Norris ended his six-race run without pole position, his last coming in Belgium in July, by dominating the field and beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.262 seconds.
It was a significant boost to Norris’ title hopes as rivals Verstappen and Piastri struggled to fifth and eighth respectively.
Piastri will start seventh due to a grid penalty for Williams’ Carlos Sainz but the championship leader has been well off the pace all weekend and was almost six tenths adrift. Lewis Hamilton claimed third on another impressive day for Ferrari and he will be hopeful of landing his first podium for the Scuderia on Sunday.
What time is the race on Sunday? The Mexico City Grand Prix starts at 8pm (GMT).
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 00:01
Qualifying report: Lando Norris leaves F1 title rivals trailing in his wake with statement Mexico GP poleNorris ended his six-race run without pole position, his last coming in Belgium in July, by dominating the field and beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.262 seconds.
It was a significant boost to Norris’ title hopes as rivals Verstappen and Piastri struggled to fifth and eighth respectively.
Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 16:00
Lando Norris on ‘good position’ in world championship“I’m in a good position. I’m second. Probably prefer being first but I’m also in second with nothing to lose,” Norris said in Mexico.
“I’m in a comfortable place. I’m also not a guy who believes in momentum. Every weekend is so different.
“I’ve just been performing well recently and I’ll continue that. Same as Max has been doing very well recently.”
Lando Norris (PA Wire)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 16:00
Lewis Hamilton tells McLaren title rivals to copy ‘cut-throat’ Max Verstappen“The pressure is high. It is a time where you have to put your blinkers up and block everything from the outside. There is so much coming in, positive and negative,” Ferrari driver Hamilton told Sky Sports.
“Also, you really have to be cut-throat and that is what Max is. He is going to take this from them if they don’t do the same.
“They have got to be pushing and you have to dig deep firstly to be able to hold off someone like Max in the car that he is in at the moment.
“But for either of them to come out ahead, consistency is key and we have seen that from Max in the last few races.”
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (AP)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 15:00
How many races are left?ROUND 20 – MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City – 24-26 October
ROUND 21 – BRAZIL (sprint weekend)
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo – 7-9 November
ROUND 22 – LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit – 20-22 November
ROUND 23 – QATAR (sprint weekend)
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail – 28-30 November
ROUND 24 – ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit – 5-7 December
Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 14:00
Max Verstappen on ‘positive pressure’ of this year’s title race:“I just want to try and win races until the end of the season. We had a good run and we also know as a team that it needs to be perfect to have a chance. So, if it works, then great, unbelievable comeback.
“Of course, I’ve won championships very late, very early. Now, this one, of course, is very different because I think for most of the season it was a lot harder for us.
“To be able to still be in this fight is very surprising but I take it. For me, it’s just positive pressure. I’m loving what I’m doing. If the car is competitive, it’s much better to be racing in it than when it’s not.”
Max Verstappen is firmly back in the title picture (Fernando Llano/AP) (AP)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 13:00
Top-10 in the driver standings with five races to goPiastri’s lead is 14 points over Norris and now only 40 over Verstappen:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 346 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 332 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 306 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 252 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 192 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 142 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 89 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 73 points
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 41 points
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 39 points
Piastri (right) leads Norris by 14 points (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 12:00
F1 2025 title race: Piastri vs Norris vs Verstappen – where will it be won and lost?Preview by Kieran Jackson
The battle for the 2025 F1 drivers’ title is heating up and with five rounds remaining this season, it’s now a three-horse race.
Yet storming up behind both papaya drivers is Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, chasing a fifth consecutive championship. The Dutchman, from a deficit of 104 points in August, is now just 40 off Piastri with 141 points still to play for.
Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 11:00
Oscar Piastri says Max Verstappen’s world title challenge is a ‘bit of a surprise’Asked if he believed after Zandvoort that his title fight was only with Norris, Piastri said: “I think probably yes but everyone did. The run of form that he (Verstappen) has had since Monza has been a bit of a surprise.
“There were flashes of that performance early in the season but also pretty big dips. He has come to the fight quicker than I expected.
“The gap has shrunk a bit in the last few races but the focus has always been on going as fast as I can.
“I’d rather have the lead than being in any other spot. There is no benefit for me in worrying about that or focusing on that.”
Oscar Piastri (AP)Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 10:00
Arvid Lindblad embraces the F1 ‘deep end’ with teen in contention for 2026 seat British teenager Arvid Lindblad believes he will find a way to succeed in Formula One as he bids to land a seat for next season.
The 18-year-old impressed again while driving Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix on Friday. Lindblad has been part of part of the Red Bull setup since the age of 14 and was granted an FIA super licence aged 17 after a request from the team.
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Kieran Jackson26 October 2025 09:00
