VERSTAPPEN MAKES F1 HISTORY
MAX VERSTAPPEN started on pole with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton breathing down his neck, though the locals were praying for a Sergio Perez victory from fourth place
Max Verstappen won his cagey tactical battle with Lewis Hamilton to win the Mexican Grand Prix and break more Formula 1 records.
The Red Bull racer started on pole after getting the better of the two Mercedes drivers in qualifying. There was much talk about the start and suggestions that Hamilton and George Russell might be well placed to take the lead into the first corner, but that never happened.
Instead, a tense tactical battle began with both teams opting for different tyre strategies. Mercedes had been very quick all weekend and Hamilton will have been dreaming of finally breaking his duck this season, but it wasn’t to be as Verstappen instead took the chequered flag to break F1 records for most race wins and points won in a single season.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez produced one of the best atmospheres of the season, thanks to the locals who put on a real show in Mexico City. But the race itself was a largely dull affair, with few overtakes and no major incidents of note.
Verstappen enjoyed a supreme start off the line, rubbishing concerns that those behind him might catch him on the long run to the first corner. But it was less good for Russell, who started second but slipped down to fourth behind Hamilton and Sergio Perez – much to the delight of the Mexican crowd.
Everyone got away safely and the first 15 laps were surprisingly clean on a slippery surface in Mexico City. But the stewards got involved for the first time around that point, slapping Pierre Gasly with a five-second time penalty for pushing Lance Stroll off the road while attempting an overtake.
But while there wasn’t much obvious action, the tactical battle was unfolding at the front of the pack. Verstappen, on his soft tyres, was unable to pull away from Hamilton on his more durable mediums, and came into the pits after 25 laps to cede the lead of the race to the Brit.
A massive roar was heard from the grandstands – but it wasn’t for the Mercedes driver. Further back, Perez had successfully moved past Charles Leclerc to send the locals potty. But even though they desired it so, it was becoming more and more clear that the Mexican was not going to complete a fairytale victory in his homeland.
Hamilton pitted slightly earlier than expected and came out on the hard compound, clearly planning on getting to the end of the race with one pit stop. Verstappen would have to make two, but he was pulling clear of the Brit and was hoping to give himself enough of a gap so he could pit without losing the lead later in the race.
Perhaps aware that they might struggle to pull that far ahead, Red Bull decided instead to ask Verstappen and Perez to nurse their tyres in the hope they might be able to make them last long enough to reach the end of the race - keeping them competitive for almost 50 laps looked a tall order.
The first retirement happened on lap 51 of 71, when Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda made contact. The latter suffered damaged after his car rode up on the wheel and slammed into the floor and was forced to end his race earlier than planned. Ricciardo was given a 10-second time penalty for causing the collision.