Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen continued his dominant streak by clinching victory at the 2023 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix. This triumph marked Verstappen’s 16th win of the season, setting a new F1 record. Notably, Verstappen had previously held the record for the most wins in a season with 15, which he achieved in the previous year. Moreover, this season, he also established a record for the highest number of consecutive wins, an extraordinary feat as he secured 10 successive victories earlier in the year.
The race, which took place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, witnessed an intense battle for the top positions. Starting from pole, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was joined by his teammate Carlos Sainz at the front of the grid. However, it was Verstappen who capitalized on the slipstream effect, strategically maneuvering to surpass the Ferrari drivers and claim the lead by the first corner. Unfortunately, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez’s race ended abruptly when he crashed out on the opening lap. In contrast, McLaren’s Lando Norris showcased exceptional talent, seamlessly progressing from 17th on the grid to a commendable fifth-place finish. Additionally, Daniel Ricciardo of AlphaTauri exhibited a notable performance, securing seventh place in only his second race since recovering from a wrist injury that had previously caused him to miss multiple races.
While Verstappen built a comfortable lead, his tires started to deteriorate on lap 19. Consequently, he made a pit stop and re-entered the race in seventh place, trailing behind Mercedes’ George Russell. Equipped with fresh tires, Verstappen swiftly overtook his competitors, ultimately reclaiming the lead on lap 31 after Leclerc’s decision to pit. However, the competition encountered a major disruption as Haas driver Kevin Magnussen suffered a suspension failure, crashing forcefully into the barriers at Turn 8. The occurrence led to a safety car deployment, prompting Verstappen to make another pit stop. Soon after, the race was red-flagged due to debris on the track and the damaged barriers. Twenty minutes later, it resumed with a standing start, with Verstappen quickly accelerating ahead while Leclerc struggled to defend his position from Lewis Hamilton. On lap 40, Hamilton was successful in overtaking Leclerc, securing second place, which he maintained until the end of the race.
Following the intense race, Verstappen further extended his unbeatable lead in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship, accumulating a remarkable 491 points. Perez held onto second place with 240 points, while Hamilton secured third with 220 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull, having already clinched the championship title for the year, showcased their dominance with 731 points. Mercedes followed in second place with 371 points, and Ferrari claimed third with 349 points.
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Looking ahead, the Brazilian Grand Prix is the next race on the Formula 1 calendar, set to take place this weekend. The event promises to be another thrilling showdown between the drivers and teams as they continue their quest for victory.
