing his first P1 since the Hungarian Grand Prix three years ago.
“It definitely does,” he told media, including Motorsport Week, when asked if the pole meant a lot. “It’s been a long time since I think I’ve sat in this spot. I don’t remember the last time I had a pole.
“And, embarking on this journey with Ferrari and all the challenges and ups and downs we’ve had… And even yesterday was challenging, obviously, when the car stopped on track, and we lost the long run that everyone got to do.
“And we’re just continuing to hold on to that hope that one day we’ll get back on the front row and to P1 once we dial the car in.
“But it was such a close qualifying and so difficult. I think for everyone working the tyres, so little downforce and grip that you have on here. So you just have to be as millimetre perfect as you can be. And it was a really, really clean lap.”
Lewis Hamilton reminded of Michael Schumacher poles with Mexico City lap
Teammate Charles Leclerc had also looked equally as dialled-in across free practice, and the common sense of performance from the SF-26 in the high altitude looked to be a big element to securing pole for one of them.
Hamilton acknowledged that he needed to pull out something special from the bag, given his Monegasque counterpart’s showing ahead of qualifying, as well as in the early stages of it.
“I needed it because, I mean, Charles, I think, was three or four tenths up the road from the first run,” he continued. “And that’s quite a big deficit to close on your last lap.”
Hamilton added that the sense of faith in the team and the team’s faith in him contributed to grabbing pole, one that reminded him of watching Michael Schumacher in his own heyday with the Maranello-based squad.
“But I knew there are new areas that I could improve on. And, yeah, I think just my belief in this team, I think that the opportunity that they’ve given me and the belief that they’ve put in me also, it feels great to be able to reward them with a pole.
“And to have your first Ferrari pole, it just takes me back to watching Michael get all those pole positions when he was a Ferrari and all those wins. So it’s very, very special.”
READ MORE – F1 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
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