Lando Norris celebrated a remarkable lights-to-flag victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, propelling him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings by a narrow margin of just one point. The McLaren driver showcased exceptional skill and strategy, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in a thrilling race filled with intense action.
The race commenced with a frenetic start, where Norris executed a strong launch, battling four cars for the lead into the first corner. Despite the chaos, he maintained his position and quickly established an unassailable lead, ultimately crossing the finish line a staggering 30.324 seconds ahead of the competition.
In a gripping finale, Verstappen attempted to close the gap on Leclerc for second place. However, the Ferrari driver held his ground, finishing just 0.725 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who had to settle for third. Meanwhile, Ollie Bearman delivered an impressive performance, securing a career-best fourth place while fending off pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who finished fifth.
Piastri's fifth-place finish means he relinquishes the championship lead to his teammate, Norris, by a mere point. In the Mercedes camp, Kimi Antonelli finished sixth, followed closely by George Russell in seventh. Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in eighth after receiving a 10-second time penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track during a close battle with Verstappen.
Other notable finishers included Esteban Ocon in ninth and Gabriel Bortoleto from Kick Sauber, who rounded out the top ten. Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull took 11th place, followed by Alex Albon from Williams, and Lance Stroll in his Aston Martin. The two Alpines, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, finished 15th and 16th respectively.
From the outset, the race was marked by excitement and unpredictability. Norris's pole position on Saturday set the stage for a dramatic Sunday, as his title rivals, Verstappen and Piastri, started from fifth and seventh, respectively. With the warm and dry conditions making for an exhilarating race, it was no surprise that over half the drivers opted for the C5 soft compound tires at the start.
As the race unfolded, the initial chaos at Turn 1 saw multiple cars vying for the lead, with Norris managing to emerge as the leader. The early laps were pivotal, with Norris quickly extending his lead to nearly three seconds over Leclerc, who was followed closely by Hamilton and Bearman.
Throughout the race, the strategies employed by the teams played a crucial role. Norris's lead allowed McLaren to execute a flawless pit stop strategy, ensuring he retained his position at the front even after the tire changes. Meanwhile, the Mercedes drivers faced challenges as they struggled to maintain pace amidst fierce competition.
As the race approached its conclusion, the tension heightened, particularly with Verstappen closing in on Leclerc. However, Norris remained unfazed, ultimately claiming his tenth career victory. In a post-race interview, Norris expressed his satisfaction with the performance, stating, “I could just keep my eyes focused and just focus on what I was doing. A pretty straightforward race for me which is just what I was after.”
Looking ahead, the Formula 1 circus will next travel to Interlagos for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of November 7-9. Fans can visit the RACE HUB to catch all the action and updates as the season continues to unfold.
