In an exhilarating episode of the Mexican GP, Carlos Sainz claimed his fourth F1 victory on Sunday evening. Max Verstappen was penalized with twenty seconds of time penalties during the race, but still managed to finish sixth, thereby limiting the damage to his title rival Lando Norris (second) to nine World Championship points. In the World Championship standings, his lead is still 48 points.
Here is a brief overview of the Mexican GP:
ROUND 1/71: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz starts from pole, but cannot withstand the lightning start of Max Verstappen. The Dutchman immediately takes the lead in the over 800 meters long run-up to turn 1. Sainz overtakes on the grass but immediately gives up the spot. Sergio Pérez also has a good start and gains five places from P18. However, he appears to have parked his car outside the starting box and is penalized with a five-second time penalty. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda crashes heavily and takes Alexander Albon with him. Both are out of the race. The safety car is deployed.
ROUND 6/71: The race in Mexico City is resumed. Max Verstappen immediately accelerates in the stadium and easily keeps Sainz, Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton behind him.
ROUND 9/71: Sainz successfully attacks Verstappen and regains the lead. He goes over the kerbs at the exit, but it ends well for the Ferrari Spaniard.
‘What a gift!’
ROUND 11/71: Norris and Verstappen clash and end up off the track twice, in turn 4 and then in turn 8. Norris was ahead, but Verstappen catches up. Charles Leclerc is the laughing third and takes the second place behind his teammate Sainz. The stewards investigate the duel between title rivals Norris and Verstappen and later decide to impose a ten-second time penalty on the three-time world champion from Red Bull for the incident in turn 4. Verstappen’s telling reaction: ‘What a gift!’
ROUND 16/71: Fernando Alonso is forced to pit and due to brake problems, his 400th (!) race in Formula 1 comes to an end.
Lap 18/71: Perez’s Attempt to Overtake Lawson
Sergio Perez attempts to overtake Liam Lawson, but the New Zealander from Visa RB refuses to be pushed off the track. As a result, Lawson remains in tenth place and Perez suffers damage to his sidepods. In the same lap, the Mexican driver has a similar incident with Fernando Alonso. The stewards later impose a penalty on Verstappen for his earlier action in turn 8 against Norris, resulting in a twenty-second penalty.
Lap 26/71: Verstappen Serves His Time Penalties
Max Verstappen comes in for his first pit stop and serves his time penalties. After a 24-second pit stop, he returns to the track in fifteenth place, one spot ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. The current standings are as follows: Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, and Hamilton.
Lap 38/71: Verstappen Overtakes Lawson
Max Verstappen passes Lawson and advances to P7. His next target is Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate. Meanwhile, leader Sainz briefly complains about a problem with his Ferrari engine, but it appears to be a false alarm. His lead over teammate Leclerc is over seven seconds.
Lap 59/71: Norris Chases P2
Norris is hunting for P2 and launches an attack on Leclerc. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton is trying to outsmart his Mercedes teammate George Russell, but so far without success. Max Verstappen is stuck at P6, while Sergio Perez is nearly at the back, in a disappointing P16.
Lap 63/71: Leclerc’s Mistake, Norris Takes P2
Leclerc makes a mistake in the final turn before the start/finish line. The Monegasque barely keeps his car on the track, but has to give up his second position in favor of Norris.
Lap 71/71: Sainz Wins the Mexican GP
Sainz is flagged as the winner of the Mexican GP, with a comfortable lead over Norris and Leclerc. Max Verstappen finishes behind the Mercedes of Hamilton and Russell in sixth place. An extra World Championship point for the fastest race lap goes to Leclerc at the last moment.
