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A race that featured intense beginnings and chaotic penalties saw Lando Norris deliver an exceptional performance to win the 2025 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, propelling him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career. The McLaren driver’s consistent leadership from pole position to the finish line was more than a declaration of purpose; it marked a significant change in a championship battle that has captivated the F1 community all season.

Beneath the bright lights of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Norris managed to hold off a determined Charles Leclerc to finish 30.324 seconds ahead, with Max Verstappen securing third place on the podium. The 71-lap race took place in dry and warm conditions, with an air temperature of 26°C and a track surface reaching 52°C, which supported a one-stop strategy for the front-runners, but turmoil in the mid-field transformed what seemed like a straightforward race into a tense battle for those fighting for position.

A beginning straight from a thriller

The race kicked off with a burst of excitement at Turn 1, as four cars became involved in a chaotic struggle for control. Norris, who started from pole following a remarkable qualifying lap, managed to resist Leclerc’s aggressive attempt, while Verstappen, starting fifth, pushed through the field, briefly veering onto the grass before regaining his position to finish third. Lewis Hamilton, who began in third place with Ferrari, remained composed to take second place at the start, but the changing dynamics caused Oscar Piastri to drop from seventh to ninth during the chaos.

Verstappen’s bold maneuver on Hamilton at Turn 1 led to a stewards’ review, but no additional action was taken, allowing the Red Bull driver to continue without issues. By the end of Lap 1, the positions had settled: Norris at the front, followed by Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, and George Russell, while young talent Oliver Bearman demonstrated his skill by seizing fourth place during Verstappen’s wide moment.

Midway race chaos and remarkable displays

As the leaders found their rhythm, the real action unfolded further behind. Piastri, McLaren teammate and championship competitor to Norris, steadily moved forward, passing Yuki Tsunoda on the straight and later beating Isack Hadjar for eighth place. His late charge saw him catch up to Russell for fifth with only 10 laps left, highlighting McLaren’s better performance with newer tires.

Bearman, the 20-year-old driver from Haas, took center stage in the mid-field, managing to resist Piastri’s attempts to overtake, ultimately achieving his best career position of fourth and earning 12 crucial points for his team. “It’s incredible,” Bearman remarked after the race, his voice filled with emotion. The young British driver’s outstanding defensive performance not only showcased Haas’s growing progress but also revealed weaknesses in McLaren’s tactics as Piastri struggled to break through.

Initially, Norris was untouchable, handling his tires with exacting care to create a commanding lead. “What a race,” Norris said over the radio. “I could just keep my eyes on the road. It was a pretty simple race for me, which is exactly what I wanted.” Behind him, Leclerc drove a Ferrari that had moments of brilliance but didn’t have the necessary speed to compete, while Verstappen’s third-place finish, despite starting from the less favorable side of the track, kept him in the championship fight, though he was 36 points behind.

Penalties and pitfalls

No F1 race is truly complete without some controversy, and Mexico provided plenty. Hamilton, aiming for a podium in his last full season with Ferrari, received a 10-second time penalty for exiting the track at Turn 4 and gaining an advantage through the escape road. The penalty was applied during his pit stop, dropping him to 14th place. However, he fought back strongly to finish eighth and earn four points, which remained disappointing following his earlier clash with Verstappen.

Carlos Sainz’s afternoon turned into a major disaster. Having already been penalized five positions on the grid due to a previous infringement at the U.S. GP, the Williams driver received an additional five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, then a drive-through penalty for committing the same mistake again. He eventually came to a stop in the stadium section on Lap 67, causing a virtual safety car period that grouped the field together but prevented any issues for the leading drivers.

Numerous retirements appeared on the results sheet: Fernando Alonso’s brake failure during Lap 34, Nico Hülkenberg’s power unit issues on Lap 25, and Liam Lawson’s early withdrawal following damage on Lap 5 contributed to the count.

Norris edges ahead

Norris’s victory, his fourth this season, elevated him to 357 points, narrowly overtaking Piastri by just a single point to claim the championship lead. The Australian’s fifth-place result has kept the internal competition intense, as McLaren now leads the Constructors’ Championship with 713 points, maintaining a significant 357-point advantage over Ferrari.Updated Drivers’ Standings following the Mexico GP

Verstappen, who is currently in third place overall, expressed his frustration but stayed determined, saying, “We need to gain more speed, but third is better than nothing.” With four races remaining, including intense battles in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, the championship race is still very much up in the air.

Homage in the center of Mexico

As confetti fell at the famous Foro Sol stadium, Norris’s victory felt symbolic, not only because of its impact on the championship but also due to the intense energy of the Mexican audience that transformed the track into a boiling pot of enthusiasm. Bearman’s impressive performance and Antonelli’s strong sixth place with Mercedes suggested the emergence of a new era, while seasoned drivers like Hamilton and Alonso reflected on missed opportunities amid the festivities.

Norris, always the performer, celebrated his win by honoring the fans: “Mexico, you are amazing. This one is for you.” As F1 heads towards its conclusion, one thing is evident: the championship title has a new favorite, and the excitement is far from finished.