Race Notes - Sainz wins Mexican Grand Prix

By Mark Karp

Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari, started on pole, and won the Mexican Grand Prix, in Mexico City, winning over Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes, by 4.705 seconds in second place. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari finished in third place, 34.387 seconds behind the winner.

In the early race Norris battled to pass Max Verstappen who pushed the McLaren off track, and wound up being penalized 20 seconds.

It is the second race in a row that Ferrari took the win, and is Sainz’s fourth career victory. It is Ferrari’s third win in Mexico, following Clay Regazzoni in 1970, and Alain Prost in 1990.

Leclerc took his 41st career podium finish. Norris took his 25 podium finish.

Lewis Hamilton (44.780s) in the Mercedes GP took fourth, followed by his team mate George Russell (48.536s) in fifth, Max Verstappen (59.558s) in the Red Bull-Honda finished sixth, Kevin Magnussen in the Haas-Ferrari was seventh, Oscar Piastri (1m04.928s) in the second McLaren was eighth, Nico Hulkenberg (1 lap) in the second Haas was ninth, and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine-Renault took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start Sainz in the Ferrari sits on pole with Verstappen alongside on the front row, Norris and Leclerc on row 2, Russell and Hamilton on row 3, Magnussen and Gasly on row 4, and Albon and Hulkenberg rounding out the top ten. Quite often the driver who has started third on the grid has taken the win. Piastri in 17th and Perez in 18th. Ocon starts from the pit lane. Alonso starting his 400 GP start is in 13th place.

The top eleven start on medium tyres, Liam Lawson, Valtteri Bottas, Franco Colapinto, Sergio Perez and Zhou on hard tyres. A one-stop strategy is expected.

On a circuit with the longest straight down to turn one, at the scheduled time the grid cleared, and the drivers took to the formation lap, and lined up for the start. The lights went out, and Sainz gets off in pole, but Verstappen takes the lead on the inside of turn 1, Sainz cuts the corner, and then gives the lead back to Verstappen. Alex Albon touches Yuki Tsunoda and the Japanese driver goes off at turn one, and hits the wall. The safety car is out. Albon stops at the side of the track.

Behind the safety car Verstappen leads Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Gasly and Lawson in tenth. Perez in 13th, Piastri in 17th.

Perez is being investigated for a jumped start. He is given a 5-second penalty.

Leclerc tells the team that his drinks bottle is spitting water.

On lap 7 the race resumes with Verstappen at the front with Sainz an Norris following.

On lap 7 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m21.442s.

Verstappen leads Sainz by just over one second.

On lap 8 Sainz sets fastest lap at 1m21 284s.

On lap 9 into the first corner, Sainz passes Verstappen to retake the lead.

On lap 10 Norris tries to pass Verstappen, the two battle, Verstappen pushes Norris wide, and Leclerc gets through to second place.

Norris complains that he was ahead through the corner, and that Verstappen is going to cause a crash The stewards note the incident.

On lap 12 Perez passes Stroll for 11th.

Leclerc sets fastest at 1m21.262s.

Ocon passes Bottas for 18th place.

On lap 14 Verstappen is handed a 10-second penalty for forcing Norris off track.

Russell is battling Hamilton for fifth place and makes the pass.

At lap 15 Sainz leads Leclerc by 1.6 seconds, followed by Verstappen (3.9s), Norris (5.4s), Russell (9.9s), Hamilton (11.1s), Magnussen (11.9s), Hulkenberg (14.3s), Gasly (15.6s), and Lawson (17.1s) in tenth.

Alonso pits and retires.

On lap 18 Perez battles Lawson and the two bang wheels, the next lap Stroll attempts to pass Perez and gets pushed off track.

Verstappen is handed a second 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in the Norris incident. He will now need to take 20-seconds on the pit stop.

On lap 21 Piastri passes Colapinto for 12th place.

Norris is closing on Verstappen in third.

On lap 24 Piastri passes Lance Stroll for 11th.

