Carlos Sainz clinched his second win in seven months at a thrilling Mexican Grand Prix, which saw Ferrari capitalize on Max Verstappen’s penalty-filled race. Sainz’s race went smoothly from pole to finish, while Verstappen’s aggressive battles with Lando Norris led to two separate 10-second penalties, removing him from contention.
Verstappen started strong, leading into Turn 1, but after a safety car brought out by Yuki Tsunoda’s crash, he found himself vulnerable to Sainz, who swiftly reclaimed the lead. Verstappen’s race then turned chaotic as he clashed twice with Norris, echoing their tense United States GP duel. Verstappen’s dive-bomb maneuver at Turn 6 forced both cars off-track, resulting in two 10-second penalties that dashed his podium hopes.
Sainz pulled clear, controlling the pace as teammate Charles Leclerc initially secured P2, setting Ferrari up for a rare one-two finish. However, Leclerc’s grip failed on Lap 63, allowing Norris to sweep into second, setting up a late but ultimately unsuccessful chase of Sainz. Norris’s pass marked Ferrari’s missed chance for back-to-back one-twos, something they haven’t achieved since 2008.
Elsewhere, local favorite Sergio Perez suffered a five-second penalty for a false start, then collided with Liam Lawson, the driver rumored to replace him at Red Bull. Damage from the clash left Perez fighting at the back, his home race hopes shattered.
Oscar Piastri’s charge from a poor qualifying also faltered, as a long stint on medium tires didn’t pay off, leaving him unable to crack the top positions. Meanwhile, Mercedes’s George Russell endured a damaged front wing and struggled with balance issues, finishing behind the front-runners.
Sainz’s masterful drive and Verstappen’s setbacks reshuffled the podium, proving that in Formula 1, anything can happen when the stakes are high.
