After every Grand Prix, we present the RaceReport, a unique and engaging digital recap of the race weekend. Reporter André Venema brings you the latest from Mexico City!
THE SHADOW OF THE DEAD LOOMS OVER THE MEXICAN GP
The Mexican Grand Prix made a triumphant return to Formula 1’s already packed calendar in 2015 after a 23-year hiatus. Since then, the event has evolved into a perfect blend of sport, spectacle, fan engagement, music, and salsa, embodying the modern race experience that the commercial rights holder FOM desires.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a classic and relatively short track near the international airport, is a hub of celebration for three days every year. Passionate Mexican fans flock to the Grand Prix, which has been consistently sold out since its revival eleven years ago. Even at the most recent event, over 400,000 spectators passed through the (well-policed) gates.
The race in October annually coincides with the lead-up to Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a national Catholic holiday commemorating deceased loved ones (both human and animal). Tradition dictates that people dress up, wear scary masks, or have their faces painted for this celebration. This tradition continues at the circuit, with costumed fans visible everywhere. “If you come to our race, you know you’re in Mexico,” summarizes GP director Federico González Compeán, encapsulating the cultural heritage of the event.
The circuit is one of Max Verstappen‘s favorites. The four-time world champion has won the race five times since its return to the calendar. Last year, he had to concede victory to Carlos Sainz (then with Ferrari) after an intense wheel-to-wheel battle with Lando Norris, for which he received two time penalties.”The Spaniard, as it turned out last weekend, has become by far the most popular driver in Mexico after the departure of local hero Sergio Pérez. However, this is likely to change again next year. Then, Pérez will be making his return to the Mexican GP, serving the American newcomer Cadillac F1. The euphoria about this is so great that the event has already sold out a year in advance. After all, Mexican fans honor their favorites. “The popularity of Checo (Pérez) has only further expanded our fan base,” said González Compeán.”
Highlights from Mexico
Max’s Quote
‘You know, we knew we had to be perfect until the end of the season. This, of course, is not ideal. With four more races to go after this one, a lot of positive things need to happen. But we will try to maximize what we can. My attitude remains unchanged: in the worst case, I stay third, where I am now. Then nothing changes, right? If we manage to pull it off: Great, that would be an amazing comeback. If not, we can be proud of the last part of the season and the progress we’ve made in performance.’
Highlights and Lowlights
The Mexican Grand Prix was fraught with tension. While most people were focused on Max Verstappen‘s pursuit of World Championship leader Oscar Piastri, it was Lando Norris who kept his cool and secured a dominant victory. Equally important, he took over the lead in the drivers’ championship. Here are the highlights and lowlights of the Mexican GP!
Highlight: Oliver Bearman
The race weekend in Mexico started off on a sour note for Oliver Bearman. The 20-year-old Brit from Haas was somewhat frustrated that he had to watch Friday’s first practice session from the garage, as Formula 1 rules stipulate that rookies must also be given a chance. Consequently, Ryo Hirakawa took Bearman’s place in the car, despite being a rookie himself. Two days later, Bearman could only laugh about it. After all, his flawless race and fourth-place finish marked the best result of his young F1 career. For Haas, it also matched the team’s best-ever result, previously achieved by Romain Grosjean in Austria in 2018. Bearman was rightfully voted Driver of the Day by the fans!
FLOP: Carlos Sainz’s Disappointing Performance
What a difference a year makes. A year after his triumph in Mexico City, donning the red of Ferrari, the 2025 edition proved to be a real trial for Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver, now with Williams, struggled with a faulty pit limiter in his FW47, causing him to speed through the pitlane twice. This resulted in a five-second time penalty, followed by a drive-through penalty. To add insult to injury, he lost control of his car in the chicane at the Foro Sol stadium during the late stages of the race. His car ended up awkwardly half-parked in the runoff area, prompting race control to deploy the virtual safety car. Ironically, this move inadvertently helped his former employer, as it allowed Charles Leclerc to finish second ahead of Max Verstappen.
BEHIND THE SCENES
A glimpse behind the scenes at the Mexico Grand Prix!
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Results of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix
Please note that the image and its caption, which depicted the podium after the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, have been removed as per the instructions.
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Three Questions with… George Russell
‘I am 100 percent better than in 2022’
George Russell recently extended his contract with Mercedes after months of negotiations. The Brit is the undisputed leader of the racing team and received a significant pay raise from team boss Toto Wolff. “Mentally, I’m in a good place,” he says.
George, it seems like you’ve taken a step forward this season in terms of performance level. What has changed in your preparation?
“It’s mainly about the small details that make the difference, there isn’t one specific reason. It’s a combination of confidence – in myself, the car, and my engineers. They directly influence my performance. Mentally, I’m in a good place: I have a strong group of people around me, which allows me to arrive at the circuit in the right mindset when I start the weekend. And all the external noise about that fuss with Max Verstappen last year in Qatar? It goes in one ear and out the other,” he explains.
Recent Races Seem More Predictable: Is There Less Risk-Taking?
“I don’t believe it’s about taking less risk. Teams are understanding their cars and tires better as the season progresses. We have adjusted our setup, which has reduced tire wear. This, in turn, allows us to more easily adopt a one-stop strategy. It’s simply a natural process. No one is to blame; it’s part of the evolution of the season. The same applies to starts: we as a team place extra emphasis on them. If you get off to a good start, you can often gain and maintain positions. The differences in the top 6 are so small that the start often decides the race. However, we won’t go so far as to sacrifice our qualifying setup for it.”
You Recently Mentioned That You Are Now Better Equipped to Fight for a Championship Than Ever Before. Is This Due to Experience or Maturity?
“A bit of both, I think. Every driver improves with the years, up to a certain point. I thought in 2022 that I was ready when I stood next to Lewis Hamilton, but comparing myself now to then, I am one hundred percent better. Maybe I was ready then too, but you only really know when you’re in that position.”
Formula 1 Heads to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix
The Formula 1 circuit will travel to Brazil in early November for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The twentieth race weekend of the season will take place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos. As this is a sprint weekend, the schedule includes one free practice and the sprint qualification on Friday, followed by the sprint race and the regular qualification on Saturday. The Grand Prix itself will be held on Sunday. Below is the schedule for the São Paulo GP, with times converted for Dutch readers.
São Paulo GP Schedule 2025
Friday, November 7
- First free practice: 13:30 – 14:30 UTC
- Sprint qualification: 17:30 – 18:15 UTC
Saturday, November 8
- Sprint race: 13:00 – 14:00 UTC
- Qualification: 17:00 – 18:00 UTC
Sunday, November 9
- Race: 16:00 UTC
