Ferrari’s Sainz Triumphs in Mexico City Grand Prix Amid Verstappen’s Penalties
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari celebrated a significant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking Ferrari’s first win in Mexico since 1990. The race took place at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City, where Sainz’s emotional win was overshadowed by rival Max Verstappen’s controversial performance.
Verstappen, who leads the Formula One championship, faced penalties during the race due to two incidents with Lando Norris of McLaren. As a result, he finished in sixth place, which reduced his championship lead over Norris from 57 to 47 points with only four races left in the season. Norris, who finished second, criticized Verstappen’s driving style, describing him as “dangerous” during the race.
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Charles Leclerc, Sainz’s teammate at Ferrari, finished third after being overtaken by Norris with nine laps remaining. Despite this, Leclerc managed to secure a bonus point for the fastest lap. Sainz’s victory is his fourth career win in Formula One, and he expressed his gratitude for the support from the enthusiastic crowd, emphasizing the significance of winning for Ferrari.
Verstappen started the race on the front row but encountered difficulties early on. He received two 10-second penalties for his clashes with Norris, which forced him to pit from third place on lap 27. This put him at a disadvantage, and he had to fight back from 15th position to finish sixth. Despite his struggles, Verstappen remains a strong title contender and downplayed the impact of his performance, citing issues with race pace rather than focusing on the penalties.
In the battle for positions, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fourth and fifth, respectively, after a fierce contest towards the end of the race. Meanwhile, Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg also had strong performances, finishing seventh and ninth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri taking eighth place.
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The race saw significant interactions between Norris and Verstappen, with Norris expressing frustration over the aggressive driving from the Dutch driver. He noted that Verstappen forced him off the track during a crucial moment, highlighting the ongoing tension between the two competitors.
Verstappen had previously dominated races in Mexico, having won five of the last six races at this venue, but his inability to secure victory this time led to questions about his recent form. The Dutch driver has not won a race in the last ten outings, prompting speculation about whether he can regain his winning momentum as the season progresses.
As the season enters its final stages, McLaren maintains its lead in the constructors’ championship, but Ferrari is closing the gap, now only 29 points behind. The dynamics of the championship continue to shift, with Sainz’s victory injecting renewed energy into Ferrari’s campaign and tightening the title race as it heads toward the final races.
In the aftermath of the race, Verstappen acknowledged the need to improve his race pace, while Norris reflected on the incident, reinforcing his belief that Verstappen’s driving style could pose risks to himself and others on the track. The championship battle remains intense, with four races left to determine the ultimate winner in this thrilling Formula One season.
