MOTORSPORT: Verstappen superior in Mexican F1 Grand Prix

An aggressive move at the first corner decided the result of the Mexican Formula 1 Grand Prix in favour of championship leader Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull racer had only qualified third behind the Mercedes-AMG pair of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, but seized the advantage as he used their powerful slipstream followed by super-late braking to sweep past into the lead.

“It was nice three-wide, and it was all about just trying to brake as late as we can,” Verstappen said of his pivotal move.

From there, it was only a question of defending from the front as Verstappen scored his ninth win of the season and his 18th in total.

“I went to third to first and that was basically what made my race because then I could just focus on myself. There was incredible pace in the car so I could just do my own thing,” said Verstappen.

“It was quite straightforward today, which was really nice.”

Predictably, Hamilton hung onto second spot as hometown hero Sergio Perez raced up to third in front of a heaving crowd in Mexico City.

“Their car was so superior this weekend that there wasn’t really anything we could do about it. I am just happy to have second,” said Hamilton.

Bottas was the biggest loser, as he was tagged by Daniel Ricciardo in the first-turn melee and could only trail home in 15th.

“For a few seconds it looked awesome and then it looked pretty un-awesome. The first lap incident was about as painful as they get because your race is pretty much over from the start,” said Ricciardo.

“I was in a tricky position because I know that if I didn’t go for it, someone else would have.”

Ricciardo only managed 12th after stopping for a new nosecone, although Bottas did get the bonus point for fastest lap.

“It wasn’t easy to find a clear space on track but in the end we were able to make it stick and at least take that point away from Red Bull,” said Bottas.

Hamilton had no answer to Verstappen and admitted it.

“That car was faster than we were this weekend and there’s nothing we could really do about it. I gave it absolutely everything and obviously a great fight with Sergio at the end but I’m grateful I could still at least get a second-place finish,” he said.

One of the happiest drivers in Mexico was Pierre Gasly, who produced another giant-killing drive to finish fourth for AlphaTauri.

“Finishing ahead of Ferrari always feels good,” said Gasly.

Added Charles Leclerc, who followed Gasly home in fifth: “His pace was quite a surprise today.”

Despite the convincing win, in a car which now appears to have a slight advantage over Mercedes-AMG, the title race is too close to call.

With only four races to run in season 2021, Verstappen’s margin is still just the equivalent of a second-placed finish.

“For Lewis’ championship it was damage limitation. That is the pace we have seen,” said Mercedes-AMG team boss Toto Wolff.

“You have to take it on the chin. I hope we can break the pattern. We are going to give it all we have.”

The next race is in Brazil, which was once to have been followed by a postponed – and eventually cancelled – Australian Grand Prix.

Then the pressure builds through the final Middle Eastern sweep through new races in Qatar and Saudi Arabia before the grand final in Abu Dhabi on December 12.

“Now we need to get our heads down and keep working hard to prepare for the next races. They will be coming at us fast over the next two weekends,” said Hamilton, who has clearly not given up hope of a record eighth world title.

2021 Mexican Grand Prix results:

2021 Formula 1 driver standings: