Image: from Angelina X @__angeliinaa__
By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Lando Norris claimed victory in the 2025 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday (October 26), making it his 10th career win and his sixth of the season. The McLaren driver now leads the World Championship by just one point, with 357 points, overtaking his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who finished in fifth place. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari took second place, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull completed the podium in third.
Norris Claims Leadership in Championship Battle
Norris’s triumph marked a pivotal moment in the championship fight, as he now leads the standings by a narrow margin of just one point over Piastri, who sits on 356. The two McLaren teammates have dominated the season, with Norris edging closer to his first-ever Formula 1 World Championship. The race in Mexico proved to be a tense battle, with Verstappen, Leclerc, and Hamilton all in contention, but Norris’s pace was too strong to deny.
Verstappen was looking to challenge Leclerc for second place on the final lap, but a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period in the closing moments of the race helped Leclerc maintain his position. Carlos Sainz, already penalized for pit lane speeding violations, faced more troubles with his Williams and was forced to retire in the Foro Sol section.
Oscar Piastri, who was in a battle with Oliver Bearman for fourth place, was also held up by the VSC, which prevented him from advancing higher up the order. However, it was a spectacular race for Bearman, who finished in fourth, ahead of Piastri.
The Fight for Points
The battle for points continued to intensify as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell of Mercedes attempted to break into the top five, but both were stuck behind Bearman’s Haas. Despite efforts to challenge for positions, Antonelli and Russell finished in sixth and seventh, respectively, with Lewis Hamilton’s race taking a dramatic turn.
Hamilton, who had a strong start, jumping to second place after Leclerc made a mistake and ran wide, found himself embroiled in a battle with Verstappen. However, after a few tense moments, Hamilton ran wide and received a 10-second penalty, dropping him to eighth place at the end of the race.
Esteban Ocon finished in ninth, while Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10. The Brazilian rookie put on an impressive display, overtaking Isack Hadjar, his main rival in the Formula 2 championship, with a well-executed move in the final laps. Bortoleto’s points finish was significant, as it marked his first-ever points in Formula 1, bringing his total to 19 points in his debut season.
The Early Chaos
The start of the race at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit was chaotic, as Norris launched well off the line, while Leclerc struggled with poor traction, allowing Hamilton to attack. Verstappen, who started on medium tires, attempted an outside move but ended up running off the track. Leclerc, who had fallen behind Hamilton, also ran wide but managed to recover and came out ahead of his teammate.
Verstappen briefly returned the favor, taking second position from Leclerc and Hamilton, but Norris was already over a second clear by the end of the first lap. The race stewards investigated the incidents but decided no further action was needed.
On the opening lap, Bortoleto made up three positions, moving into 13th place, while his Sauber teammate, Nico Hülkenberg, lost five places and dropped to 18th before retiring with a technical issue.
Strategy and Pit Stops
As the race progressed, Norris continued to extend his lead. By lap 18, Norris had a 7.4-second lead over Leclerc, who was under pressure from Hamilton in third. Verstappen, who was still yet to stop for tires, trailed the top three by two seconds. Piastri, who had been running in sixth, pitted on lap 25 but was able to rejoin ahead of Hamilton, executing a successful undercut.
Bortoleto, who had started on medium tires, continued to impress by staying out longer than many of his competitors. By lap 34, Norris completed his pit stop and returned to the track in the lead, seven seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Mercedes’ strategy also played a key role in the race, with Russell and Antonelli swapping positions after being instructed to let Antonelli through. However, this did not help their cause, as both were unable to make significant progress against Bearman.
Bortoleto’s Brilliant Drive
In the final laps, Bortoleto managed to fight his way into the points. After making a pit stop on lap 38, he rejoined in 14th place but moved up to 10th by the end of the race, narrowly holding off his competitors. It was a fantastic drive from the Brazilian, who now looks set to build on his debut season in Formula 1.
Final Results from the Mexican Grand Prix:
-
Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes)
-
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
-
Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
-
Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
-
Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
-
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
-
George Russell (Mercedes)
-
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
-
Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
-
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari)
-
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
-
Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes)
-
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
-
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes)
-
Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault)
-
Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault)
-
Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
OUT: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes), Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
Looking Ahead
With just one point separating Norris and Piastri, the championship battle is heating up as the season nears its conclusion. The next race is the Brazilian Grand Prix, scheduled for November 7-9 in São Paulo, where the title contenders will battle it out once again at the iconic Interlagos circuit. F1 fans are in for an exciting finish as the 2025 season heads toward its dramatic climax.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.