Carlos Sainz delivered a stellar performance to claim victory at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, securing his fourth career win ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, after a promising start, finished sixth due to two penalties that derailed his race.
The race got off to an electric start, with Verstappen, starting from P2, making the best getaway and overtaking Sainz before Turn 1. Sainz attempted to fight back but was forced to cut the corner, quickly returning the position to the Red Bull driver. This allowed Verstappen to lead the opening laps, with Sainz and Norris chasing behind.
Drama unfolded early as Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull clipped Alex Albon’s Williams, causing a collision that forced both drivers out of the race. The incident brought out the Safety Car, during which Sergio Pérez, Red Bull’s home hero, received a time penalty for being too far forward on the grid.
When the Safety Car period ended on lap six, Verstappen controlled the restart but couldn’t fend off Sainz for long. With the help of DRS, the Ferrari driver made a decisive move on lap seven to reclaim the lead. From there, Sainz took command of the race, gradually pulling away from the field.
Verstappen, now under pressure from Norris, was soon handed a 10-second time penalty after forcing the McLaren driver off track. His woes continued as another penalty followed after a later incident with Norris, further hampering his race.
After pitting to serve his penalties and switch to hard tires, Verstappen rejoined the race in P15. Despite an impressive recovery, he could only manage sixth place, unable to close the gap to the leading pack in the latter stages of the race.
At the front, Sainz steadily extended his lead over Leclerc, who struggled with tire wear. Norris, displaying impressive late-race pace, overtook Leclerc in the closing laps to secure second place. Sainz maintained his composure to take the win by nearly five seconds, with Norris finishing second and Leclerc in third.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finished fourth after a late pass on teammate George Russell, while Verstappen crossed the line in sixth. Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Oscar Piastri of McLaren, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top ten.
Sainz’s victory adds excitement to the championship, with just a few races remaining this season. As fans now turn their attention to the next event, the rivalry between Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren continues to intensify, setting the stage for an exhilarating conclusion to the 2024 Formula 1 season.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 7 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 11 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Williams |
| 13 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine |
| 14 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber |
| 15 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber |
| 16 | Liam Lawson | RB |
| 17 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 18 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 19 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB |
The next stop on the F1 calendar is the Brazilian Grand Prix, where the drivers will continue to battle for glory in the 2024 season.
