Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after successful the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix auto race on the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City, on October 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Max Verstappen cut up the Ferrari entrance row of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the beginning to grab the lead of the Formula One Mexico City Grand Prix by the primary nook, then drove off to his record 16th victory of the season.
Red Bull’s three-time season champion collected his third consecutive win on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday and broke his personal season victories record set final yr.
Verstappen began from third and received from the identical spot as he did in 2021. Back then, he used the slingshot impact of the draft down the lengthy beginning straight to whip to the skin and move two automobiles. This time, Verstappen’s fast bolt off the beginning line allowed him to squeeze between the 2 Ferraris and into the lead.
He nonetheless had work to do. A tough crash by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen on the midway level pressured the race right into a halt and a restart. Verstappen nailed that one as nicely and was by no means threatened for the checkered flag.
The Dutch driver’s 51st profession win tied Alain Prost for fourth most in F1 historical past. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads with 103.
Hamilton completed second Sunday. Leclerc was third.
Leclerc had began on pole place for the second consecutive race however once more failed to show it right into a win. In 22 profession begins from pole, Leclerc has received simply 4 occasions.
Home favourite Sergio Perez’s race was over shortly. The Mexican driver, who’s combating to hold on to second within the championship behind Verstappen, was taken out within the first nook when his automobile clipped tires with Leclerc and bounced excessive into the air.
The crackup silenced the huge crowd that had greeted Perez with thunderous cheers on each lap all weekend. Much of the gang left after the crash. Most critically, it allowed Hamilton to shut a 39-point hole to Perez to simply 20 with three races left.
Perez hasn’t received since April and hasn’t been on the rostrum within the final 5 races.
