{"id":30590,"date":"2025-10-25T22:38:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T22:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=30590"},"modified":"2025-10-25T22:38:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T22:38:18","slug":"lando-norris-takes-mexico-grand-prix-pole-formula-one-qualifying-live-updates-formula-one-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=30590","title":{"rendered":"Lando Norris takes Mexico Grand Prix pole: Formula One qualifying \u2013 live updates | Formula One 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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McLaren\u2019s first pole in Mexico since Ayrton Senna in 1989<\/strong> (though a race wasn\u2019t held in Mexico between 1993 and 2014, of course). Kudos to Lando Norris.<\/p>\n

And of course to Isack Hadjar<\/strong> \u2013 wearing a helmet in tribute to Senna\u2019s old sparring partner Prost \u2013 who I think became the first Racing Bulls driver to end a qualifying session in P1 after that exceptional lap in Q1! He\u2019ll start next to Piastri on the grid.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJust frustrating,\u201d says<\/strong> Oscar Piastri<\/strong> of his disappointing qualifying session. \u201cThis weekend \u2013 and last weekend really \u2013 the pace just hasn\u2019t come yet. Not entirely sure why, we\u2019ll have to do some digging.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s such a cool head but naturally the 24-year-old sounds very flat. It\u2019s the big gap to his McLaren teammate in pole that will be eating away at him.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Oscar Piastri struggled to find pace in qualifying.<\/span> Photograph: H\u00e9ctor Vivas\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a018.31 EDT<\/p>\n

Sunday’s provisional starting grid<\/h2>\n

1) Lando Norris (McLaren)
2) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)<\/p>\n

3) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
4) George Russell (Mercedes)<\/p>\n

5) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)<\/p>\n

7) Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9) Oliver Bearman (Haas)
10) Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)<\/p>\n

11) Esteban Ocon (Haas)
12) Carlos Sainz (Williams)*<\/p>\n

13) Nico H\u00fclkenberg (Sauber)
14) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)<\/p>\n

15) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
16) Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)<\/p>\n

17) Alexander Albon (Williams)
18) Pierre Gasly (Alpine)<\/p>\n

19) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20) Franco Colapinto (Alpine)<\/p>\n

*Qualified in seventh; five-place grid penalty<\/p>\n

<\/span>Lando Norris either side of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc (left) Lewis Hamilton.<\/span> Photograph: Alfredo Estrella\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a018.26 EDT<\/p>\n

Norris<\/strong>\u2019s pole-snatching time was 1min 15.586sec, his teammate Piastri<\/strong> was only 1:16.174 in eighth \u2013 though he\u2019ll start seventh because of the grid penalty for Sainz. Verstappen<\/strong> put up 1:16.070 in fifth. Suddenly the McLaren (or at least one of them) isn\u2019t looking behind the Red Bull after all.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a018.15 EDT<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy to be back on pole \u2013 it\u2019s actually been a while, a good feeling,\u201d says a smiling pole-sitter Lando Norris<\/strong>, who\u2019s not been in P1 since Belgium. He admits the Ferraris gave him a scare in Q3.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a018.07 EDT<\/p>\n

Q3 leaderboard<\/h2>\n

1) Lando Norris
2) Charles Leclerc
3) Lewis Hamilton
4) George Russell
5) Max Verstappen
6) Kimi Antonelli
7) Carlos Sainz
8) Oscar Piastri
9) Isack Hadjar
10) Oliver Bearman<\/p>\n

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George Russell<\/strong> took fourth at the end there too, pushing Verstappen<\/strong> on to the third row. Wow. Piastri<\/strong> is eighth. Let\u2019s get the official Q3 standings \u2026<\/p>\n

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Lando Norris takes Mexico GP pole<\/h2>\n

The McLaren driver is in P1! Charles Leclerc is second on the grid, Lewis Hamilton in third. What a dream result for Norris \u2013 he\u2019s way ahead of his title rivals in qualifying.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Lando Norris on his way to pole position.<\/span> Photograph: H\u00e9ctor Vivas\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a018.25 EDT<\/p>\n

Norris takes P1 provisionally \u2013 with a terrific time. Can Leclerc respond? It\u2019s between the two \u2026<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a018.01 EDT<\/p>\n

Piastri<\/strong> is trying to improve his position and he\u2019s up to P3 \u2013 but others can pip him. Verstappen<\/strong> goes second fastest, still behind Leclerc.<\/p>\n

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Pure racing now, times have been coming down but Leclerc<\/strong> produced a masterful lap there, one of his finest as a qualifying maestro. He\u2019s two-tenths quicker than Norris. Can Lando \u2013 and the rest of the grid \u2013 respond on their last go?<\/p>\n

