Formula 1: Mexican Grand Prix Highlights and Analysis
The Formula 1 season continued to unfold with thrilling drama during the Mexican Grand Prix, held on October 26, 2025, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. This event marked the 20th race of the 2025 calendar. The race was filled with notable moments, including the return of a Brazilian driver to the top ten, an impressive performance by Oliver Bearman, a last-minute podium finish for Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri once again missing out on a top position.
Race Overview
Lando Norris emerged victorious after starting from pole position and leading the race from start to finish. He crossed the finish line first, followed closely by Charles Leclerc in second place and Max Verstappen taking third. Oliver Bearman, voted Driver of the Day, showcased his talent by moving up from ninth to fourth position, marking his best result in Formula 1.
Norris’s teammate at McLaren, Oscar Piastri, finished in fifth place after starting from ninth. This result marked Piastri’s second consecutive race where he failed to break into the top ranks, losing ground to Verstappen and Norris, the latter of whom now leads the Drivers’ Championship by a slim one-point margin.
Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties during the race, finishing eighth after starting from third. The seven-time champion received a ten-second penalty for cutting a corner while battling Verstappen for third early in the race, which hindered his ability to recover lost positions.
Max Verstappen’s teammate at Oracle Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, ended the race in eleventh place, just shy of the points. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s strong finish helped Scuderia Ferrari secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
The Safety Car Incident
One of the race’s most dramatic moments came during the penultimate lap when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed. This was due to Carlos Sainz spinning off the track and subsequently retiring. Interestingly, this safety period allowed Leclerc to maintain his second position, as Verstappen had been closing in rapidly, having reduced a gap of over 25 seconds in just a few laps. The deployment of the Virtual Safety Car effectively altered the race dynamics, preventing Verstappen from overtaking Leclerc before the end.
It’s worth noting that the time difference between Norris and Leclerc at the finish was more than 30 seconds (30.324 seconds), marking the largest margin between the top two finishers this season.
A Close Call for Liam Lawson
During the event, an alarming incident occurred involving Liam Lawson, who narrowly avoided hitting two track marshals. This occurred at Turn 1 when the marshals entered the track to clear debris after an incident at the start of the race. Lawson, having sustained damage to his front wing and traveling at a reduced speed, managed to dodge the marshals, highlighting the potential dangers that drivers face during races.
Team Performance Analysis
Here’s a breakdown of the performance from other teams that scored points at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, ranked by their best final positions in the race.
Haas F1 Team
The Mexican Grand Prix was undoubtedly the best weekend of the season for the MoneyGram Haas team, as they achieved a double points finish. Oliver Bearman was the star of the show, finishing fourth and impressively holding off the reigning champion, Max Verstappen, on lap six. Esteban Ocon also contributed with a ninth-place finish, helping Haas climb to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas
For the Mercedes-AMG team, the results were less favorable. Their drivers did not place in the top five, with Kimi Antonelli finishing sixth and George Russell right behind in seventh. Notably, during lap 41, Russell requested that Antonelli let him pass to pursue a podium finish, a request that was granted. However, Mercedes struggled to compete with the leaders, settling for a modest points haul.
Stake Kick Sauber
The Stake Kick Sauber team managed to avoid a scoreless outing, thanks to Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto. Starting from 16th on the grid, he climbed six positions to finish in tenth, a commendable performance. In contrast, his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, faced an early retirement on lap 25 due to mechanical issues, which limited his ability to contribute to the team’s points tally.
Teams That Did Not Score Points
Four teams left Mexico without any points: Atlassian Williams Racing, Visa Cash App RB, Aston Martin Aramco, and BWT Alpine. Of these teams, Alpine was the only one to finish the race with both cars, but neither managed to secure a scoring position.
Current Standings
As the season progresses, the current standings in the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship are as follows:
Drivers’ Championship Standings
- Lando Norris (#4, McLaren) – 357 points
- Oscar Piastri (#81, McLaren) – 356 points
- Max Verstappen (#1, Red Bull Racing) – 321 points
- George Russell (#63, Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 258 points
- Charles Leclerc (#16, Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 210 points
- Lewis Hamilton (#44, Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 146 points
- Kimi Antonelli (#12, Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 97 points
- Alex Albon (#23, Atlassian Williams Racing) – 73 points
- Nico Hulkenberg (#27, Stake Kick Sauber) – 41 points
- Isack Hadjar (#6, Visa Cash App RB) – 39 points
Constructors’ Championship Standings
- McLaren – 713 points (CHAMPION)
- Scuderia Ferrari HP – 356 points
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas – 355 points
- Oracle Red Bull Racing – 346 points
- Atlassian Williams Racing – 111 points
- Visa Cash App RB – 72 points
- Aston Martin Aramco – 69 points
- MoneyGram Haas – 62 points
- Kick Sauber – 60 points
- BWT Alpine – 20 points
Upcoming Race
The next event on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar is the São Paulo Grand Prix, scheduled for November 9. As the championship battle intensifies, fans are eagerly awaiting another thrilling race filled with potential surprises and dramatic moments.
In conclusion, the Mexican Grand Prix showcased the excitement and unpredictability that Formula 1 fans have come to love. With close finishes, strategic decisions, and unexpected incidents, the race served as a reminder of why motorsport is so captivating. As the teams prepare for the next race, the competition for points and positions will undoubtedly heat up, making the remainder of the season a must-watch for all racing enthusiasts.
