Verstappen reduces gap as competitors express frustration with FIA.
"It indicates that we aren't fast in every situation."
Max Verstappen's podium finish in Mexico keeps his championship aspirations alive—although Lando Norris has taken the lead in the standings, Verstappen has actually decreased his deficit to 36 points overall. "After everything that happened in the first few laps, fighting for P2 is still a solid result," the four-time world champion remarked. "I lost 10 points to Lando, but this weekend didn't go perfectly. That's the reality—you need flawless weekends to win." He acknowledged that Red Bull still struggles with consistency, despite its recent performance improvements. "It highlights that we're not quick in every scenario, and that's something we need to comprehend better," Verstappen stated.
"It indicates that we aren't fast in every situation."
Max Verstappen's podium finish in Mexico keeps his championship aspirations alive—although Lando Norris has taken the lead in the standings, Verstappen has actually decreased his deficit to 36 points overall. "After everything that happened in the first few laps, fighting for P2 is still a solid result," the four-time world champion remarked. "I lost 10 points to Lando, but this weekend didn't go perfectly. That's the reality—you need flawless weekends to win." He acknowledged that Red Bull still struggles with consistency, despite its recent performance improvements. "It highlights that we're not quick in every scenario, and that's something we need to comprehend better," Verstappen stated.
Tsunoda remains in the running as the decision is postponed.
Yuki Tsunoda's future in Formula 1 remains unclear, but the Japanese driver has received an important reprieve. After weeks of speculation, Dr. Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull's final decision regarding drivers for 2026 has been postponed until the end of the season, possibly until Abu Dhabi.
"We discussed this internally and concluded that our focus must be entirely on the championship battle," Marko told Servus TV. "It’s surprising how thrilling the situation has become. We've delayed the driver selection until after Doha (Qatar) or Abu Dhabi."
Similarly, he mentioned to Sky Deutschland: "The decision regarding the Racing Bulls' drivers will also be postponed as we concentrate solely on the World Championship. We cannot afford any minor errors in the setup again.
Yuki Tsunoda's future in Formula 1 remains unclear, but the Japanese driver has received an important reprieve. After weeks of speculation, Dr. Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull's final decision regarding drivers for 2026 has been postponed until the end of the season, possibly until Abu Dhabi.
"We discussed this internally and concluded that our focus must be entirely on the championship battle," Marko told Servus TV. "It’s surprising how thrilling the situation has become. We've delayed the driver selection until after Doha (Qatar) or Abu Dhabi."
Similarly, he mentioned to Sky Deutschland: "The decision regarding the Racing Bulls' drivers will also be postponed as we concentrate solely on the World Championship. We cannot afford any minor errors in the setup again.
Russell discloses details of the 'automatic' Mercedes agreement.
George Russell has finally revealed the details of his newly-signed Mercedes contract and even suggested the circumstances that could eventually make him Max Verstappen’s teammate. The 27-year-old British driver recently renewed his contract with Mercedes, but there was ongoing uncertainty about its duration and terms, with rumors ranging from a single-year option to a more extended agreement with performance stipulations.
Russell has now clarified that the contract is initially for one year, with an option for automatic renewal in 2027, contingent on his performance. "This is something I haven’t actually disclosed publicly," Russell told The Telegraph. "But the deal stipulates that if I perform next year and hit a specific target, we’ll automatically renew for 2027. So, my seat for 2027 depends on my performance.
George Russell has finally revealed the details of his newly-signed Mercedes contract and even suggested the circumstances that could eventually make him Max Verstappen’s teammate. The 27-year-old British driver recently renewed his contract with Mercedes, but there was ongoing uncertainty about its duration and terms, with rumors ranging from a single-year option to a more extended agreement with performance stipulations.
Russell has now clarified that the contract is initially for one year, with an option for automatic renewal in 2027, contingent on his performance. "This is something I haven’t actually disclosed publicly," Russell told The Telegraph. "But the deal stipulates that if I perform next year and hit a specific target, we’ll automatically renew for 2027. So, my seat for 2027 depends on my performance.