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We\u2019re into the final five minutes of Q3<\/strong>. The Ferraris have found some pace, either side of Norris in second. Verstappen is fourth, Verstappen fifth, Russell sixth.<\/p>\n

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Hamilton<\/strong> is third fastest \u2013 and Leclerc<\/strong> goes faster than anyone! The Ferrari driver pips Norris and is in provisional P1. Charles found seven-tenths from his best Q2 time. Where did that come from?<\/p>\n

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Norris<\/strong> is in P1, Verstappen<\/strong> is in second, Piastri<\/strong> is up to third. But six cars still have to post a real time in Q3.<\/p>\n

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Verstappen <\/strong>is out on a flying lap; he gets a slipstream from Russell. Can Max post a time to give McLaren something to think about? Norris<\/strong> is also out in his wake.<\/p>\n

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Q3 is under way<\/h2>\n

We have 12 minutes to decide pole position at the Aut\u00f3dromo Hermanos Rodr\u00edguez. Norris will feel it is his to lose given his overall control thus far. For Verstappen and Piastri, is it about not having as many cars between them and Lando at the front?<\/p>\n

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Q2 leaderboard<\/h2>\n

1) Lando Norris
2) Lewis Hamilton
3) George Russell
4) Max Verstappen
5) Carlos Sainz
6) Charles Leclerc
7) Oscar Piastri
8) Kimi Antonelli
9) Oliver Bearman
10) Isack Hadjar
————————
11) Yuki Tsunoda
12) Esteban Ocon
13) Nico H\u00fclkenberg
14) Fernando Alonso
15) Liam Lawson<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri is really having a tough time out there compared to his McLaren teammate, who looks in supreme control.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019re reaching a Q2<\/strong> climax and Piastri<\/strong> just edges into seventh! Lawson, Alonso, Ocon, H\u00fclkenberg <\/strong>and Tsunoda<\/strong> are the five drivers are out.<\/p>\n

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Hamilton<\/strong> goes up to second fastest, Verstappen<\/strong> is third quickest, Russell<\/strong> is fourth. Piastri<\/strong> is out and he\u2019s quick in the first sector \u2013 he\u2019ll need to be, as he\u2019s currently in 13th.<\/p>\n

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Verstappen<\/strong> is on a flying lap. Can he get himself any nearer Norris<\/strong> atop the standings? Max is still off Lando\u2019s pace atop the Q2 standings in the first two sectors.<\/p>\n

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Hadjar<\/strong> goes fourth fastest for the Racing Bulls, just edging Verstappen<\/strong> who\u2019s fifth quicket. There\u2019s queue of drivers ready to come out.<\/p>\n

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I expect the Q2 <\/strong>times to come down as we enter the final five minutes. Liam Lawson<\/strong> is out and trying to crack the top 10.<\/p>\n

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Bearman<\/strong>, who had that impressive early lap, is currently in 11th and the danger zone. Alonso<\/strong> is with him in unlucky 13th. Piastrai<\/strong> is 10th and hovering above.<\/p>\n

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Norris<\/strong> goes quickest. You get the feeling \u2013 famous last words \u2013 he\u2019s in control of this qualifying session at the moment and has more pace up his sleeve. Piastri<\/strong>, however, is really struggling.<\/p>\n

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H\u00fclkenberg<\/strong> goes fastest, Hamilton<\/strong> is second quickest. Then Leclerc<\/strong> and Verstappen<\/strong> take those spots \u2013 in that order \u2026 the times are tumbling down as qualifying goes on.<\/p>\n

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Q2 is under way<\/h2>\n

And the Q1 leader, Hadjar<\/strong>, is out early in an Alain Prost tribute helmet. He was certainly a professor in Q1.<\/p>\n

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Q1 leaderboard<\/h2>\n

1) Isack Hadjar
2) Lewis Hamilton
3) George Russell
4) Lando Norris
5) Esteban Ocon
6) Liam Lawson
7) Charles Leclerc
8) Oliver Bearman
9) Max Verstappen
10) Oscar Piastri
11) Carlos Sainz
12) Fernando Alonso
13) Yuki Tsunoda
14) Nico H\u00fclkenberg
15) Kimi Antonelli
———————————
16) Gabriel Bortoleto
17) Alex Albon
18) Pierre Gasly
19) Lance Stroll
20) Franco Colapinto<\/p>\n

Not a Q1 leader many predicted. Well in, Isack.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a017.30 EDT<\/p>\n

Antonelli<\/strong> just sneaks into Q2! He\u2019s not one of the five eliminated. Q1 is over and Gabriel Bortoleto, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto are out.<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar: <\/strong>take a bow. Quickest in Q1<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Russell<\/strong> goes second quickest, until he\u2019s pipped by Hamilton<\/strong>. Yep, the times are getting faster. Hadjar <\/strong>still quickest, Norris keeping his powder dry.<\/p>\n

