Hamilton on Pole in Mexico as Antonelli Can Clinch 2026 Title

Overview

• Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in Saturday qualifying at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with a 1:16.514 to take pole position for the Mexico Grand Prix.
• Kimi Antonelli arrives in Mexico with a championship chance and can clinch the 2026 drivers' crown depending on his finishing position and whether rivals George Russell or Lewis Hamilton win the race.
• Gabriel Bortoleto logged very little running during Friday and Saturday practice because of persistent car problems and will start well down the grid after a unit-change penalty left him in 19th place.
• At Sepang, Álex Márquez earned MotoGP pole with a 1:56.493, Marc Márquez topped multiple practice sessions, Pedro Acosta won the sprint and Diogo Moreira recovered to finish eighth in the sprint.
• Jorge Martín was declared unfit to race in Malaysia after a fractured right wrist from last week's sprint in Australia, creating a direct impact on the MotoGP title fight and rider lineups for Sepang.