Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Lewis Hamilton has claimed his first pole position for Ferrari and his first for more than three years at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The seven-time F1 champion beat Mercedes' George Russell by 0.009 seconds as the two drivers who can potentially stop Kimi Antonelli clinching the world title on Sunday locked out the front row.

Antonelli qualified fifth behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, but will start fourth because of a one-place penalty for the Dutchman.

The only way Antonelli can be prevented from winning the title is if Russell wins and the Italian finishes lower than ninth, or if Hamilton wins and Antonelli is out of the points.

Hamilton's pole is his first since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, three years and three months ago, and the 105th of his career.

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Haas substitute Ryo Hirakawa can't do enough to get out of the first part of qualifying, but as the Japanese driver has been thrown in at the deep end this weekend, I think that'll be OK.

Carlos Sainz in 16th as Q1 ends, but the Spaniard should be safe, as it's his team-mate in the drop zone who needs to improve.

Can Alex Albon do it? No.

Sainz goes through in P16, Albon is knocked out in P17.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Hello again, folks. Who will take pole position for tomorrow's Mexico City Grand Prix, the second of this Americas triple-header?

We're at high altitude at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and so far, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has been quickest in two practice sessions, with Lando Norris finishing top in the final hour earlier on.

It was close between the top teams in third practice, so this should be an intriguing fight for pole position.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is looking strong on the weekend he can become the new world champion with races remaining, while over at Haas, Esteban Ocon is nowhere to be seen, as the Frenchman has been replaced by Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the rest of the Mexican track action.

Take two for championship leader Kimi Antonelli and this time the Italian puts down a smooth lap and leapfrogs current title holder Lando Norris by 0.272 seconds.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen goes third quickest, more than three tenths off Antonelli, with Oscar Piastri now down to fourth.

The phone at Mercedes is ringing. It's Antonelli, and he's not happy.

"Who was the Red Bull?!" asks the 20-year-old. "Erm... that was Max," comes the reply.

In the media pen before the stewards announced their decision, Max Verstappen gave some words of warning to his former Red Bull team-mate Liam Lawson, who is under pressure to keep his place on the grid with Racing Bulls, even though he's performed well this season.

"At the end of the day it is not going to change my weekend, but if I were him I would act a little smarter and when you're fighting for your seat it's not very smart behaviour," said the Dutchman.

He then added: "When he saw me coming, he suddenly started to accelerate. I don't know what was going through his head, that he wanted to drive me off the track in the hairpin.

"That's not very sensible behaviour from someone in his position, to pick a fight with me."

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said: "One word - unnecessary. And I say that of both of them."