Defending champion Max Verstappen finished sixth in the Red Bull after two penalties, Norris came second in the McLaren and shortened the gap in the Formula 1 rankings. Carlos Sainz triumphs at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The international press writes:
Daily Mail: “Max Verstappen crossed the thin white line of his genius in a chaotic, bitter and potentially dangerous Mexico City Grand Prix in which he single-handedly lost his championship lead over Lando Norris. And suddenly the title fight is back in full swing.”
“The Sun”: “Max Verstappen was given a whopping 20-second penalty after a fierce duel with title rival Lando Norris. The stewards’ huge penalty at Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix came the weekend that Norris, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and other drivers called on the FIA to tighten rules because of Verstappen’s “unfair” driving style.”
“Mirror”: “A week after their bitter on-track battle at the US Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have resumed their feud in Mexico.”
“Guardian”: “Verstappen can only really blame himself for letting his rival catch up again. The two could have had a long battle for at least the podium, considering how fast the Ferraris were. However, the points difference could have been minimized if Verstappen had not insisted on being completely unyielding in both defense and attack.”
“Tuttosport”: “Sainz manages a spectacular overtaking maneuver and drives away from Verstappen. Ferrari towers over Red Bull. Verstappen is suffering from the pressure of Ferrari’s increasing competition and is looking for a collision. So he becomes a problem for himself and for his rivals.”
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “King Carlos: Sainz conquers the race in Mexico with a masterpiece. Ferrari can now hope for the constructors’ title. Sainz wins at the end of a race full of passion. He managed to make his fifth-to-last weekend as a Ferrari driver the best performance of his career.”
“La Repubblica”: “Ferrari’s comeback at the end of the season is not just a dream. Maranello towers over Red Bull.”
“Corriere dello Sport”: “Sainz takes the race into his hands and controls it at will. It’s a pure joy to see a Ferrari driver driving like that. We are saddened to think that he will soon be leaving the Maranello team.”
“Marca”: “These 20 second penalties are a real boost for the World Cup.”
“Sport”: “Lando Norris, second, made up for his disappointment in Austin, where a penalty for “taking advantage off the track” in his battle with Verstappen had pushed him off the podium in favor of the Dutchman. This time the fight between the two was repeated, with Max coming off worst with a double 20-second penalty.”
“As”: “The FIA now wants to put out the fire.”
“Kronen-Zeitung”: “Tough fight for the World Cup crown in Formula 1: In the early stages of the Mexico race, Red Bull star Max Verstappen and McLaren driver Lando Norris touched each other. The latter was beside himself, and a little later Verstappen received a double penalty.”
“Salzburger Nachrichten”: “After the much-discussed duel between the three-time world champion and Norris the previous week in Austin, the next direct meeting between the World Cup rivals took place in the early stages of the Mexican Grand Prix. This time, however, Verstappen went overboard and pushed the 24-year-old Brit off the track twice. Leclerc was the laughing third and overtook both drivers.”
“Today”: “Escalation with announcement: World champion Max Verstappen dangerously overstepped his bounds in the heated Formula 1 World Championship duel and received a self-inflicted lesson for his excessively hard driving style.”
“De Telegraaf”: “Now the limit for the race management was full. Max Verstappen is severely punished for his duels with Lando Norris. Just like a week ago in Austin, it’s hardly about the Ferrari victory, but rather about the World Cup duel. This time the Briton delivers a blow to the defending champion.”
“AD”: “The Mexican Grand Prix not only gave Max Verstappen a mediocre result, but also damaged his reputation. His driving style was again heavily criticized in the final phase of the season. He himself shrugs his shoulders.”
“Blick”: “’That guy is dangerous’. Verstappen loses his nerve in the duel with Norris.”
“Tagesanzeiger”: “The duel between Verstappen and Norris is escalating. The Dutchman performs wild maneuvers against World Cup opponent Lando Norris and is punished severely. This Sunday it is as if Max Verstappen had switched to aggression mode. As if he were worried about the world title for the first time in a long time. He also has a challenger, Lando Norris in the McLaren.”
“Le Parisien”: “A week after his frowned upon but not punished maneuver against Lando Norris in the USA, Max Verstappen struck again. Surprisingly, however, the race management was far less lenient with the three-time world champion, who often tends to push the limits of the regulations without being bothered by the FIA.
“El Universal”: “This Sunday was without a doubt not Red Bull’s day.”
