Formula One 2021 Mexican Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins in Mexico

Formula One 2021 Mexican Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins in Mexico

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cruised to victory in the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix as the Dutch driver extended his lead by 19 points in the world drivers championship. 

How the race unfolded

Hamilton and Bottas led into the first corner, but by the time the pack arrived into turn one Verstappen was the late-breaker to get out in front on the exit of the first corner. However, Bottas was tagged by the trailing McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo and spun around into the entry of turn two.

Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, Haas’ Mick Schumacher both retired from the race after the carnage. As a result, the Mercedes’ safety car was deployed on the first lap.

The safety car ventured back into the pit lane at the end of lap four and Verstappen bolted on the exit of the stadium section. Despite the long run down from turn 17 to turn one, Hamilton wasn’t close enough to make a move on Verstappen, at the restart.

A reminder of how the boys line-up for the #F1ESTA

It's an all Black Arrows front row in Mexico. ?? pic.twitter.com/HxIt9RPm03

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 7, 2021

As the race ventured into its 10th lap, Hamilton lost time on Verstappen – who was three seconds ahead of the seven-time world champion.

Both Ricciardo and Bottas remained at the back of the field, in 17th and 18th respectively, after they both pitted for the hard compound tyres on lap one – when the safety car was deployed. The two drivers were reportedly losing five-seconds a lap to the leaders (Verstappen and Hamilton).

Nearly half the grid pitted for their mandatory stop starting from Haas’ Nikita Mazepin in 18th to Ricciardo in 11th. However, the top 10 were yet to pit on lap 29. This meant both Williams, Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had pitted.

Hamilton finally pitted on lap 30 to swap his medium compounds for the hard, white stripped, tyres. However, the Briton was stuck behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc into the first corner chicane. But, the Monegasque pitted a lap later.

Verstappen made his first stop on lap 34 to change from the mediums to the hard tyres and remained seven seconds ahead of his championship rival.

LAP 42/71

It's a disaster of a stop for Valtteri Bottas, who returns to the track in P15 ☹️

It just hasn't been his day at all ?#MexicoGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/k7o44zWDiv

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2021

While the top three remained the same; Verstappen (P1), Hamilton (P2) and Sergio Perez (P3), Ferrari’s dream for third in the constructors looked more promising. On lap 43, Charles Leclerc sat in P5 with, teammate, Carlos Sainz in P6 – after both stops. While Ricciardo had recovered to P12 and McLaren’s Lando Norris remained the only driver for the Woking outfit in the points (P7).

Verstappen may have checked out in the lead of the race, with a 17-second lead over second-placed Hamilton. Perez put Hamilton under immense pressure on lap 62 to steal P2, and vital championship points, from the defending world champion.

Bottas popped back into the pits to change his medium tyres for the quicker, soft compound tyres on lap 66 of 71, to steal the fastest lap point away from Verstappen.

Despite Perez’s best efforts, he wasn’t able to steal P2 away from the clutches of Hamilton as Verstappen won the race. But, he still became the first Mexican to lead a lap and get on the podium in Mexico City. However, Bottas was able to obtain the fastest lap – but didn’t get the point as he finished outside the points, in P15.

Podium:

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

Max Verstappen wins in Mexico! ??

And extends his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to 19 points #MexicoGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/W5j8KZCsJj

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2021

We hope you enjoyed the article: Formula One 2021 Mexican Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins in Mexico! What did you think of the race? Let us know in the comments!

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