Colapinto remains undeterred by Alpine's lack of communication regarding the 2026 seat.
"Everyone has their own opinion, don’t they?"
Franco Colapinto asserts that he is not bothered by the increasing speculation surrounding his future with Alpine, noting that the lack of rumors about a possible team shakeup doesn’t imply anything definitive. The 22-year-old Argentine rookie has been at the center of attention recently, from his defiance of team orders in Austin to claims that a 2026 deal with Alpine backed by his influential sponsors is already in place. With drivers within the Red Bull family competing for a few 2026 seats, the silence from Enstone has only intensified discussions about Colapinto’s position being secure.
"Everyone has their own opinion, don’t they?"
Franco Colapinto asserts that he is not bothered by the increasing speculation surrounding his future with Alpine, noting that the lack of rumors about a possible team shakeup doesn’t imply anything definitive. The 22-year-old Argentine rookie has been at the center of attention recently, from his defiance of team orders in Austin to claims that a 2026 deal with Alpine backed by his influential sponsors is already in place. With drivers within the Red Bull family competing for a few 2026 seats, the silence from Enstone has only intensified discussions about Colapinto’s position being secure.
Hamilton: I'm starting to understand how to drive a Ferrari.
Having qualified third in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the team's progress…
Question: Lewis, third place — your best start this year with Ferrari. What does this result mean to you?
Lewis Hamilton: I'm grateful to the team for the hard work throughout the year. Of course I'd have liked us to have performed at this level earlier, but it's great that we're making progress and keeping a positive mindset.
Question: Tell us about the car. It seems Ferrari is coming into form. Are you satisfied?
Lewis Hamilton: Relatively satisfied. It's a tricky circuit. Because of the high altitude the grip is low, the cars from all teams slide, but we look decent and were able to improve over the course of the weekend.
On Friday I missed the first practice. I wouldn't say it hindered me, but the more laps you do around the track the more you learn about it.
Having qualified third in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the team's progress…
Question: Lewis, third place — your best start this year with Ferrari. What does this result mean to you?
Lewis Hamilton: I'm grateful to the team for the hard work throughout the year. Of course I'd have liked us to have performed at this level earlier, but it's great that we're making progress and keeping a positive mindset.
Question: Tell us about the car. It seems Ferrari is coming into form. Are you satisfied?
Lewis Hamilton: Relatively satisfied. It's a tricky circuit. Because of the high altitude the grip is low, the cars from all teams slide, but we look decent and were able to improve over the course of the weekend.
On Friday I missed the first practice. I wouldn't say it hindered me, but the more laps you do around the track the more you learn about it.
On the opening laps of the Mexico City Grand Prix, track marshals were nearly run over by Liam Lawson's car. Racing Bulls contacted the FIA for clarification: how could this have happened. The federation responded with an official statement.
The FIA reviewed the matter and believes that race control followed all procedures with regard to the safety of the marshals.
"After the incident at Turn 1, race control was informed of debris on the track at the apex of that corner.
On the third lap, marshals were warned that they needed to go onto the track and remove the debris after all cars had passed the first corner. As soon as it became clear that Lawson had come into the pits, the instructions for the marshals to go onto the track were cancelled, and double yellow flags were shown in that area. We are investigating what happened after that moment," the official statement said.
The FIA reviewed the matter and believes that race control followed all procedures with regard to the safety of the marshals.
"After the incident at Turn 1, race control was informed of debris on the track at the apex of that corner.
On the third lap, marshals were warned that they needed to go onto the track and remove the debris after all cars had passed the first corner. As soon as it became clear that Lawson had come into the pits, the instructions for the marshals to go onto the track were cancelled, and double yellow flags were shown in that area. We are investigating what happened after that moment," the official statement said.
