Verstappen’s two clashes with Norris price him two factors, closing the drivers’ hole to 47 factors with 4 races to go within the Formual One season.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took an emotional win within the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix after Pink Bull’s System One chief Max Verstappen was twice penalised for clashes with title rival Lando Norris and completed sixth.
McLaren’s Norris, who known as Verstappen ‘harmful’ throughout Sunday’s race, completed second to slash the triple world champion’s total benefit from 57 factors to 47 with 4 rounds remaining.
Charles Leclerc, caught and handed by Norris with 9 laps to go to disclaim Ferrari a second successive one-two, was third and took a bonus level for quickest lap.
The win was a primary for Ferrari in Mexico since 1990 and fourth of Sainz’s profession.
“I actually needed to win this one. I wanted it for myself. I mentioned I needed yet another win for Ferrari and to do it right here with this mega crowd is unimaginable,” mentioned the Spaniard, who’s leaving for Williams on the finish of the season.
Verstappen, who pitted from third place to serve two 10-second penalties on lap 27, needed to combat again from fifteenth after beginning on the entrance row with Sainz on pole place.
The Dutch driver had received 5 of the final six races in Mexico, together with the final three editions, however has no longer received for 10 races in a row.
Nonetheless the clear title favorite, he sounded unconcerned and unrepentant.
“The most important drawback that I’ve is that at this time was a nasty day when it comes to race tempo,” mentioned Verstappen.
Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and George Russell completed fourth and fifth respectively after a full of life battle within the closing levels.
Haas had one other good weekend with Kevin Magnussen seventh and Nico Hulkenberg ninth, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri sandwiched between in eighth.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took the ultimate level, transferring the Renault-owned crew nearer to seventh-placed Williams.
McLaren stayed prime of the constructors’ standings, however solely 29 away from Ferrari.
Verstappen had seized the lead from Sainz down the lengthy opening straight however his benefit didn’t final lengthy as soon as the security automobile got here in on lap six, with the Spaniard taking again the lead three laps later with the assistance of drag discount (DRS).
Sainz completed 4.705 seconds away from Norris, with Leclerc 34.387 behind his teammate after a late cease for recent tyres to set the quickest lap.
5 races to go. 47 factors in it. #F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/k0v2rTEcS2
— System 1 (@F1) October 28, 2024
‘This man is harmful’
Verstappen was once more the speak of the afternoon, with stewards taking a tough line towards him for forcing Norris off the monitor after a controversial earlier weekend in Texas the place it paid off.
In Mexico as in Austin, it was the battle with Norris that offered the sparks.
“I used to be forward the entire means by the nook,” mentioned Norris over the crew radio after being pressured off at flip 4 on lap 10.
“This man is harmful. It’s the identical as final time. I’ll be within the wall in a minute.”
They clashed once more at flip seven on the identical lap and Verstappen was dominated to have gained a bonus by leaving the monitor.
“I respect Max as a driver however I used to be able to anticipate one thing like this and this isn’t very clear driving for my part,” Norris mentioned later.