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This track is definitely getting quicker. Isack Hadjar<\/strong> goes quickest, pushing Norris into second spot.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a017.18 EDT<\/p>\n

Ah, Tsunoda<\/strong> is up to ninth, pushing Kimi Antonelli<\/strong> into the danger zone. Verstappen<\/strong> is fifth quickest but still not quite on the pace yet.<\/p>\n

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Currently in the bottom five spots: Lance Stroll, Nico H\u00fclkenberg, Franco Colapint, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly<\/strong>. Tsunoda\u2019s teammate Verstappen is on another flying lap.<\/p>\n

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Leclerc<\/strong> is now second quickest, Hamilton<\/strong> is up to sixth fastest. Improvements for the Ferraris \u2013 can anyone challenge Norris at the top in Q1?<\/p>\n

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Piastri<\/strong> is up to third, Bearman<\/strong> still has his paws on the second-quickest time. That\u2019s impressive in the (very) early stages.<\/p>\n

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Hamilton<\/strong> is reporting issues with his tyre temperature on the radio. He\u2019s just been pushed out of the top 10 places by Alonso.<\/p>\n

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Verstappen <\/strong>is third after his first attempt, behind Norris and Leclerc. But George Russell<\/strong> goes second quickest, pushing Max down to fourth.<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a017.11 EDT<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen<\/strong> is out. Let\u2019s see if he can make an impact on Norris on the top of the standings \u2026 Charles Leclerc<\/strong> is up into second behind the McLaren.<\/p>\n

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Norris <\/strong>is <\/strong>quicker than Piastri<\/strong>, who is behind his teammate and Ollie Bearman<\/strong> in the early going. Apparently Oscar has reported a DRS issue on the radio.<\/p>\n

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Alonso, who missed third practice with an issue, is going faster than his teammate Lance Stroll<\/strong> as they\u2019re both on a first flying lap. Here comes Lando Norris<\/strong>, the first of the title contenders is out.<\/p>\n

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Reminder: Carlos Sainz<\/strong> has a five-place grid penalty this weekend after an incident in Texas. He\u2019s not out yet but Fernando Alonso<\/strong> is and he\u2019s looking to make an early impact.<\/p>\n

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Q1 begins<\/h2>\n

Our 18-minute opening session is officially under way! Who will be the five drivers eliminated in this first qualifying session? The cars are emerging from the pit lane.<\/p>\n

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Lewis Hamilton<\/strong> sounded a warning to McLaren yesterday on a subject he knows a bit about: how dangerous Verstappen can be in a title fight. \u201cYou really have to be cut-throat and that is what Max is,\u201d he said. \u201cHe is going to take this from them if they don\u2019t do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamilton has looked far happier with his Ferrari so far in Mexico \u2013 and indeed over the last couple of race weekends. Can he turn that into a good qualifying performance? We\u2019re about to find out!<\/p>\n

<\/span>Lewis Hamilton during the third practice session in Mexico City.<\/span> Photograph: Yuri Cort\u00e9z\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.55 EDT<\/p>\n

Less than 15 minutes to go until Q1 begins. The fans in Mexico tend to be a loud and passionate lot. Some famous faces in the crowd already \u2026<\/p>\n

<\/span>Formula One fans happy in Mexico.<\/span> Photograph: Peter Fox\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Some excellent pre-qualifying reading<\/strong>: Giles Richards recalls the time a three-way title fight actually ended in a dramatic Mexico Grand Prix. Back in 1964, when it sounded like the great Jim Clark had precious little luck.<\/p>\n

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What about Oscar Piastri<\/strong>? The man leading the drivers\u2019 championship, but who rather urgently needs to find his earlier season form, is staying level-headed. \u201cI\u2019d rather have the lead than be in any other spot,\u201d he pointed out rather accurately this week.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Oscar Piastri staying cool in the Mexico heat.<\/span> Photograph: Javier Jimenez\/DPPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.37 EDT<\/p>\n

Pre-qualifying Max Verstappen<\/strong> was asked about the bookies\u2019 tightening odds \u2013 and whether he feels he is now the favourite for the drivers\u2019 title. \u201cWe\u2019re not stressed about it,\u201d he deflects. \u201cWhatever happens, we can be very proud of the upturn in performance we\u2019ve made.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll note he does not reply: no.<\/p>\n

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Stat check:<\/strong> there are five race weekends to go, including this one. Max Verstappen has taken 119<\/strong> points<\/strong> from the past five rounds \u2013 the McLaren drivers have taken 119 points<\/strong> combined in the same span. Momentum is with the world champion; Lando Norris will be focused on taking his practice form into qualifying to start a fightback.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Max Verstappen has his eye on the prize.<\/span> Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n

