Verstappen lands record-breaking 14th win of the season in Mexican Grand Prix procession

By Sports Desk October 30, 2022

Max Verstappen powered to a record 14th win of his championship-winning season as the Red Bull driver roared to victory at the Mexican Grand Prix.

The Dutchman matched Formula One's single-season wins record shared by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel when he snatched a 13th success last week in Austin at the United States Grand Prix, and in Mexico City he went one better.

Many in the crowd were willing on Verstappen's Mexican team-mate Sergio Perez, but he had to settle for third place and another podium, a repeat of his result last year at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Perez separated the Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, and George Russell, who took fourth, with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in fifth and sixth.

It was a race that was bereft of drama, and the tone was set from the start. It was clean as pole-sitter Verstappen held off the Mercedes pair, with Hamilton nudging ahead of Russell in the early stages and Perez getting between the Silver Arrows as he climbed to third place.

That was how it finished, of course, and there was little to report of any import between the start and finish.

Hamilton had cast doubt on Mercedes' ability to get a first win of the season, and despite taking second and fourth, they never really looked like rivalling Verstappen for the win.

Three-quarters of the way through the race, Hamilton asked his team whether he was running on the wrong tyres and was told by the Mercedes garage they were confident in their strategy. At the finish, he again cast doubt on team tactics.

He had also pointed to power drop-offs. At that stage, Verstappen led Hamilton by just over 10 seconds, and Mercedes were counting on the Red Bulls needing second pit stops, but that prospect went away.

Russell complained over the team radio that his tyres were "gone" on the 67th lap but was told "his tyres will be more gone than yours" as he looked to close in on third-placed Perez. Little changed as the drivers remained in the same order through to the finish.

A joyful Verstappen said on team radio, after being congratulated for his record drive: "Double podium as well, that's amazing here in Mexico, well done guys."

 

The Max and Lewis show rolls on

Verstappen and Hamilton were first and second, but the gap was 15 seconds by the end of the race and it was barely competitive. What the result means, though, is they have now finished first and second in a race on 33 occasions, extending the record they established in Austin.

Red Bull, meanwhile, have stretched their winning streak to nine races, matching a team-best set in the 2013 season when Sebastian Vettel won the closing nine races of that campaign.


F1? It's a team game

With Verstappen and Red Bull already having the championships wrapped up, others are jostling for places in the drivers' and constructors' standings.

Mercedes entered this race 53 points behind second-placed Ferrari, with only races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to come, and they had a strong day, raising hopes the Silver Arrows could yet finish as runners-up. The gap is now down to 40 points.

Ferrari's Leclerc saw his run of five consecutive podium finishes come to an end in a race where he was rarely a factor up front.

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  • Brazilian Grand Prix: Verstappen dismisses 'annoying and biased' critics Brazilian Grand Prix: Verstappen dismisses 'annoying and biased' critics

    Max Verstappen has dismissed critics of his tussles with Formula One title rival Lando Norris ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

    Verstappen was on the receiving end of two separate 10-second penalties following a pair of incidents with Norris during last weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. 

    He was given one penalty for pushing Norris off at Turn 4, and another for leaving the track and gaining an advantage as he reclaimed track position over his rival.

    The moment came after the title contenders had been involved in another battle in Austin a week prior, which saw Norris handed a 10-second time penalty. 

    Verstappen's racing tactics have come under the spotlight following two incidents in the last two races, but he labelled those critics as "annoying" and "biased".

    "I don't listen to those individuals. I just do my thing," Verstappen told Sky Sports. "I'm a three-time world champion. I think I know what I'm doing.

    "People that are objective and close to me. And not just there to stir.

    "Some people are just being very annoying, and I know who these people are. I don't really pay a lot of attention to them anyway.

    "And I think I've got to this stage of my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions. So, I think I know what I'm doing."

    Verstappen leads the drivers' championship by 47 points over McLaren's Norris, though the upcoming sprint this weekend offers the Briton an opportunity to close the gap.

    But Verstappen could be on the end of another penalty in one of the final four races of the season, after reports of Red Bull giving him a new engine surfaced. 

    Those reports came after the three-time world champion was plagued by issues in Mexico, as he was forced to switch to another engine in his existing pool.

    "I haven't heard anything yet," Verstappen said. "It's not [been] discussed. But I know that I will have to take one at some point, so we'll see."

    With the overtaking opportunities on offer in Brazil, this weekend could be the best opportunity for Verstappen to get back on track.

    He has now gone nine races without a pole position and 10 without a win, his worst streak since the penultimate round in 2020 when he went 17 qualifying rounds without a pole and 11 consecutive races without a victory. 

    Quizzed on whether this circuit, where he won in 2023, could be the ideal chance for him to return to winning form, Verstappen said: "Honestly, it's something that is always unknown.

    "You think that one particular track is the best place to take an engine or whatever penalty, but it's never guaranteed. It's a possibility."

    DRIVERS TO WATCH

    Max Verstappen – Red Bull

    While much of the conversation off the track has been on Verstappen's aggressive driving, he will be hoping to do his talking on the circuit this time around.

    The Dutchman emerged victorious at Interlagos last year. However, the same driver has not won the Brazilian Grand Prix twice in a row since Nico Rosberg did so for Mercedes in 2014 and 2015.

    Verstappen also has the fourth-most points at the circuit (136), behind only Fernando Alonso (139), Sebastian Vettel (154) and Lewis Hamilton (185).

    Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes

    This weekend could be an emotional one for Hamilton, who returns to a track where he made history in 2008.

    Saturday marks 14 years since Hamilton became world champion for the first time in his career, finishing fifth in Sao Paulo after passing Timo Glock on the final lap to snatch the victory away from Ferrari's Felipe Massa. 

