Norris Dominates at Altitude to Lead the Championship
The final stretch of the season proved to be eventful, with the Mexican Grand Prix standing out as one of the most distinctive rounds. Due to the thin air at high altitude, Formula 1 cars suffered from reduced downforce and engine performance, forcing engineers to find unconventional solutions a challenge that affected teams differently.
The surface of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was dusty and slippery at the start of the weekend but gradually improved as rubber built up. Three different drivers topped the practice sessions: Leclerc, Verstappen, and Norris. In qualifying, Lando once again demonstrated his pace, outpacing the Ferrari drivers. Carlos Sainz, however, received a grid penalty for a collision in Austin and dropped several places at the start.
The front row was occupied by Norris and Leclerc, followed by Hamilton, Russell, and Verstappen, while Piastri started only seventh.
Pirelli brought an experimental tyre selection C2, C4, and C5 though the hardest compound proved ill-suited to the Mexican circuit. Drivers opted for varying strategies, starting on Hard, Medium, or Soft tyres.
Ultimately, Lando Norris claimed a confident victory at the Mexican Grand Prix, securing his tenth career win and sixth of the season, which allowed him to take the lead in the drivers’ standings by just one point over Piastri. Charles Leclerc finished second, earning his 50th career podium, while Max Verstappen completed the top three.
Oliver Bearman achieved a career-best result with fourth place, matching Haas’s best finish since Romain Grosjean’s performance in Austria in 2018. In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari moved ahead of Mercedes, while Haas climbed to eighth, overtaking Sauber.
Next up is the Brazilian Grand Prix, where the fight for the championship will continue.
