Verstappen second in Drivers’Championship after Mexican Grand Prix victory
After locking-up during his final lap during Saturday’s qualifying sessions, Verstappen qualified in fourth place for Sunday’s race at the high-altitude Mexico City circuit. He was then dropped down to fifth courtesy of a one- place grid penalty handed down to him and Visa Cash APP Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson after a collision during Friday practice.
Knowing he needed a good start on a circuit with limited passing opportunities, Verstappen got a brilliant jump as the lights went out in Mexico, jumping up to second place in the opening few corners as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton went off track battling for the lead.
Leclerc held the lead over Verstappen until both drivers pitted and the Ferrari driver served a five-second penalty for his first lap tangle with Hamilton, allowing Verstappen to take the lead for the first time. From there, the Dutchman controlled the race and perfectly, despite the race being red flagged on Lap 46 after damage to the safety barriers, the risk of a full standing restart and a late Safety Car period.
He crossed the line just +0.799s ahead of Hamilton to secure his third win of the season, achieved in the space of only four races, while third place was enough make Antonelli the youngest ever F1 world champion.
The title is out of reach, but courtesy of his win there was more to cheer for Verstappen, who moved up to second place in the Drivers’ Championship by two points ahead of Hamilton. It was a tough race for Isack Hadjar in the second RB22, who was shunted into a spin on the opening lap by Mercedes driver George Russell and could only recover to 12th place despite pushing hard.
There was another points-scoring driver for Liam Lawson and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls with the New Zealander coming home in ninth position, but Arvid Lindblad left Mexico with a disappointing DNF after being hit byMcLaren’s Oscar Piastri late in the Grand Prix.