As we approach the final stretch of what has been a gruelling season, the stage was set for yet another showdown at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the 19th round of the championship.
With Max Verstappen continuing to assert his dominance, it’s evident that he’s operating in a league of his own. However, under the scorching Mexican sun, more than one team found themselves struggling to keep pace. And amidst the fervent cheers of the home crowd, a hometown hero felt the weight of expectation bearing down upon him.
Curious to know who’s shining and who’s sweating? Let’s dive in.
Top of the class:
Max Verstappen – Qualifying: 3rd | Race: 1st
It seems even the mighty Verstappen can have an off day. A couple of blunders during Saturday’s qualifying session meant he missed out on his usual pole position spot. But did anyone really panic? Of course not.
Facing just the Ferraris ahead of him on the grid, it was almost like the race was gift-wrapped for him. And surprise, surprise, he wasted no time in making short work of them, just as he half-jokingly predicted post-qualifying. Once he took the lead, it was smooth sailing from there, even with a pesky red flag thrown in to mix things up.
Verstappen’s dominance knows no bounds, and he’s practically set up camp at the top of the class – and who can blame him? With the winning streak he’s on, he’s practically in a league of his own. His latest conquest in Mexico City marks his 16th win in 2023, setting a new single-season record Oh, and did I mention it’s his fifth victory in Mexico? Which means the track is tying Austria’s Red Bull Ring for being his favourite hunting ground.
Lewis Hamilton – Qualifying: 6th | Race: 2nd (+FL)
After a bit of a stumble in Qatar with that opening lap blunder, the past two races have seen Hamilton back in top form, and Mexico was no exception. This was classic Hamilton, folks, and most definitely one of his strongest performances of the year.
Starting from sixth on the grid, the British driver put on a masterclass, slicing his way through the pack to snatch a brilliant second-place finish.
And let’s not forget the cherry on top – he clocked the fastest lap on the final lap of the race. And that on used tyres! The extra point he gained is a handy little boost in his quest for second place in the drivers’ championship. It might have seemed like a long shot before, but with performances like this, it’s well within his reach now.
Meanwhile, George Russell had a less satisfying day out on track. Reversing from a position of attacking Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at the start of that stint to struggling to fend off Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri over the final two laps. Highlighting the difference some experience under your belt can make.
The honourable mention of the day goes to Daniel Ricciardo. The Honey Badger truly showcased his prowess throughout every practice session, after which he pulled off a stellar qualifying performance to secure a brilliant fourth on the grid. This surpassed Perez in the big sister team, which really was just the icing on the cake. Just the reference he needs, in case the Bulls are ever in dire need of a replacement.
During the race, he brought home a decent haul of points in seventh place – a commendable result that could have been even better if not for the rest of the pack catching up with him when the race was neutralized with a red flag. Ricciardo’s remarkable performance saw him spend more laps inside the top five in Mexico than the team managed in all other races combined this year. Definitely deserving of kudos, especially considering his recent return from sick leave due to his broken wrist. Additionally, seventh place marks AlphaTauri’s best result of the season, propelling them off the bottom of the constructors’ championship and levelling them with Alfa Romeo.
The Struggle Bus:
Sergio Pérez – Qualifying: 5th | Race: DNF
Checo had a tough outing in his home Grand Prix, landing himself a seat on the struggle bus once again. Getting out-qualified by Ricciardo from the sister team was certainly not the vibe for the Mexican crowd.
On race day, Perez’s ambitious move to go around the outside of two cars didn’t pay off, mirroring Hamilton’s unsuccessful attempt in Qatar. The pressure to excel at his home race seemed to fuel Perez’s risky start, resulting in a broken Red Bull and a loss of 19 crucial points in the championship battle with Lewis Hamilton.
With his second retirement in four races, Perez’s recent point tally leaves much to be desired, especially when compared to Fernando Alonso’s performance in a less competitive car.
Haas
Kevin Magnussen – Qualifying: 17th| Race: DNF
Nico Hülkenberg – Qualifying: 12th | Race: 13th
Haas brought their biggest-ever upgrade to Austin, but unfortunately, it hasn’t translated into much beyond some impressive one-off qualifying performances.
Nico Hüllkenberg showed promise of snatching a point with a determined drive on his 200th Grand Prix weekend. However, his 37-lap stint on the mediums proved too much, and he eventually faded to 13th place, hampered by his team’s strategy.
Historically, Mexico has been a challenging race for Haas, with points scored only once in 2017 by Kevin Magnussen. So, leaving the weekend empty-handed may have been inevitable regardless.
Meanwhile, Magnussen had an even worse day than his German teammate, experiencing a suspected left-rear suspension failure through Turn 8, leaving him stranded in Turn 9.
Thankfully, the Dane emerged from the incident unharmed and was given the all-clear from the medical centre.
With just one point scored in the last 14 events. It begs the question: Can it be considered a downward spiral if the team was already at rock bottom to begin with?
The dishonourable mention of the day goes to Alfa Romeo, who showed promising signs during practice, especially with Valtteri Bottas. Making it into Q3 with both cars seemed like a solid achievement. However, qualifying is one thing, but scoring points is another. Unfortunately, their race performance didn’t live up to expectations. Bottas’s race was marred by a lacklustre start and a late clash with Lance Stroll, resulting in a 5-second penalty and a forgettable 13th-place finish. Zhou faced his own challenges, struggling with grip after the restart following a red flag, ultimately forced to settle for 14th place at the chequered flag.
Only three races left to this monster of a season and the questions loom large. Can Perez bounce back and secure that coveted 2nd place in the drivers’ championship? Will Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, thwart his efforts? And what about Verstappen? Will he be rounding out the season with yet more notches on his belt?
All eyes turn to Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil, for the next time lights will be going out on November 5th. This will also be the final Sprint Race of the season so you’ll get some action on Saturday as well!