Carlos Sainz has clinched victory in the Mexican Grand Prix, securing his second win of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The Ferrari driver converted his pole position into a dominant performance, despite briefly losing the lead to Max Verstappen on the first lap.
Sainz quickly reclaimed the top spot and maintained control throughout the race.
His triumph underscores Ferrari's strong showing, with the Italian team demonstrating impressive pace on the Mexican circuit.
The win marks a significant achievement for Sainz and Ferrari, as they continue to assert themselves as serious contenders in the championship battle.
Their performance in Mexico City has propelled the team past Red Bull into second place in the constructors' standings.
Carlos Sainz earned victory at the Mexican Grand Prix
Reuters
The battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen took centre stage early in the race. Verstappen's aggressive driving led to two separate incidents, pushing Norris off the track and causing both drivers to go wide.
Norris branded Verstappen's actions as "dangerous". The stewards agreed, handing the three-time world champion two 10-second time penalties.
"That is fine, then," Verstappen responded sarcastically when informed of the punishment.
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The penalties significantly impacted Verstappen's race, dropping him down the order after serving them during a pit stop.
He ultimately finished in sixth place, losing ground to Norris in the drivers' championship.
The clash between the title rivals echoed their heated battle from the previous week in Austin, where Norris had been penalised.
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Lando Norris capitalised on the chaos to secure a crucial second-place finish. The McLaren driver mounted a late-race charge, closing in on Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.
With just nine laps remaining, Leclerc nearly threw away his podium position. The Monegasque driver suffered a massive wobble exiting the final corner, narrowly avoiding the barriers in a heart-stopping moment.
Norris seized the opportunity, sweeping past Leclerc to claim the runner-up spot. This result marks a significant boost for Norris in his quest for the world championship.
The British driver's performance in Mexico City has allowed him to cut into Verstappen's lead in the drivers' standings.
The race is heating up between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen
Reuters
With four Grands Prix and two sprint races remaining in the 2024 season, the title battle has intensified.
The Mexican Grand Prix proved to be a disappointing day for Red Bull. Verstappen's sixth-place finish saw him lose ground to Norris in the drivers' championship battle.
Sergio Perez, racing on home soil, endured a particularly challenging weekend. Starting from 18th on the grid, he immediately incurred a five-second penalty for starting too far forward.
The Mexican driver's struggles continued as he battled with potential replacement Lawson, suffering damage and finishing well outside the points in 17th place.
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Max Verstappen was handed two 10-second penalties for his early antics
Reuters
Ferrari's strong performance not only secured them the race win but also propelled them past Red Bull into second place in the constructors' standings.
With just four Grands Prix and two sprint races remaining in the 2024 season, the championship fight has intensified across both drivers' and constructors' standings.