Updated at\u00a016.28 EDT<\/p>\n

So back to that final practice: Lando Norris<\/strong> was ahead of the pack and six-tenths quicker than his teammate and Verstappen. Only Norris and Lewis Hamilton appeared happy with their setup in the intense Mexico City heat.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Lando Norris enjoyed the third practice session in Mexico.<\/span> Photograph: Carl de Souza\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cNo grip, front and rear,\u201d complained Max on the radio in P3. Red Bull are apparently making some tweaks before qualifying starts. Will they have a positive impact?<\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a016.18 EDT<\/p>\n

Constructors’ standings<\/h2>\n

1) McLaren 678pts
<\/strong>2) Mercedes 341pts
<\/strong>3) Ferrari 334pts
<\/strong>4) Red Bull 331pts
<\/strong>5) Williams 111pts
<\/strong>6) Racing Bulls 72pts
<\/strong>7) Aston Martin 69pts
<\/strong>8) Sauber 59pts
<\/strong>9) Haas 48pts
<\/strong>10) Alpine 20pts<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, unless McLaren are hit with an unprecedented 300-point deduction, you may have noticed this is sewn up. But the tussle for second spot is enticingly tight: just 10 points between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull (trailing in fourth despite five race wins this season). Nicely poised.<\/p>\n

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Drivers\u2019 standings<\/h2>\n

1) Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 346pts
<\/strong>2) Lando Norris (McLaren) 332pts
<\/strong>3) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 306pts
<\/strong>4) George Russell (Mercedes) 252pts
<\/strong>5) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 192pts
<\/strong>6) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 142pts
<\/strong>7) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 89pts
<\/strong>8) Alexander Albon (Williams) 73pts
<\/strong>9) Nico H\u00fclkenberg (Sauber) 41pts
<\/strong>10) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 39pts<\/strong><\/p>\n

The head-scratcher about a three-way title tilt is that a team with two drivers at the top should, theoretically, have an advantage. In that Yuki Tsunoda has not been in a position to disrupt the McLarens and support his teammate. But with McLaren (sportingly) letting their drivers slug it out, Norris and Piastri are getting in each others\u2019 way, while Red Bull are 100% focused on one man.<\/p>\n

So there hasn\u2019t been much evidence of the McLarens using crafty tactics to disturb Verstappen\u2019s race. Of course, to slow up Verstappen you have to first be ahead of him on the track \u2026 Norris might fancy his chances at the start in Mexico, given how practice went. Let\u2019s see where they stand after qualifying!<\/p>\n

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Preamble<\/h2>\n

We\u2019re coming up to Halloween and the nightmare for McLaren is that, despite an all-conquering triumph in the constructors\u2019 championship, the drivers\u2019 title could yet slip through their grasp. The ominous sight of a four-time world champion eating away at the once sizeable gap Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had atop the standings will be causing a real scare.<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen \u201csenses blood in the water\u201d, as Giles Richards put it in his Mexico preview, and recently his Red Bull has looked as fast as the McLaren, if not quicker. Aut\u00f3dromo Hermanos Rodr\u00edguez is a circuit Verstappen enjoys: he\u2019s won this race five times, though he didn\u2019t last year (he finished second to Carlos Sainz).<\/p>\n

That said, in today\u2019s fascinating final practice, Verstappen was off the pace and only sixth fastest. Norris was quickest \u2013 by far \u2013 ahead of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, as British drivers posted the top three times. Piastri was almost six-tenths down on his teammate, however.<\/p>\n

Mexico is a unique track: located 2,240 metres above sea level, it\u2019s by far the highest altitude of any venue on the F1 calendar. The thin air has a hefty impact on the car\u2019s aerodynamics meaning even a Monaco-style setup will still see cars generate less downforce than at Monza. Translation: it\u2019s gonna be slippery.<\/p>\n

Will Norris\u2019s final practice dominance result in pole? Can Piastri find some pace? Will Verstappen and Red Bull pull something out of the hat? Let\u2019s find out! Qualifying begins at 10pm (BST).<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Updated at\u00a016.10 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature McLaren\u2019s first pole in Mexico since Ayrton Senna in 1989 (though a race wasn\u2019t held in Mexico between 1993 and 2014, of course). Kudos to Lando Norris. And of course to Isack Hadjar \u2013 wearing a helmet in tribute to Senna\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[3953,4858,3007,132,3681,3008,13160,6162,8920,1167,127],"class_list":{"0":"post-30590","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-formula","9":"tag-grand","10":"tag-lando","11":"tag-live","12":"tag-mexico","13":"tag-norris","14":"tag-pole","15":"tag-prix","16":"tag-qualifying","17":"tag-takes","18":"tag-updates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30590\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}