The Winners and Losers of the Mexico City Grand Prix
Lando Norris delivered a statement drive at this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix, converting pole position to victory. The Brit drove a calm and quick race with a commanding margin of over 30 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Charles Leclerc. This win not only proved to be a standout performance, but also edged Norris into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix back in April. Additionally, from the media and commentators' point of view, it seems that the momentum of this championship has shifted in Norris’s direction after this captivating win in Mexico. The McLaren driver now holds a one-point lead over his rival and teammate Oscar Piastri. With just four grands prix to go, two sprint races, and 116 overall points up for grabs, the battle between Norris, Piastri, and Max Verstappen is set to go down to the wire.
Loser: Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton entered the race with high hopes of a podium position. During Qualifying, he showed great pace, achieving a starting position of third, behind pole sitter Lando Norris and teammate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton began the race strong, running in third position when an aggressive Verstappen attacked from behind on Lap Six. Both drivers ended up going off track. Hamilton drove onto the escape road to maintain his position, but he was given a 10-second penalty by the stewards for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He served his penalty on Lap 24 and rejoined the race in 14th position, rendering him virtually uncompetitive for the rest of the race. The Ferrari man ended up finishing eighth, only scoring four points. The penalty early in the race took him out of contention and left what should have been a top result turning into a disappointment.
Winner: Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman quietly produced arguably the best performance of his young Formula 1 career during the race. The Haas rookie scored a career-best fourth-place finish, which also ties as the best ever result achieved by his team. Additionally, he was voted the Salesforce Driver of the Day with 41.34 percent of the vote. Bearman's haul of 12 points in this outing marked a great achievement for both him and his team. He benefitted from a late Virtual Safety Car, which halted the hunt of his championship-contending opponent, Oscar Piastri, giving Bearman the breathing space to hold off pressure. In short: a breakout weekend.
Loser: Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, has to be considered a loser in this context, even though a 5th-place finish is superficially respectable. He started the weekend as the World Drivers Championship leader, but his drive fell short of what was needed. Piastri was starting the race in a fairly tricky spot at eighth, and despite being able to recover three positions to end in fifth, his race was not enough to maintain his advantage. In fact, the late Virtual Safety Car possibly prevented Piastri from overtaking Bearman for 4th, costing crucial points and handing the momentum to Norris. His form over recent races showed signs of decline, and this latest result only amplifies questions about whether he can sustain a title campaign.
