Lando Norris produced a faultless drive at the Mexico City Grand Prix to claim a commanding victory and seize the championship lead for the first time since April. The McLaren driver led from lights to flag at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, finishing 30 seconds clear of the field to secure his sixth win of the 2025 season.
Team-mate Oscar Piastri fought back from seventh on the grid to finish fifth, ensuring McLaren maintained control of the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, moving to within 36 points of the lead with four rounds remaining.
Norris in Complete Control
Starting from pole position, Norris executed the long run to Turn 1 perfectly, defending his line against Leclerc and Hamilton as chaos unfolded behind. From there, the Briton managed the race superbly, steadily pulling away lap by lap. By mid-distance, his advantage exceeded 20 seconds, and by the chequered flag, he had extended it to 30, one of the most dominant wins of the season.
“It was one of those days where everything just clicked,” Norris said. “We had the pace, the strategy was perfect, and the car felt incredible from start to finish.”
The result marks Norris’ third victory in the last five races and continues a remarkable comeback since his retirement at Zandvoort in August. With Piastri’s early-season lead now erased, Norris heads to Brazil one point ahead of his team-mate.
Verstappen at the Heart of the Action
Verstappen’s race was anything but straightforward. Starting fourth, he launched aggressively around the outside into Turn 1 but was forced wide over the grass after going three-wide with the Ferraris. Rejoining in fourth, he soon became embroiled in a fierce scrap with Lewis Hamilton.
The pair made contact several times through the opening laps, with Hamilton later handed a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Opportunistically, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman swept past both to snatch fourth and would later hold that position to the flag.
Running an alternate tyre strategy on mediums, Verstappen came alive in the second stint, charging past Hamilton, Antonelli, Russell, and Piastri before closing in rapidly on Leclerc for second. However, a late virtual safety car to recover Carlos Sainz’s stranded Williams denied him a final-lap attack.
Piastri Limits the Damage
Piastri endured another challenging weekend after qualifying only eighth. A solid start kept him in contention, and he grew stronger as the race unfolded, battling through the Mercedes pair before passing George Russell with a bold move into Turn 1. Despite lacking the pace of Norris or Verstappen, his fifth-place finish limited the damage in the standings and ensured McLaren retained their lead in both championships.
Bearman Shines for Haas
Oliver Bearman delivered a standout performance to take a sensational fourth place, the best result of his Formula 1 career. The British rookie kept a cool head amid the chaos, executing a clean race and fending off pressure from both Mercedes drivers. His result also marked Haas’ strongest finish since 2022, earning widespread praise up and down the paddock.
Analysis: A New Leader in the Title Race
Norris’ dominant performance in Mexico has completely flipped the dynamic of the 2025 title fight. Just five races ago, Piastri led by 34 points — now Norris holds a one-point advantage, with Verstappen looming large just 36 points back. McLaren remains the team to beat, but Red Bull’s pace resurgence and Verstappen’s consistency mean the championship remains wide open.
What’s Next?
Formula 1 heads to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix from 7–9 November, another sprint weekend that could prove decisive in the closing stages of the season. With only four rounds left, every point will count as Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen continue their fight for the 2025 world championship. Do you want to be part of one of the most exciting endings of a F1-season? Get your tickets for the Abu Dhabi F1 race now!
