McLaren’s Lando Norris put on a clinic at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, storming to victory after a weekend where nothing seemed guaranteed not the weather, not the tire strategies, and certainly not the championship lead. In a race that saw wild battles through the midfield and heartbreak for several frontrunners, Norris kept his cool, finishing an incredible 30 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Oliver Bearman was the revelation of Sunday. The Haas rookie fended off repeated attacks from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, sealing fourth and matching his team’s best-ever result. Mercedes’ new ace Kimi Antonelli, just 18, showed muscle against George Russell as the Silver Arrows settled for sixth and seventh in a race with late swaps, bold defensive moves, and more than a hint of frustration over the team radio.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari campaign hit another snag, earning him a 10-second penalty for track limits that left him eighth. Behind the leaders, Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the points. Four cars retired, with Sainz, Alonso, Hulkenberg, and Lawson all suffering mechanical trouble or damage in the capital’s thin air.
The high-altitude circuit forced teams to gamble on cooling and grip, with tire management front and center as rivals fell away in the final sector. Sector one’s monster straight delivered dicey starts and late-braking drama, while sector two’s twisty confines demanded precision just as tire temperatures peaked. As Esteban Ocon explained, “Confidence in braking here separates the elite from the pack.” Mess up a marker, and the track bites back.
With the win, Norris snatched the championship lead from teammate Piastri, who couldn’t get his McLaren past Bearman in the closing laps—a setback that may shape the next four rounds. Verstappen, ever the hunter, remains in striking distance, 36 points adrift and ramping up the heat as F1 barrels toward season’s end.
The Mexico City GP was more than just a battle for points it was a showcase for the sport’s new front-runners, technical daring, and the kind of ruthless execution that leaves everyone guessing what’s next.
