Max Verstappen, after a disappointing qualifying, still managed to climb onto the podium and now trails Norris by 36 points. Although the Dutch four-time world champion gained four points, the challenge for the title is increasingly complex, with the McLaren duo ahead equally capable of contesting the crown.
Norris was flawless: starting from pole position, he never wavered with a McLaren that proved its technical superiority under extreme heat, with track temperatures exceeding 50°C. Riding a wave of confidence, Norris is reaping the rewards of his preparation and mental strength. Once hesitant at race starts, he now fully trusts his consistency and the remarkable competitiveness of the MCL39. McLaren, which had not won since the Dutch GP, needed this victory to halt Verstappen’s momentum, keeping the Dutchman’s hopes alive for a fifth championship, though the task grows tougher.
Leclerc’s second place was well-earned. Despite having a slower car than the McLaren, he resisted Verstappen’s charge, aided by a timely Virtual Safety Car triggered late in the race for Carlos Sainz’s stranded Williams at Turn 15. Oscar Piastri also suffered from this intervention, as he was preparing to challenge Oliver Bearman’s fourth-place finish in the Haas.
Verstappen’s race began with challenges: he ran wide on the first corner after contact with Leclerc, losing ground and having to contend with Lewis Hamilton, spending more time in the run-off than on track. Despite this, Verstappen remained composed, aware that his medium tires at the start were significantly slower than the softs. He extended his first stint to switch to softs and maintain the one-stop strategy adopted by the podium finishers.
Norris, now victorious on ten different tracks, seems to have claimed the leadership role at McLaren. Oscar Piastri, who overtook George Russell impressively, had a cautious opening phase, appearing to recover mentally from mistakes accumulated since Baku. McLaren’s internal hierarchy is now clearer, allowing team principal Andrea Stella to make decisions effectively when needed.
However, Oscar Piastri is not out of the fight, as a single race point cannot be decisive. Ferrari returns to second in the Constructors’ Championship, narrowly overtaking Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton could have added more points for Ferrari but finished eighth after receiving a ten-second penalty for an intense battle with Verstappen.
Hamilton argued over Leclerc’s poor start, claiming the Monegasque blocked him on the right side. Leclerc, on the inside, had the racing line but chose to cut the escape route, momentarily going ahead of Norris. Leclerc quickly returned the position, though Hamilton complained over team radio about the delay. Despite showing strong pace, the ten-second penalty ruined Hamilton’s chances of a first podium with Ferrari.
Ferrari confirmed its pace, proving that strong qualifying performance was no coincidence. The Mexican GP also showcased Ollie Bearman’s exceptional drive for Haas. The FDA protégé, employing a two-stop strategy, finished an impressive fourth ahead of Oscar Piastri, demonstrating maturity and readiness for a top-tier F1 seat.
Oliver Bearman made no mistakes, fully exploiting the VF-25 upgrade package that performed well at altitude in Austin. Haas scored 14 points, boosted by Esteban Ocon’s ninth place, moving ahead of Sauber into eighth in the Constructors’ standings.
Mercedes saw Kimi Antonelli finish fifth ahead of George Russell. Antonelli, penalized earlier due to a team swap initiated by George Russell, regained his rightful position by the end of the race. However, Ferrari’s consistent results pushed Mercedes down the order.
The top ten was rounded out by Gabriel Bortoleto and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull, with all other drivers lapped. Liam Lawson faced a frightening moment when two marshals crossed dangerously in front of his car before his retirement, but he narrowly avoided a collision.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz struggled throughout the race, accumulating penalties for pit lane speed limiter issues, including a drive-through, compounding a difficult weekend for the Spanish driver.
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