Verstappen cruised his way from P3 to victory at the Mexico GP Race whilst fan favourite and teammate Perez’s race was finished on lap 1 and Kevin Magnussen’s huge accident causes red flag.
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The current 3-time World Champion achieved exactly what he would have wanted after qualifying at the Mexico GP. Take the lead into turn 1 and control the race from there. No red flag or standing restart would scare the Red Bull driver.
This is Verstappens 51st victory of his career and the 16th of the season for him.
This breaks the Dutchman’s previous record of most wins in a season which he broke last year on a total of 15. With 3 races still to go, Verstappen could take this record further.
A Bad Day for Checo
The story wasn’t so bright for the other Red Bull driver. As Mexico head towards their celebration of ‘The Day of the Dead,’ Perez looked alive when the lights went out.
Verstappen held the inside line as Charles Leclerc found himself sandwiched between the two Bulls. Perez pinched the No.16 Ferrari too hard, launching his own car into the air slamming back onto the track.
Checo was able to get his car going again and headed back to the pits where a new set of tyres awaited him. Unfortunately, the damage was too much and the driver at his beloved home race was out before lap 2.
This does not help Perez in his current situation with rumours gathering round that his seat at Red Bull is up for sale.
Kevin Magnussen Crash Causes Red Flag
Magnussen was involved in a heavy crash as the drivers right rear suspension appeared to fail when his car rode on the kerb entering turn 8, spinning and throwing the Haas into the Tecpro barrier on lap 34.
A safety car was released initially, however, it was shortly followed by a red flag due to the barrier at turn 8 needed fixing following the massive impact.
Magnussen was able to jump out of the car quickly before a fire began to appear on the back left brake on the badly bruised Haas. Marshalls were able to rush to the scene to take care of the situation.
Lewis Hamilton took the second step on the podium as a result of great strategy. The Mercedes garage still made the race a bit difficult for Hamilton. A pair of medium tyres were attached to the No.44 Mercedes at the red flag restart, as opposed to Verstappen and Leclerc ahead of him on hard tyres.
Hamilton showed initial concern over the radio about the life of his tyres, however, the experienced Brit made them last right until the end.
Leclerc finished the podium positions off in P3. Starting on pole, Leclerc would have hoped the Ferraris could have worked together into turn 1. Unfortunately, Carlos Sainz was not involved in the top three fight into turn 1.
Hamilton and Leclerc had a tussle into shortly after the restart as the Monegasque pushed the 7-time world champion onto the grass, eventually conceding the position on lap 40.
The British driver had plenty of fights today, his first an early battle with Daniel Ricciardo who himself had an excellent drive, finishing P7 just behind the other Mercedes of George Russel.
Amongst the battles during the Mexico GP Race, Lando Norris starting in P17 due to poor qualifying was the clear top performer today. Finishing in P5, Norris charged through the field, being let past his teammate Oscar Piastri because of pace difference.
It was never easy for Norris as the red flag restart dropped him from P10 to P14. Still such a young driver, his drive showed such experience and perseverance.
Piastri finished P8, and was sure not to make a new friend in Yuki Tsunoda. The two squabbled across two laps, with Piastri eventually nudging the Japanese driver into turn 1, spinning him out.
This moved Tsunoda out of a potential points finish to cross the line in P14. It wasn’t a fantastic day for the Alpha Tauri man, outbreaking himself trying to pass Magnussen early in the race, ending up across the grass.
Fernando Alonso definitely had a day to forget, eventually retiring late in the race. His teammate Lance Stroll also retired following an incident with Valterri Bottas, however was allowed past Alonso during the race for pace even though the Canadian had started in the pitlane.
Aston Martin began this season as the only team to get close to Red Bull, yet they are now falling rapidly below the ranks as other teams flourish from their upgrades.
The main issue for all drivers today was cooling. Hamilton was heard early in the race radioing ‘car is running hot.’ On moments where drivers should normally go for a slipstream down the long start/finish straight, most were seen pulling to the right to cool their cars.
The Alfa Romeos ended P14 and P15, an uneventful race for the pair bar that incident between Bottas and Stroll in the late stages of the race.
Williams had a familiar story from other races, Alexander Albon finding small but important points in P9, and Logan Sargeant retiring from the race, not being able to find the true pace of that car.
A reoccurring series of events; Verstappen takes the crown with Ferrari and Mercedes still chasing, trying to get ever closer. Next up, Brazil.
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Mexico GP Race