Two-time world champion Max Verstappen has set another record. With his victory at the Mexican GP, the Red Bull driver recorded his 14th victory of the season. With that, the 25-year-old Dutchman drove fellow greats Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher out of the books.
Just like the Limburger, the two once managed to win 13 races in a season until Sunday. In that regard, Verstappen is now at a lonely height. Although the 25-year-old Dutchman is never so concerned with equaling or improving records. Verstappen was ahead of Lewis Hamilton and teammate Sergio Pérez in Mexico.
Great start Verstappen
Verstappen, who struck Mexico three times before, started from pole position, and managed to maintain that position in the first part. Hamilton gasped into his neck. Initially, Verstappen ran out on the Briton, but after about 20 laps Hamilton started to catch up. Meanwhile, a pit stop for Red Bull teammate Pérez fell into the water.
In the 26th lap, Red Bull chose to bring in Verstappen. After a quick pit stop, he returned to the high-altitude circuit with his car in third place. What was expected in advance came true: it turned into a fight between Red Bull’s Verstappen and Pérez and Mercedes drivers Hamilton and George Russell. After a pit stop by Hamilton and Russell, Verstappen took the lead again halfway through.
Hamilton mainly in battle with Pérez
Hamilton lagged behind Verstappen after his pit stop. The difference between the ruffs of 2021 quickly increased in favor of the Dutchman. The 37-year-old Mercedes driver indicated that he did not like his new hard tire at all. Hamilton mainly had to fight with Pérez, who was panting in his neck.
The best DJ in the world, Martin Garrix, also saw from the stands that the crescendo was going for Verstappen. The two world stars and also good friends met in the paddock before the race.
Verstappen never ran into problems at the end of the race. He shook out one quick lap after another. A virtual safety car (an enraged Fernando Alonso fell out) also did not throw a spanner in the works. And so the superior Dutchman struck again after 2017, 2018 and 2021 on the high-altitude circuit in Mexico City (2200 meters above sea level). A memorable triumph.