    On the anniversary of his first title success, the Briton will also get behind the wheel of Ayrton Senna's title-winning McLaren between races, marking 30 years since the Brazilian's death. 

    The winner in Brazil has started from pole position in eight of the last 10 races, though Hamilton's triumph in 2021, in which he started 10th, and Vettel's second place start in 2017 are the only exceptions.

    Only Michael Schumacher, Carlos Reutemann (both four) and Alain Prost (six) have more wins in Brazil than Hamilton (three, level with Vettel), and he will be looking to cap a memorable weekend with his third victory of the season. 

    CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

    Drivers

    1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 362
    2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 315
    3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 291
    4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 251
    5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 240

    Constructors

    1. McLaren – 566
    2. Ferrari – 537
    3. Red Bull – 512
    4. Mercedes – 366
    5. Aston Martin – 86

  • Norris calls for 'cleaner battle' with Verstappen ahead of Sao Paulo Grand Prix Norris calls for 'cleaner battle' with Verstappen ahead of Sao Paulo Grand Prix

    Lando Norris has called for a “cleaner battle” with title rival Max Verstappen ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday.

    Verstappen received two 10-second penalties for incidents early on in last Sunday's race in Mexico, which was won by Carlos Sainz.

    He was awarded the first penalty for forcing Norris off the track at Turn Four on the 10th lap, while the second was given for leaving the track four corners later.

    It meant the Dutchman finished in sixth position while Norris capitalised to finish second. Now, the McLaren driver wants to see fairer racing from his rival at Red Bull.

    "It's what I said going into Mexico, I want clean, fair racing," Norris told Sky Sports.

    "And that's what I do, that's what I provide and that's how I race. That's how I've always raced in my career. It's not for me to change, it's for the other side to change."

    "I stayed out of trouble and did my job also, which is that. But every weekend is a new weekend. I don't know what to expect this weekend.

    "Obviously, I hope, I expect a cleaner battle than what we had. But it's not up to me. I don't make the rules, I don't decide the penalties, I didn't do it. I just drive. The stewards see the race and they did a good job."

    The result left McLaren in the lead in the Constructor’s Championship, ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull. While in the individual driver standings, Verstappen’s lead was cut to 47 points by Norris.

    The 24-year-old was unfazed by how the nature of the rivalry might impact his personal relationship with Verstappen, however.

    "Some of this is not personal," said Norris when asked if his relationship with Verstappen has changed.

    "He wants to win the championship, I want to win the championship. But the way he can win the championship is a very different way to how I need to win the championship.

    "Whether that changes how we are personally, it probably will a little bit, but this is not my concentration or place for concern at the minute."

    Norris last took the chequered flag in September at the Singapore Grand Prix and has finished on the podium in one of the two races since. Verstappen, meanwhile, has failed to win a race since June when he finished first in Spain.

    It leaves Norris feeling confident he can clinch his maiden title with four races left due to a number of reasons.

    "My team, how we're performing every weekend. I think I'm driving very well, both in qualifying and races,” he explained.

    “I feel like I've done a strong job over the last few months. I've still made mistakes and I've still not been perfect, but there's also times when we shouldn't have won and we shouldn't have had pole position and certain things.

    "We did because I've been doing a good job - which is rare, but the confidence I've had in myself recently has helped me to keep believing.

    "Probably the lack of performance that Red Bull have at the minute - both of them need to go together.”

  • Verstappen cannot turn Norris title fight into 'demolition derby', says Hill Verstappen cannot turn Norris title fight into 'demolition derby', says Hill

    Max Verstappen cannot turn an enthralling end to the Formula 1 season into a "demolition derby". 

    Those were the words of former world champion Damon Hill, who criticised Verstappen for his driving at a controversial Mexican Grand Prix last weekend. 

    The Dutchman received two 10-second penalties for incidents early on in Sunday's race, which was won by Carlos Sainz.

    Reigning champion Verstappen was given one penalty for forcing Lando Norris off the track at Turn Four on the 10th lap, and then another for leaving the track four corners later.

    Subsequently, Verstappen finished in sixth, while McLaren's Norris finished in second, closing the gap to 47 points in the drivers' championship with four races to go. 

    "It can't just be a demolition derby just to keep your place, or deny everyone getting a place just because you don't want to be overtaken," said Hill on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.

    "So there needs to be a way of disciplining the driver.

    "I think Max, if he carries on like that, there will be long-term questions over whether or not it was wise for him to drive like that.

    "He's got so much talent, he's got so much ability. He could always use that skill to defeat his opponents. It shouldn't just be a dodgems race."

    The incidents came a week after the pair's contentious battle in Austin, where Norris lost third place to Verstappen after being penalised for an overtake. 

    Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggested the penalties Verstappen received were "very harsh", using data to back up his claims shortly after the race. 

    Horner also added that Verstappen will "always drive aggressively" within F1's regulations, 

    "There's never any attempt to publicly describe his driver in a way that other people would recognise it," Hill continued.

    "It is always a protective comment from Christian about Max. It almost appears as though Max is free to do whatever he likes.

    "His team will never criticise the way he drives. And I think if you're in a competition, that's probably fine to do that publicly.

    "But really, at some point, there has to be a conversation. It's the responsibility of the team to also contribute to the driver's attitude."

    Verstappen will, however, look to increase his advantage at the summit of the drivers' standings at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, a track he knows well. 

    The 27-year-old won the last race at Interlagos in 2023, though there has not been a winner in two consecutive races at the Brazil circuit since Nico Rosberg in 2014 and 2015.

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