​Charles Leclerc fears there will be no overtaking opportunities in the Mexican Grand Prix. (Source: MEGA)
Charles Leclerc doesn’t expect much overtaking at the Mexican Grand Prix, and he thinks the race order will be decided in the first few corners. The Ferrari driver starts third on Sunday at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, behind pole-sitter and teammate Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ George Russell. The race starts at 3 PM local time.After qualifying on Saturday, Leclerc told reporters, “I doubt there will be any overtakes tomorrow.” Once the field sorts itself out after Turn 3, he added, “it’s going to be very difficult then to overtake.” Charles Leclerc warns overtaking could be difficult in Mexico!Starting P3 behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, he fears car and brake overheating, plus ineffective Overtake Mode, could limit passing after Turn 1.Could the start be decisive?#F1#Ferraripic.twitter.com/onduuYLusl— Scuderia Fans (@ScuderiaFansF1) November 1, 2026Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions, then watched his teammate take pole position on Saturday. Hamilton’s lap of 1:16.514 beat Russell by 0.009 seconds for his first pole with Ferrari, and Leclerc finished 0.119 seconds back. At 41, Hamilton is the oldest pole-sitter since Mario Andretti in 1982.Overtake Mode Leaves Charles Leclerc With Little HelpThe underlying pace of the car isn’t Leclerc’s problem. He says the SF-26 is very strong in the corners, and the thin air at this altitude reduces the price Ferrari pays for less power and extra drag on the straights. Passing other cars is where he sees the real challenge.
Charles Leclerc is optimistic Ferrari can challenge for a 1-2 finish in Mexico. (Source: MEGA)
He tried to overtake some cars in the second practice session and found it very difficult. The extra electrical power meant to help an attacking driver won’t change that. “The overtake mode doesn’t do much,” Leclerc said after qualifying.He also pointed the finger at himself. The Monegasque driver admitted that he failed to nail his final out lap in Q3 and ended the session clearly annoyed, while a wobble at Turn 10 ruined his final push lap itself.
Charles Leclerc admits he could not deliver a perfect final qualifying lap in Mexico Q3. (Source: MEGA)
Long Run To Turn 1 Could Reshuffle the Top ThreeThe long drag from the grid to Turn 1 means pole isn’t always the best place to start in Mexico. Leclerc is optimistic that he could pick up a tow from the two cars ahead of him. His plan is simple. “I’ll keep my head down as much as possible and see what’s possible,” he said.Russell, who starts from the front row alongside Hamilton, sees it the same way. “I think Turn 1 is going to be crucial,” the Mercedes driver said, and he expects only about a tenth of a second between the top seven or eight drivers in race pace.
Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of becoming the youngest Formula 1 world champion. (Source: MEGA)
The title fight adds another l