Pirelli's prediction that all drivers would prefer to complete the race distance in Mexico with a one‑stop strategy was only half true…
Mario Isola, Pirelli's Head of Motorsport: "The race in Mexico was interesting not only in terms of on‑track events, but also because everyone saw two strategic options – some drivers limited themselves to a single tyre change, while others visited the pits twice.
We congratulate Lando Norris; he was flawless from the first day of the weekend and now leads the championship again. We also congratulate Oliver Bearman, who delivered an important fourth place for Haas F1.
The Medium and Soft tyres played their part, but if we had to pick the best, it would undoubtedly be the Softs. Most drivers chose them for the start, and those who ran a two‑stop race also fitted Softs for the final stint.
Thanks to very low degradation and the absence of graining, drivers were able to extend their stint on the C5, effectively managing the thermal degradation of the rear tyres.
The range of laps for pit stops was in line with our expectations, and I believe the variety of strategies was linked to our decision to provide teams with 'every‑other' compounds. Hard tyres were used very rarely as they did not provide the necessary grip on this slippery track.
Part of the Pirelli team that worked in Mexico this week will return to the circuit on Tuesday and Wednesday to test softer compounds from the 2026 range. Sauber will provide us with a car on the first day of testing, and Mercedes on the second. We thank both teams for their support."
Mario Isola, Pirelli's Head of Motorsport: "The race in Mexico was interesting not only in terms of on‑track events, but also because everyone saw two strategic options – some drivers limited themselves to a single tyre change, while others visited the pits twice.
We congratulate Lando Norris; he was flawless from the first day of the weekend and now leads the championship again. We also congratulate Oliver Bearman, who delivered an important fourth place for Haas F1.
The Medium and Soft tyres played their part, but if we had to pick the best, it would undoubtedly be the Softs. Most drivers chose them for the start, and those who ran a two‑stop race also fitted Softs for the final stint.
Thanks to very low degradation and the absence of graining, drivers were able to extend their stint on the C5, effectively managing the thermal degradation of the rear tyres.
The range of laps for pit stops was in line with our expectations, and I believe the variety of strategies was linked to our decision to provide teams with 'every‑other' compounds. Hard tyres were used very rarely as they did not provide the necessary grip on this slippery track.
Part of the Pirelli team that worked in Mexico this week will return to the circuit on Tuesday and Wednesday to test softer compounds from the 2026 range. Sauber will provide us with a car on the first day of testing, and Mercedes on the second. We thank both teams for their support."
Mexican Grand Prix: Interesting statistics
A few interesting statistical tidbits from the Mexico Grand Prix…
Qualifying
By winning qualifying in Mexico, Lando Norris claimed the 14th pole of his career and his fifth of the season. That is the same number of career poles as Alberto Ascari, James Hunt, Ronnie Peterson and Rubens Barrichello.
By number of poles this season Norris equalled Oscar Piastri — they now each have five poles in 2025 and the team tally is tied: 10–10. No other team has such a tie.
By qualifying second, Charles Leclerc started from the front row for the fifth time this season.
Third place — Lewis Hamilton's best result with Ferrari.
George Russell started fourth for the second race in a row.
Fifth place — Max Verstappen's worst result in Mexico in his Red Bull career and his worst this season since the Hungarian Grand Prix.
For the third time in the last four Grands Prix, Isack Hadjar started eighth.
A few interesting statistical tidbits from the Mexico Grand Prix…
Qualifying
By winning qualifying in Mexico, Lando Norris claimed the 14th pole of his career and his fifth of the season. That is the same number of career poles as Alberto Ascari, James Hunt, Ronnie Peterson and Rubens Barrichello.
By number of poles this season Norris equalled Oscar Piastri — they now each have five poles in 2025 and the team tally is tied: 10–10. No other team has such a tie.
By qualifying second, Charles Leclerc started from the front row for the fifth time this season.
Third place — Lewis Hamilton's best result with Ferrari.
George Russell started fourth for the second race in a row.
Fifth place — Max Verstappen's worst result in Mexico in his Red Bull career and his worst this season since the Hungarian Grand Prix.
