Lando Norris Wins Mexico Grand Prix, Overtakes Piastri in Championship Battle
Lando Norris claimed victory at the Mexico Grand Prix, outpacing his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished fifth, allowing Norris to pull ahead in the closely contested Drivers’ Championship, reports BritPanorama.
The English driver finished a significant 32 seconds ahead of second place, marking McLaren’s first win in Mexico City since 1989. Charles Leclerc took the runner-up position while Max Verstappen, who started fifth, completed the podium.
The race commenced in chaotic fashion, with multiple drivers vying for position as they entered Turn One. Norris managed to defend his inside line amid the fervent skirmish involving Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Verstappen. Piastri encountered early difficulties, running wide and cutting across the track.
As the laps progressed, Hamilton’s race took a turn for the worse when he was issued a 10-second penalty for a clash with Verstappen. The penalty stemmed from officials ruling that Hamilton gained an advantage by exceeding track limits during their encounter, a claim he passionately contested over team radio.
The tension escalated further on lap 15 when Hamilton reacted to the penalty with visible frustration, stating, “That’s such **** man. The grip is so small there, the grip there is so low.” His team, Ferrari, also expressed discontent with the decision.
In a surprise twist, Ollie Bearman drove exceptionally well to secure a fourth-place finish, just shy of Haas’ first-ever podium, and earned the title of Driver of the Day. By the end of the race, Piastri had recovered from a difficult start to secure a fifth-place finish, though he fell to as low as ninth during the competition.
The race concluded with Norris now holding a precarious one-point lead over Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship. Max Verstappen remains 36 points behind Norris as the season heads into its final four races, with the next event scheduled in Brazil, marking a pivotal moment as competitors race toward the championship’s conclusion.
This weekend’s clash and Norris’ triumphant performance are a reminder of the unpredictability of Formula 1, as each race continues to reshape the narrative of the season.
