Mexico success another record equaled by Verstappen

World champion Max Verstappen drew level with Alain Prost on 51 Formula One victories on Sunday when he claimed his record 16th triumph of the season at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Starting from third on the grid, the Red Bull driver stole the lead at the start and then dominated the race, which was punctuated by a lengthy red flag stoppage when Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily in his Haas.

The now three-time’s champion came home 13.875 seconds ahead of a revitalised Lewis Hamilton, who started sixth, with pole-sitter Charles Leclerc taking third place ahead of his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.

Lando Norris finished fifth for McLaren after an enthralling drive through the field from 17th on the grid, ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes.

It was Verstappen’s fifth win in Mexico and his record-equalling 18th podium finish this year while Leclerc, who collided with Sergio Perez’s Red Bull at the first corner, endured his 11th successive failure to convert pole into a victory.

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Perez spun off, recovered and retired, much to the disappointment of his home Mexican fans in a big crowd at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“It is just incredible,” said Verstappen. “To win from P3, is just amazing. I started P3 and the car was really great. It was a very strong race and now I don’t know -– more wins, maybe 17 or 18!”

Hamilton, who was disqualified after finishing second in the United States a week earlier, said: “I feel fresh. I was pushing, but not crazy hard. It is a great result, considering we started sixth. This is a great result for us in a difficult few weeks.”

Leclerc noticed “a lot of booing” from the crowd and explained his part in Perez’s exit.

“I had nowhere to go. I was between the two Red Bulls. Checo damaged my car and it ended his race. It was not on purpose.”

Daniel Ricciardo finished a creditable seventh for Alpha Tauri ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, Williams’ Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon of Alpine.

Over for local hero

Verstappen made a sensational start, powering between the Ferraris to take the inside line after the 800-metre rush from turn one.

Sensing a chance, Perez went three abreast with Verstappen and Leclerc, but clipped the Ferrari’s front wing and bounced off.

To loud groans, he rejoined, limped to the pits and retired, beating his steering wheel in frustration while Leclerc continued with a flapping front wing which soon fell off.

The stewards noted he was driving in an “unsafe condition” and decided to investigate after the race.

“I’ve had some really sad moments in my career,” Perez said.. “And certainly this is the saddest one because of the end result, but at the end of the day it’s just racing.”

“To be honest, I felt that I would have let them down more if I didn’t go for it… I saw the gap and I went for it,” he said. “I decided to take a risk.  I knew it was going to be very risky, and I ended up paying the price.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was sympathetic afterwards. “He had a rocket-ship launch and so much momentum in the first corner that you can’t blame him for going for it and trying to take the lead at his home race.”

Verstappen domination

By lap 20, Verstappen led by 4.6 seconds before pitting for hards, handing the lead to Leclerc.

He rejoined seventh behind Russell and swiftly rose to fifth as his rivals pitted before Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily at Turn Nine to prompt a safety car.

The Dane escaped, apparently unhurt, but his blazing Haas was wrecked, as Verstappen led a charge for cheap pit-stops and retained his lead before the race was red-flagged.

After a 20-minute interlude to clear the debris, the race resumed with a standing start, which Verstappen, on hards, nailed ahead of Leclerc as Hamilton on mediums looked for a gap.

It appeared on lap 40, when he dived inside the Monegasque at turn one in vintage style to take second.

“It’s going to be a tough stint,” said Hamilton, assessing his chances as Verstappen pulled four seconds clear and built a luxurious cushion.

Behind them, several entertaining scraps and a dazzling drive by Norris thrilled the crowd, the McLaren driver charging through the field.

Next race

The championship stays in South America by heading to Brazil this weekend (3-4 Nov) for the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo.

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