For the third time in the last four Grands Prix, Isack Hadjar started eighth.
Verstappen: I didn't expect to be on the podium.
Max Verstappen is pleased to have finished on the podium in Mexico…
Question: Max, you managed to fight back in the race, even though a couple of days ago the car didn’t give any reason to hope for that…
Max Verstappen: Personally I didn’t expect to be on the podium. Even in the first stint of the race it wasn’t obvious. At that moment I thought we had tyre problems and lacked pace. Then, when I switched to the Softs while the others were on Mediums, we became more competitive. Not on Lando’s level, but we could fight with the others.
The Soft tyres were clearly the best in this race. Third place is a very good result for us at the end of a difficult weekend.
Question: Considering the long straight to the first corner, many were surprised when you decided to start on the Mediums…
Max Verstappen: I was surprised that the others started on the Softs.
Max Verstappen is pleased to have finished on the podium in Mexico…
Question: Max, you managed to fight back in the race, even though a couple of days ago the car didn’t give any reason to hope for that…
Max Verstappen: Personally I didn’t expect to be on the podium. Even in the first stint of the race it wasn’t obvious. At that moment I thought we had tyre problems and lacked pace. Then, when I switched to the Softs while the others were on Mediums, we became more competitive. Not on Lando’s level, but we could fight with the others.
The Soft tyres were clearly the best in this race. Third place is a very good result for us at the end of a difficult weekend.
Question: Considering the long straight to the first corner, many were surprised when you decided to start on the Mediums…
Max Verstappen: I was surprised that the others started on the Softs.
Vaulz: We acted worse than our standards require.
The Mexican Grand Prix was the fifth round of the season in which Williams failed to score points. Only one of its drivers reached the finish, Alex Albon, who came home 12th.
Carlos Sainz encountered various, mostly unpleasant, incidents around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and for him it ended in a crash on lap 67. The race was commented on by James Vowles, head of Williams Racing, who candidly admitted the team had not operated at its best.
James Vowles: "Let's go through the incidents one by one. For Carlos, it effectively ended at the first corner after the start, where there was contact between three cars, involving him, Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson.
All three tried to get through where there was only room for two cars.
The Mexican Grand Prix was the fifth round of the season in which Williams failed to score points. Only one of its drivers reached the finish, Alex Albon, who came home 12th.
Carlos Sainz encountered various, mostly unpleasant, incidents around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and for him it ended in a crash on lap 67. The race was commented on by James Vowles, head of Williams Racing, who candidly admitted the team had not operated at its best.
James Vowles: "Let's go through the incidents one by one. For Carlos, it effectively ended at the first corner after the start, where there was contact between three cars, involving him, Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson.
All three tried to get through where there was only room for two cars.
Charles Leclerc: I was a bit lucky in Mexico
Charles Leclerc finished second in Mexico, holding off Max Verstappen's attacks in the final laps…
Question: Charles, second place — your best result since Monaco. Are you satisfied with the race result and the weekend overall?
Charles Leclerc: Very pleased. A positive weekend. I don't think we expected to repeat what we achieved in Austin.
We knew that in Austin everything clicked, even though we didn't have the same pace as McLaren or Red Bull. The podium in Austin was a pleasant surprise, but here we managed to climb one step higher.
A really good weekend. We've long since switched focus to the 2026 car, which doesn't help much right now, but thanks to two perfectly executed weekends we managed to score two consecutive podiums. That's nice.
Question: At the end of the race Max was closing in on you.
Charles Leclerc finished second in Mexico, holding off Max Verstappen's attacks in the final laps…
Question: Charles, second place — your best result since Monaco. Are you satisfied with the race result and the weekend overall?
Charles Leclerc: Very pleased. A positive weekend. I don't think we expected to repeat what we achieved in Austin.
We knew that in Austin everything clicked, even though we didn't have the same pace as McLaren or Red Bull. The podium in Austin was a pleasant surprise, but here we managed to climb one step higher.
