Lewis Hamilton turned back the clock in spectacular fashion on Saturday, becoming the oldest man to claim pole position since 1982 after a breathtaking qualifying session in Mexico City that keeps his faint mathematical title hopes alive, barely. At 41 years old, the seven-time champion edged former teammate George Russell by a wafer-thin 0.009 seconds to secure his first pole for Ferrari and enlarge his record tally to a staggering 105.

Also read: Antonelli on brink of history as Mexico beckons for coronation

Not since Mario Andretti claimed the final pole of his career aged 42 at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix, also for Ferrari, coincidentally, has someone of Hamilton’s vintage topped qualifying.

Hamilton and Russell are essentially playing for pride. Both need to win on Sunday whilst praying Kimi Antonelli finishes worse than ninth if they harbour any delusions of preventing the 20-year-old Italian from becoming Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion. Antonelli starts fourth and needs only a top-nine finish to be crowned champion and end Italy’s agonising 73-year wait since Alberto Ascari’s 1953 triumph.

Thrilling finale delivers drama

The top-10 shootout was edge-of-your-seat theatre. Hamilton clocked 1:16.514 to pip Russell, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc claiming third ahead of Max Verstappen, who carries a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race, promoting the Dutchman’s starting position to fifth.

Antonelli qualified fifth but will start fourth courtesy of Verstappen’s penalty, putting him in prime position to cruise into the top nine and seal the title without breaking a sweat.

“Thank you so much, that’s been such a long time coming,” Hamilton said over team radio before adding: “That feels good!”

Speaking afterwards, the emotion was palpable. “It’s been such a really tough and challenging weekend. I think it’s my first pole for Ferrari and now 105 poles! I like that number.”

It was Hamilton’s first pole since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix and his second in Mexico after claiming top spot here in 2016. The intervening years have seen younger challengers rise and Hamilton’s dominance wane, making Saturday’s performance all the more impressive.

Russell left frustrated

Russell, trailing Antonelli by 123 points with Hamilton 124 adrift, admitted he’s been struggling despite delivering in Q3.

“It’s been a tricky few races for me and I’m still struggling until I get one lap in Q3! I always knew it was there,” the Mercedes driver said, the frustration evident despite securing a front-row start.

Leclerc, who will start third, was philosophical about missing pole. “I just didn’t do a good job when I needed to, but to start third here is not too bad.”

Alonso drama halts session

The session began with local hero Sergio Pérez, set to start his 300th Grand Prix, leading the queue from the pits before drama struck. Aston Martin instructed Fernando Alonso to “stop the car on track,” triggering a red flag stoppage that halted proceedings for seven minutes.

The two-time champion, clearly dismayed, came to a halt near the packed stadium section and climbed out whilst Hamilton had been topping the timesheets. Race Control noted Alonso for “general safety,” though the Spaniard’s elimination was already sealed.

Williams’ Alex Albon joined Alonso, Ryo Hirakawa (drafted in by Haas to replace the dropped Esteban Ocon), Lance Stroll and both Cadillacs in being eliminated from Q1.

Hirakawa, the 32-year-old Japanese two-time world endurance champion and Le Mans winner, battled gamely on his F1 qualifying debut but finished 19th. “Lost a lot,” he admitted. Race engineer Laura Mueller, just 24 hours after her public clash with Ocon, consoled him: “You did a good job, don’t beat yourself up.”

Q2 drama and Q3 brilliance

Hamilton topped Q1 ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar before locking up at Turn 13 in Q2, forcing a second run to scrape into Q3. Verstappen and Leclerc led the way into the shootout, with Antonelli seventh.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri missed the cut in 13th, eliminated alongside both Audis, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Williams’ Carlos Sainz.

The top-10 shootout began with Mercedes first out, but Leclerc set the early pace with Verstappen 0.045 seconds behind and Antonelli seventh after the opening runs. In the final flying laps, Russell edged ahead before Hamilton unleashed a stunning final sector to blitz to pole.

Sunday promises coronation and celebration for Antonelli, barring a disaster of biblical proportions. For Hamilton, it’s one last shot at delaying the inevitable whilst reminding everyone that age is just a number.