At lap 25 Sainz leads Leclerc by 4.3 seconds, followed by Verstappen (9.3s), Norris (10.4s), Russell (18.0s), Hamilton (21.0s), Magnussen (26.7s), Hulkenberg (30.9s), Gasly (34.4s), and Lawson (36.1s) in tenth place.

Verstappen tells the team that his tyres are not holding up.

On lap 27 Verstappen pits, and is held for 20-seconds for his penalty, changes to hard tyres and rejoins 15th.

Ocon passes Zhou for 13th.

On lap 29 Hamilton pits for hard tyres and rejoins tenth.

On lap 30 Hulkenberg pits from sixth for hard tyres and rejoins 14th.

The next lap Norris pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins

Magnussen pits for hard tyres and rejoins13th.

Verstappen sets fastest lap at 1m21.252s.

On lap 32 Leclerc pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins still second

Russell pits as well.

Hamilton sets fastest lap at 1m20.371s.

On lap 33 Sainz pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins still at the front.

Russell passes Lawson for fourth. Piastri is complaining on being caught in traffic.

Piastri passes Lawson for fifth, Hamilton passes for sixth.

One lap 35 Hamilton passes Piastri for fifth place.

At lap 35 Sainz leads Leclerc by 8.5s, followed by Norris (12.8s), Russell (26.4s), Hamilton (29.9s), Piastri (32.7s), Lawson (36.2s), Verstappen (37.1s), Colapinto (40.1s), and Magnussen (42.3s) in tenth.

On lap 38 Verstappen passes Lawson for seventh.

Colapinto complains to the team that something is wrong with the steering.

On lap 40 Piastri pits and rejoins 13th, Lawson pits and rejoins 17th.

Verstappen tells the team the sky is getting dark, the team says no rain is expected.

Piastri passes Ocon for 12th.

Some drivers are reporting drops of rain.

Hulkenberg passes Colapinto for eighth.

At lap 45 Sainz lead Leclerc by 6.4 seconds, followed by Norris (11.3s), Russell (29.8s), Hamilton (32.6s), Verstappen (41.0s), Magnussen (49.1s), Hulkenberg (53.4s),

Colapinto (57.0s), and Piastri (60.5s)

On lap 45 Norris sets fast lap at 1m20.370s, and again the next lap at 1m20.221s.

Hamilton has closed to two second behind Russell in fourth.

On lap 48 Colapinto pits from ninth and rejoins 15th.

Ocon pits. Bottas pits.

On lap 51 Colapinto sets fast lap at 1m20.090s in 13th place.

On lap 57 Piastri passes Hulkenberg for eighth.

Norris has closed to one second behind Leclerc.

At lap 60 Sainz leads Leclerc by 7.7 seconds, followed by Norris (1.0s), Russell (37.6s), Hamilton (38.2s), Verstappen (49.3s), Magnussen (56.5s), Piastri (1m03.1s), Hulkenberg (1.m08.6s), and Gasly (1 lap) in tenth.

On lap 60 Russell and Hamilton are starting to battle over fourth place. Hamilton continues to be on the tail of his team mate.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m20.045s, and is 0.6 behind Leclerc in second.

On lap 63 on the final corner Leclerc goes wide and Norris comes though to take second.

On lap 63 Norris sets fast lap at 1m19.858s, and chases Sainz in the lead, 7.7 seconds behind.

On lap 65 Hamilton continues to fight his team mate.

On lap 66 Hamilton passes Russell for fourth place into the first corner.

On lap 67 Lawson and Colapinto battle for 12th and touch, but continue.

On lao 68 Norris sets fast lap at 1m19.691s and trails Sainz by 5.6 seconds.

Lawson sets fast lap at 1m19.502s in 17th place. Leclerc pits to try for fast lap, taking on soft tyres. Perez is told to come in for soft tyres.

Sainz crosses the checkered flag to win the Mexican GP ahead of Norris and Leclerc.

Leclerc takes fast lap on the last lap at 1m18.336s.

Colapinto was given a 10-second penalty for his collision with Lawson.