Sainz secures emotional victory at Mexico City GP as penalties set back Verstappen
MEXICO CITY: Carlos Sainz delivered a heartfelt victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, marking Ferrari’s first win in Mexico since 1990 and the fourth of his Formula 1 career. Sainz’s triumph came amid a dramatic race that saw Red Bull’s championship leader, Max Verstappen, penalized twice after two incidents with McLaren’s Lando Norris, resulting in a sixth-place finish for the Dutch driver.
Norris, who finished second, didn’t hold back on his assessment of Verstappen’s actions, labeling him “dangerous” during the race. Norris’s podium finish reduced Verstappen’s lead in the championship standings from 57 to 47 points, adding intensity to the title race with four rounds remaining.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also made headlines, finishing third and capturing a bonus point for the fastest lap. He was overtaken by Norris with just nine laps remaining, denying Ferrari a one-two finish.
Sainz, who will be departing Ferrari for Williams at season’s end, was clearly moved by the win, saying, “I really wanted to win this one. I needed it for myself. I said I wanted one more win for Ferrari, and to do it here with this mega crowd is incredible.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, faced two 10-second penalties and pitted from third on lap 27, ultimately battling back from 15th to finish sixth. Despite the setback, Verstappen, who hasn’t won in 10 races, remains the title favorite, downplaying the incidents and expressing confidence in his race pace going forward.
