The Mexican Grand Prix is almost here, so let’s take a look back at last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Max Verstappen claimed another easy victory, while Sergio Perez had to drop out after a big crash on the first lap. His car flew into the air in front of his home crowd. Here’s a recap of what happened in Mexico City last year.
Formula 1 looks very different now compared to 2023. Max Verstappen still leads the driver’s championship, but that’s where the similarities end. McLaren is ahead in the constructors’ standings with 544 points, leading Red Bull by 40 points. Ferrari trails closely, just 8 points behind Red Bull, making it a tight three-way fight for the championship. Seven drivers have won races this season, but Sergio Perez is not one of them, which is sad considering his heartbreak last year.
Race rundown: Verstappen wins, and Perez crashes out
Max Verstappen showed his skills by winning his 16th race of the season, breaking his own record for most wins in a single year. He shared the podium with Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
The race began with excitement as Verstappen quickly moved past Ferraris driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to grab the lead before turn one. However, an early collision between Sergio Perez and Leclerc dashed Mexican fans’ hopes. Perez tried to pass on the outside but hit Leclerc and had to retire due to suspension damage. The home crowd was clearly disappointed as their hero faced a tough day at his favorite race.
Later on lap 34, Kevin Magnussen crashed due to rear suspension failure in sector two, causing a fire that was soon extinguished by marshals. This incident brought out a red flag because of barrier damage. Afterward, drivers got fresh tires for the restart. Despite pressure from Lewis Hamilton, who was fast all weekend, Verstappen kept his lead. Hamilton finished second, showing Mercedes’ growing strength at that time, while Leclerc managed third place despite earlier troubles.
Fans might think it’s interesting how unpredictable Formula 1 can be sometimes!
Norris and Ricciardo impress:
Further back in the field, there was an exciting battle for points. Lando Norris from McLaren made an incredible comeback from 17th place to finish 5th. Daniel Ricciardo returned with AlphaTauri and secured a strong 7th place finish—his best since recovering from a wrist injury at the Dutch Grand Prix.
In summary, Verstappen dominated the Mexican GP again and increased his championship lead. Hamilton’s performance suggested that Mercedes might soon challenge Red Bull more seriously. Sadly for Perez and his fans, he couldn’t achieve the result they hoped for.
This year’s Mexican Grand Prix is set for October 27th. Sergio Perez will aim for better results at his favorite race while top teams continue fighting hard for every point as this thrilling Formula 1 season nears its end.
What do you think will happen this time?