Will Lando clinch his first WDC? Time will tell (F1 Twitter)
The day before this race, I was having a conversation with a friend about Max Verstappen’s championship odds. My friend told me she believed Mexico would take him out of the running, especially after his difficult qualifying session. I respectfully disagreed and shared my beliefs: Max would remain in contention in Mexico (albeit without a P1 finish) and that he would lose his chance in Brazil. Not because I wanted that to happen, but because for a while I’ve had a sinking feeling something will go terribly wrong for him at Interlagos.
Looks like my theory is a step closer to fulfilling itself.
The Dutchman turned his less-than-stellar P5 into a much more impressive P3, weaving his way past George Russell and former rival Lewis Hamilton… and reminding everyone why he’s still the reigning World Champion. Yes, the RB21 is objectively the worst car Red Bull Racing has had in a while. But what it lacks in stability it makes up for in muscle memory and intuition— specifically, Max’s muscle memory and intuition. He’s dragging that pseudo-tractor into results it simply has no business getting, like Nico Hülkenberg’s surprise Silverstone podium times 10. It’s clear he’s scavenging podiums the car doesn’t deserve out of pure instinct, which in and of itself is impressive. But time will tell if this momentum lasts.
A solid P3 from the reigning World Champion (Red Bull Racing Twitter)
Next to Max in P2 was Charles Leclerc, who continues to serve as the grid’s most committed long-form tragedy. The Ferrari Driver clearly has the pace and talent to be the World Champion, but the universe keeps handing him Shakespearean tragedies instead of an actual fighting chance. Every time Charles climbs, the script demands a fall. We’ve seen it happen again and again this season, from the Hungaroring to the Monza Circuit.
This time in Mexico, he snatched P2 with threadbare tires and pure nerve. But even then, there was a sense of “what if?” after the finish line. Even Charles himself considered the podium finish a surprise. And he seemed to accept it with the same resigned posture of someone who’s already seen the writing on the wall.
Smile like the universe hasn’t been personally targeting you, Charles (Ferrari Twitter)
There’s not much to say about the winning driver. Lando Norris maintained a consistent pace throughout the Grand Prix, crossing the finish line at least 30 seconds before Charles. Apparently, it’s the largest winning margin of the season. His race was less a battle and more a coronation march, remaining unchallenged as he usurped teammate Oscar Piastri as the leader of the World Drivers’ Championship. It was bound to happen at some point, considering the controversial radio calls that seem to curry Lando’s favor, but it was just… underwhelming to see in real time.
It’s strange: for all the drama this championship has carried, Lando’s takeover of the standings landed with the emotional backbone of a chocolate eclair. There was no tension, no epic duel, no crescendo to the lead. It was just… a single orange car disappearing into the dust.
An underwhelming promotion to the lead from Lando Norris (F1 Twitter)
What was much more exciting to me, and what I want to end my thoughts on, is the man who almost made it to the podium. Haas driver Ollie Bearman came agonizingly close to becoming the third rookie to score his first podium this season. Sure, he was nine seconds behind Max Verstappen, but Bearman wasn’t exactly dealing with Logan Sargeant-types behind him. The 19-year-old managed to stave off every threat thrown his way.
He started from P9, wound his way up to P6 in the first lap, and then into P4 by lap 6. He was even holding P3 at some points. He crossed the finish line two seconds past the now-former top WDC contender Oscar Piastri. He gave us his personal best, as well as Haas’s best finish in years. And for that, he earned a well-deserved Driver of the Day honor.
I’ve been following Bearman since his sudden F1 debut last year in Saudi Arabia. He was the reserve driver for Ferrari, subbing in for Carlos Sainz when he had to get his appendix removed. And despite the last-minute fill-in, despite being only 18 years old, he managed to finish P7 ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. That performance alone could’ve been his entire legacy. But instead, Saudi was the prologue.
Mexico proved something deeper: Bearman isn’t just “promising.” He’s inevitable. And I can’t wait to see what he does next.
A solid drive from Ollie Bearman. That kid’s going places (Haas Twitter)
Miscellaneous Notes
And now, my other random thoughts and observations that didn’t make it into the main piece:
Is it 2021 all over again? Lewis Hamilton faced a 10-second penalty for leaving the track at Turn 4 and rejoining ahead of Verstappen, with stewards ruling he “gained a lasting advantage.” Hamilton fans seemed to take this well.
Sayonara, George Russell’s WDC chances. The Mercedes driver finished P7. He’s still mathematically in contention for the WDC, but let’s be real, his odds are all but gone.
The VSC that stole our last-lap drama. A late Virtual Safety Car (triggered after a Sainz DNF) neutered Max’s chance to chase Charles. Even the FIA felt compelled to explain it after the flag.
Marshals on track! Yikes! Liam Lawson narrowly missed marshals who were crossing while the race was still hot; not the kind of Mexico City “spice” we asked for.
That’s all for now. I’ll see you in Brazil in two weeks, where we’ll see if my theory is correct.
-F