A really good weekend. We've long since switched focus to the 2026 car, which doesn't help much right now, but thanks to two perfectly executed weekends we managed to score two consecutive podiums. That's nice.
Question: At the end of the race Max was closing in on you.
Ecclestone celebrates his 95th birthday - 'I've never felt this happy'
"My greatest wish has been fulfilled."
Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone celebrates his 95th birthday on Tuesday, and longtime friend and experienced journalist Roger Benoit remarks that the sport's former "tsunami" remains alert, satisfied, and subtly amused by his own longevity. "I don't dwell on it, because at my age, I no longer count in years," Ecclestone chuckled when asked by Blick about his hopes of reaching 100. "Even if I do experience more discomfort these days," he continued, adding with his usual humor that his daily medication "is increasing."
Ecclestone still steers clear of alcohol - "I need milk and fruit juices," he joked - and lives a serene life with his wife Fabiana, 49, and their five-year-old son Ace on their farm in Ampero, near Sao Paulo. "My greatest wish has come true," he told Benoit.
"My greatest wish has been fulfilled."
Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone celebrates his 95th birthday on Tuesday, and longtime friend and experienced journalist Roger Benoit remarks that the sport's former "tsunami" remains alert, satisfied, and subtly amused by his own longevity. "I don't dwell on it, because at my age, I no longer count in years," Ecclestone chuckled when asked by Blick about his hopes of reaching 100. "Even if I do experience more discomfort these days," he continued, adding with his usual humor that his daily medication "is increasing."
Ecclestone still steers clear of alcohol - "I need milk and fruit juices," he joked - and lives a serene life with his wife Fabiana, 49, and their five-year-old son Ace on their farm in Ampero, near Sao Paulo. "My greatest wish has come true," he told Benoit.
Lewis Hamilton: Only I was fined for cutting the corner.
Lewis Hamilton joined Fernando Alonso in criticizing the stewards of the Mexican Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver received a 10-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage. Lewis considers it unfair, since rivals who made the same maneuvers were not penalized.
Lewis Hamilton: "I had a great start, braked before the first corner and went through the first, second and third corners without going off track. Others cut the corner, kept their positions and didn't receive penalties. It's just madness.
Max and I had a great fight, and I acted pretty much the same as everyone else around me. Max also cut, but only I got a 10-second penalty. I locked up the front wheels and ended up with my wheels on the dustiest place in the world, went onto the grass, and then returned to the track via the designated path.
Lewis Hamilton joined Fernando Alonso in criticizing the stewards of the Mexican Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver received a 10-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage. Lewis considers it unfair, since rivals who made the same maneuvers were not penalized.
Lewis Hamilton: "I had a great start, braked before the first corner and went through the first, second and third corners without going off track. Others cut the corner, kept their positions and didn't receive penalties. It's just madness.
Max and I had a great fight, and I acted pretty much the same as everyone else around me. Max also cut, but only I got a 10-second penalty. I locked up the front wheels and ended up with my wheels on the dustiest place in the world, went onto the grass, and then returned to the track via the designated path.
One of the reasons for the lengthy talks over George Russell's contract with Mercedes was Toto Wolff's desire to limit its duration to one season in case Max Verstappen decides to change teams next year. In the end the contract was signed on a 1+1 basis, and George told The Telegraph that it guarantees his future.
George Russell: "I hadn't spoken about this before, but there's a clause in the contract — if next year I reach a certain target, it automatically extends into 2027. So my future is in my own hands.
Now I'm sure I won't be in the same situation as six months ago. If I succeed. I don't want to go into details, but if I succeed, I'll stay 100%. Now I'm sure I won't be lied to.
Everything is falling into place. Actually I wanted to sign the contract back in October 2024, but this contract is considerably better than the one I could have signed then. So yes, you just have to believe in yourself."
George Russell: "I hadn't spoken about this before, but there's a clause in the contract — if next year I reach a certain target, it automatically extends into 2027. So my future is in my own hands.
