Max Verstappen (Red Bull) insatiable! The three-time world champion won the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday, breaking his record for the number of wins in a season.
The Dutchman, who defeated Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Monegasque Charles Ferrari (Ferrari), won his 16th victory in 19 races in 2023 and improved his previous mark from last season.
Verstappen also celebrated the 51st success of his career, making him one of the most victorious drivers in Formula 1 history along with Frenchman Alain Prost in fourth place. He also got closer to the third, the German Sebastian Vettel (53 wins). However, he is still a long way from the 103 victories of Hamilton, who is still active, and the 91 of the German Michael Schumacher.
“We are having an incredible season. We only started third, but today the pace in the race was very, very good. “The next goal will be the 17th victory this year,” said the Red Bull driver.
On Sunday, the Dutchman, who started third, took control from the first corner of the race and then mastered the action perfectly, including a second start on the grid after a red flag following a violent exit from the track. Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), whose car suffered a broken left rear suspension.
Hamilton, who had not scored a single point in the last two GPs after going off track in Qatar last weekend and being disqualified in the USA, did the right thing on the day by finishing second.
“This is a great result because I started from sixth position. The last two Grands Prix were difficult, so I would like to say big congratulations to the team for getting back on their feet,” emphasized the Brit.
Pérez big loser
The seven-time world champion has taken 18 points from Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), who is still 20 points ahead of him in the race for second place in the championship. The local hero’s race lasted just a few seconds on Sunday when he collided with Leclerc in the first corner and had to retire, much to the dismay of his tens of thousands of fans.
“I took a risk, unfortunately it didn’t work out. I’m very sad that my Grand Prix ended like this. It’s the worst thing that could have happened to me. I was in front of Charles (Leclerc), I didn’t expect him to brake so late because he had little room to maneuver…” Pérez said on Canal+.
Leclerc, starting from pole position for the fourth time this season, was unable to resist the elusive Verstappen at the first corner and still managed a new podium finish despite the collision with Pérez that damaged his front wing.
“I had nowhere to go, I was stuck between the two Red Bulls and unfortunately I hit Checo and my car was damaged. “I’m sorry that his race ended like this,” said the Monegasque after whistles from the audience.
Carlos Sainz finished fourth in the second Ferrari, ahead of the whirling Brit Lando Norris (McLaren), who made a great comeback from 17th to 5th.
His compatriot George Russell (Mercedes) took sixth place, ahead of two Australians, the brave Daniel Ricciardo, who drove a great race behind the wheel of his AlphaTauri, and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
Aston Martin, which has been in trouble for several weeks, experienced another nightmare on Sunday with the retirement of the Spaniard Fernando Alonso and the Canadian Lance Stroll, who was hit at the end of the race by the Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa-Romeo), his 25-year-old Anniversary.
The Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) took tenth place one last time after a botched start, just ahead of his teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly.