F1 / Mexican Grand Prix – Verstappen won and broke another record

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For him it was the fourteenth record win in a year, breaking the historical records of the Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Briton Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes finished second, while Mexican native Sergio Pérez in Red Bull finished third.

Verstappen has already taken his 34th career win and fourth in Mexico. He has already secured his second world title in advance at the VC of Japan, he already has an unattainable advantage at the top of the standings. Even before the race, the overall winner of the Constructors’ Cup, which is Verstappen’s Red Bull team, was certain. With third place, Pérez moved ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) to the current 2nd place in the drivers’ overall standings.

Verstappen made an impressive start, did not have pole position removed and immediately created an advantage. The start of the race was without collisions and dramatic moments. From the elite positions, the start did not go well for the second Russell, immediately overtaken by Pérez and shortly after by Hamilton. The order in front of Verstappen – Hamilton – Pérez – Russell did not change until the change, initiated by the home rider Pérez on lap 24.

It took him 5 seconds to change the tires, he got back on track behind both Ferrari cars, which until then had been behind the elite four. Verstappen got medium hard tires on lap 26. After the other teams passed, the Red Bull and Mercedes drivers lined up again on the podium in the original order.

Verstappen maintained a sufficient lead, which was at the level of 10 seconds on lap 50. On lap 51 the first collision occurs, in which Ricciardo leaves no room for Cunoda and makes him go off the track due to contact with the wheels.

The Japanese went to change the front wing and tires, but ultimately did not continue the race after the engine died. On lap 65 the race ended for Alonso, who was chasing points, but a technical problem forced him to retire. Even the end of the race did not bring dramatic moments and Verstappen did not let his record win take away.

Two more events remain before the end of the 2022 season. Next is November 13 in Brazil, with the season culminating on November 20 in Abu Dhabi.

Votes (source: Sport 2):

Max Verstappen, winner: “It turned out that the start was very important. We also had a different strategy, but in the end we chose the winning one. We like it here, we like to come back here because the atmosphere is always great. We are having an incredible year, but we want more “.

Lewis Hamilton, 2nd place: “Red Bull were faster today. Now it makes no sense to think about which of the possible strategies would lead us to a better position.”

Sergio Pérez, 3rd place: “I gave it my all, but we made a slower pit stop and that slowed me down. The overtaking was very difficult and that’s why it proved essential to overtake Russell after the start.”