Ferrari’s Sainz Wins Mexico Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Verstappen Handed Penalties
MEXICO CITY: Carlos Sainz cruised to an emotional victory for Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in Sunday’s incident-filled Mexico City Grand Prix as Red Bull’s series leader Max Verstappen was handed two 10-second penalties on his way to sixth.
Aggressive Driving
The stewards took a dim view of Verstappen’s aggressive driving, the Red Bull driver twice forcing his title rival Norris off the track.
McLaren’s Lando Norris Slows Verstappen
Norris grabbed second from Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari near the finish as the Briton enjoyed a major boost in his quest to deny Verstappen a fourth consecutive world championship.
Sainz Secures Ferrari’s First Win in Mexico Since 1990
Sainz is ensuring he leaves Ferrari with his head held high as he switches next season to Williams to make way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Gracias Mexico!
"It is incredible to see this crowd. I have felt their support all week and it gave me a lot of strength – I said I wanted one more win with Ferrari and to do it here with this mega-crowd is incredible," Sainz exclaimed.
Ferrari’s Fourth Win of the Season
It was Ferrari’s first victory in Mexico since Alain Prost triumphed in 1990 – enabling them to move ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship – and Sainz’s second win of the season and fourth of his career.
Hamilton Finishes Fourth, Magnussen Seventh
Hamilton finished fourth ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, while Kevin Magnussen finished behind Verstappen in seventh to deliver Haas’s best result in Mexico.
Red-Flagged Start
The race began in a festive atmosphere with Verstappen winning the start from pole-sitter Sainz to lead the run to the first corner where RB’s Yuki Tsunoda crashed out after making contact in the midfield squeeze.
Stewards Take Action
The stewards noted Verstappen’s aggressive driving and issued him with two 10-second penalties, one for forcing Norris off the track and another for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Conclusion
Sainz’s victory marks a rare win for Ferrari in the 2024 season, as the Spanish driver secures a memorable triumph in his final race with the team. The Ferrari’s first win in Mexico since 1990, Sainz’s victory also enables the team to move ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
FAQs
Q: What was the result of the Mexico City Grand Prix?
A: Carlos Sainz won the race, with Lando Norris finishing second and Max Verstappen sixth after receiving two 10-second penalties.
Q: Why did Verstappen receive penalties?
A: Verstappen was penalized for aggressive driving, forcing Norris off the track twice and leaving the track to gain an advantage.
Q: How does the Mexican Grand Prix result affect the world championship?
A: The result cuts the gap to Verstappen’s championship lead to 47 points with four race weekends remaining.