When Lando Norris crossed the line in qualifying at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday, October 25, 2025, the entire Formula 1 paddock held its breath. The 25-year-old British driver for McLaren didn’t just take pole — he sent a message. His blistering lap of 1:15.586 seconds outpaced Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari by 0.262 seconds and Lewis Hamilton by 0.352. It was his first pole since Belgium, and it came at the exact moment the 2025 championship was teetering on the edge. By Sunday, he turned it into a win — and the title race got a whole lot messier.
Qualifying Chaos and the Tightest Field in Years
The qualifying session was less a race and more a high-stakes game of chicken. Ten drivers were separated by just over a second. Yuki Tsunoda missed Q3 by 0.012 seconds — the narrowest margin in F1 history for a last-minute cutoff. Esteban Ocon was just 0.031 seconds behind. And then there was Alex Albon, who called it "the worst session of my career" after braking issues in final practice left him 17th. "I felt like I was driving on ice," he said. "The rear just wouldn’t lock when I needed it." Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, the championship leader, had a nightmare. Eighth in qualifying, he was set to start ninth — until Carlos Sainz of Williams Racing took a five-place penalty for impeding. That bumped Piastri to seventh, but the damage was done. "It’s not the start we wanted," Piastri admitted. "We’re still in it, but we’re not in control anymore."Verstappen’s Slip and Norris’s Surge
Max Verstappen, the two-time defending champion and Red Bull’s last hope, qualified fifth — his worst grid position since Monaco. "We lost time in Turn 12," he said. "The car felt loose. We didn’t fix it in time." That’s a problem. With only three races left, every point matters. And with McLaren suddenly looking faster than Red Bull on high-altitude tracks like Mexico City, the balance of power shifted. Norris, by contrast, was calm. "I just trusted the car," he said after qualifying. "It felt like it was reading my mind." And in the race? He delivered. Starting from pole, he led every lap but one, holding off Leclerc’s late charge. The win wasn’t just about speed — it was about precision. His tire management in the thin air of Mexico City’s 2,240-meter elevation was textbook. "He didn’t just win," said former champion Nico Rosberg on ESPN. "He outsmarted them."McLaren’s Double-Edged Sword
The irony? Norris’s win didn’t just threaten Verstappen — it threatened his own teammate. Piastri, who entered the weekend with a 17-point lead, finished fifth — 42 seconds behind Norris. That’s a 20-point swing in one race. Now, Norris trails Piastri by just 12 points. McLaren’s internal battle is heating up. Team principal Andrea Stella said after the race: "We’re not choosing sides. We’re racing for the title. But we’re not blind to the tension." The team’s performance in Mexico City was a revelation. After years of chasing Red Bull’s coattails, McLaren now has the car to beat them — on the right track. The high altitude, aggressive braking zones, and long straights favored their aerodynamic design. "They’ve cracked something," said Lawrence Barretto, senior analyst at The Race. "It’s not just the car. It’s the mindset. They believe they can win this."
What Comes Next?
The next stop is the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on November 2, 2025. It’s a track that favors downforce — and Red Bull’s strength. But if Norris carries this momentum, and Piastri can’t recover, the championship could flip entirely in the final three races. Ferrari, meanwhile, is quietly pleased. Leclerc and Hamilton now sit just 11 points behind Norris in the drivers’ standings — and they’re gaining on the McLarens. The real story? This isn’t just about who wins Mexico City. It’s about who dares to believe they can win it all. Norris does. Verstappen? He’s still trying to catch up.Behind the Scenes: The Numbers That Matter
- Norris’s pole time: 1:15.586 — fastest ever at Mexico City under current regulations - Margin between 1st and 10th in Q3: 0.288 seconds — the smallest in F1 qualifying history - Piastri’s points lead before Mexico: 17 — after: 12 - Norris’s points gain: +25 (pole + win) | Piastri’s loss: -12 (no podium) - Only 3 races remain: USA, Brazil, Abu Dhabi
Who’s Feeling the Heat?
- Max Verstappen: Now 28 points behind Piastri, with no margin for error - Oscar Piastri: Must win at least two of the next three to seal the title - Charles Leclerc: Now just 11 points behind Norris — and Ferrari’s best hope - Red Bull Racing: Must fix their high-altitude setup — or risk losing the constructors’ titleFrequently Asked Questions
How did Lando Norris’s pole position change the championship dynamics?
Norris’s pole and subsequent win cut Oscar Piastri’s championship lead from 17 to just 12 points, while moving Norris into second place in the standings. With only three races left, this swing gave Norris a legitimate shot at the title — and turned McLaren’s internal rivalry into a legitimate championship battle. The win also gave McLaren momentum heading into Austin, where they’ve shown strong pace in practice.
Why was Max Verstappen so far behind in qualifying?
Verstappen struggled with rear-end instability in Mexico City’s thin air, particularly in Turns 12 and 16. Red Bull’s car, typically dominant in high-downforce circuits, lost grip under braking. He admitted the team didn’t find the right setup in time, and his fifth-place start was his worst since Monaco. This is especially concerning as the next race in Austin favors their car’s strengths — but they’re now playing catch-up.
What caused Oscar Piastri’s poor qualifying performance?
Piastri lost time in Q2 due to a misjudged apex at Turn 11, which upset the car’s balance. He also reported a slight loss of rear downforce during his final run. While the five-place penalty for Carlos Sainz moved him up to seventh on the grid, the damage to his confidence and race strategy was done. He finished fifth in the race — but was never in contention for the podium.
How did the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez influence the race outcome?
The high altitude (over 2,200 meters) reduced engine power and aerodynamic grip, making tire management and braking stability critical. Norris’s McLaren excelled here, while Red Bull and Ferrari struggled with rear-end instability. The track’s long straights also favored McLaren’s efficient DRS system, allowing Norris to defend his lead without excessive tire wear — a key factor in his race win.
Is this the first time McLaren has beaten Red Bull in a race this season?
No — McLaren had already beaten Red Bull in the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix. But this was the first time they did it without relying on strategy or chaos. Norris won cleanly from pole, outpacing Verstappen in both qualifying and race pace. It signaled a shift: McLaren isn’t just lucky anymore — they’re now a true threat to Red Bull’s dominance.
What does this mean for the constructors’ championship?
McLaren now leads Ferrari by just 8 points in the constructors’ standings, with Red Bull still ahead by 14. But with Norris and Piastri both scoring heavily, and Ferrari’s two drivers split in performance, McLaren has a realistic shot at their first constructors’ title since 1998. A win in Austin could push them into the lead — and change the legacy of the entire 2025 season.