Change of leadership in Formula 1: Lando Norris has taken first place in the drivers’ standings from his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen also made further ground in the Red Bull compared to Piastri.
Norris won in Mexico City with a brilliant performance – flawless and dominant, he raced from pole to the finish, where former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield waved the black and white flag after 71 laps. Second place was saved by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari just ahead of Verstappen, who was ultimately unlucky because a virtual safety car phase stood in his way of catching up. Oliver Bearman sensationally took fourth place in the Haas, ensuring that Norris is now one point ahead in the overall standings.
“The whole weekend felt great”
Norris was of course thrilled after his “Fiesta Mexicana”: “Winning here in front of this enthusiastic audience is of course outstanding. It just felt great the whole weekend.” When asked whether this triumph had brought the momentum to his side and provided momentum for the final races, he answered rather cautiously: “We’ll take a look from race weekend to race weekend.”
Leclerc also celebrated his second place, but also admitted: “It was neat, but in the end the virtual safety car certainly saved me.” Verstappen took it relatively calmly: “Of course it was annoying, but sometimes you benefit from the safety car and sometimes the others benefit. It was a pretty wild race, especially at the beginning, but in the end everything is okay.”
Two trips into the countryside by Verstappen
The race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez got off to a very spectacular start. Pole sitter Norris got off to a top start, behind him Max Verstappen from fifth place immediately put pressure on the Mercedes of George Russell in front of him and the two Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Verstappen drove past Russell almost effortlessly, but the Dutchman could no longer find space next to the two reds – and was pushed onto the grass next to the track. But the further course of the curve suited him, he took the shortcut through the grass back onto the road and got back in line in front of Russell. He immediately radioed to the box, pissed off: “He’s cutting wildly across the lawn, taking short cuts – and nothing happens? Can he do what he wants?”
He could. The jury viewed the scene but saw no reason to impose a penalty. Not even in the wild duels that followed immediately: Verstappen attacked Hamilton again, there was contact and another trip into the green by the reigning world champion Verstappen. He got back into the race, but this time he lost a place shortly afterwards – Oliver Bearman in the Haas, who had started in ninth place, suddenly raced up to fourth place. Verstappen’s radio message was more of an appeal not to punish him additionally for his rides: “They’re pushing me out here like crazy.”he complained – and the commissioners actually didn’t take any action against him.
Ten second penalty for Hamilton
But they did that on the 16th lap at Hamilton. The seven-time champion had braked and then shortened the route via an emergency exit, gaining an illegal advantage in the jury’s opinion – and was given a ten-second penalty. After that, things calmed down a bit, Norris pulled away unstoppably from the front and was already over 20 seconds ahead of his first pursuer Leclerc by the halfway point of the race.
Norris’ superiority was so great that the pits radioed him and asked him if he could help “the other side” (i.e. Piastri) by revealing his tire preference: Soft? Or medium? Norris was kind enough to answer “Soft” – but Piastri was apparently no longer able to use this to the extent that McLaren wanted and ultimately finished the race in fifth place, which was disappointing for him.
Bearman is fighting for his top result
The fact that there wasn’t enough for more was also due to Bearman, who fought heroically for the best result of his young career. In the end it was exciting again for second place, because lap by lap Verstappen reduced his gap to Leclerc, which was now well over ten seconds. But when the jury imposed a virtual safety car phase, in the end it was no longer enough for the Dutchman to overtake.
For Nico Hülkenberg it was a weekend to forget. 13th place in qualifying was still within reach, but in the race he had to park his Sauber in the pits and retire after brake problems on the 27th lap.
Four more Grand Prix racing and two sprints
The four Grand Prix races in Brazil, the USA, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are now on the calendar, plus two sprints. Ideally, 116 points can be achieved – so all three drivers at the top of the World Championship standings still have a realistic chance of winning the 2025 title.