The Mexico City Grand Prix dealt a major blow to Max Verstappen’s championship hopes. The three-time world champion could only manage third place at the finish line, admitting afterward that such a result is not enough to keep his title dream alive. Arriving in Mexico with a 40-point deficit to Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman reduced the gap slightly to 36, but he lost further ground to the new championship leader, Lando Norris, who enjoyed a dominant weekend from start to finish.
“I lost ten points to Lando, and that’s not how you win a world championship,” said a disappointed Max Verstappen after the race. “I said before that we needed a perfect weekend to stay in the fight, but this wasn’t it.”
Red Bull, which appeared to have regained its competitiveness following the success in Austin, once again struggled to find the right balance in Mexico. Max Verstappen never seemed to have the race pace needed to challenge Lando Norris, who controlled proceedings comfortably from the opening laps to the chequered flag. “It’s going to be tough, but we have to stay focused. We can’t afford any more weekends like this,” added the Dutch champion, fully aware of how crucial this stage of the season is.
Meanwhile, inside the McLaren garage, Lando Norris celebrated taking over the lead in the drivers’ standings from teammate Oscar Piastri, confirming his impressive run of form. Despite his growing advantage, the British driver kept his tone humble: “Every weekend is different. I’m just trying to stay consistent and keep my focus.”
With four races still remaining on the calendar, the championship fight remains wide open. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continue to battle for supremacy within McLaren, while Max Verstappen faces the urgent task of rediscovering the speed that defined his past dominance. Yet, the general feeling in the paddock is that the reigning world champion may be slowly slipping out of contention for this year’s title.
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