Now I'm sure I won't be in the same situation as six months ago. If I succeed. I don't want to go into details, but if I succeed, I'll stay 100%. Now I'm sure I won't be lied to.
Everything is falling into place. Actually I wanted to sign the contract back in October 2024, but this contract is considerably better than the one I could have signed then. So yes, you just have to believe in yourself."
Otmar Szafnauer on the challenges of Lewis Hamilton's adaptation
On The Team Principal Podcast, former Racing Point/Aston Martin and Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer spoke about the problems Lewis Hamilton encountered after moving to Ferrari…
Otmar Szafnauer: "I'm not surprised. To me Lewis is the best driver of the period when I worked in Formula 1 — fast and successful — but I'm not surprised that adapting to a new team, especially when it's Ferrari, takes a long time, particularly after he spent many years at another team.
At Mercedes he knew everything. The entire technical team, the strategist, the technical director, the designers, the chief engineer — he knew everything and everyone. It's like a football team; I don't want to compare, but it's a bit similar.
On The Team Principal Podcast, former Racing Point/Aston Martin and Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer spoke about the problems Lewis Hamilton encountered after moving to Ferrari…
Otmar Szafnauer: "I'm not surprised. To me Lewis is the best driver of the period when I worked in Formula 1 — fast and successful — but I'm not surprised that adapting to a new team, especially when it's Ferrari, takes a long time, particularly after he spent many years at another team.
At Mercedes he knew everything. The entire technical team, the strategist, the technical director, the designers, the chief engineer — he knew everything and everyone. It's like a football team; I don't want to compare, but it's a bit similar.
Oscar Piastri last stood on the podium in early September in Monza. Over the four Grands Prix since then, the Australian McLaren driver has slipped from first to second in the drivers' standings. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Oscar's chances in the title fight have diminished.
"Piastri lost the lead in the drivers' standings, and Max Verstappen has also taken a few points off him," says Jacques Villeneuve. "The next race will be in Brazil, and that track suits Max. It might rain, and then the race will turn into chaos.
Now is not the time to lose form. The season is long and it's understandable that the drivers are tired. When such a drop in results happens at the start of the season, you're full of energy to fight back, you have the summer break. Now Piastri does not have the opportunity to rest. He's worn out, tired, and it will be tough for him."
"Piastri lost the lead in the drivers' standings, and Max Verstappen has also taken a few points off him," says Jacques Villeneuve. "The next race will be in Brazil, and that track suits Max. It might rain, and then the race will turn into chaos.
Now is not the time to lose form. The season is long and it's understandable that the drivers are tired. When such a drop in results happens at the start of the season, you're full of energy to fight back, you have the summer break. Now Piastri does not have the opportunity to rest. He's worn out, tired, and it will be tough for him."
Penalty points after the Mexican Grand Prix
The FIA uses a penalty-point system on the superlicence to reduce the number of infringements. Each infringement is punished with a certain number of points; their total over 12 months must not exceed twelve — otherwise a driver is suspended for one race, as happened in 2024 with Kevin Magnussen. Penalty points expire 12 months after they are awarded.
The next points to expire will be on 02/11/25 — that’s one point for Verstappen and two points for Piastri and Berman, received during last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, fifteen active drivers have unexpired penalty points. The leader in their number is Oliver Berman.
Penalty points after the Mexican Grand Prix
Driver
Team
Points
When the next points will expire
O. Berman
Haas F1
10
02/11/25 - 2 points
M. Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
7
02/11/25 - 1 point
L.
The FIA uses a penalty-point system on the superlicence to reduce the number of infringements. Each infringement is punished with a certain number of points; their total over 12 months must not exceed twelve — otherwise a driver is suspended for one race, as happened in 2024 with Kevin Magnussen. Penalty points expire 12 months after they are awarded.
The next points to expire will be on 02/11/25 — that’s one point for Verstappen and two points for Piastri and Berman, received during last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, fifteen active drivers have unexpired penalty points. The leader in their number is Oliver Berman.
Penalty points after the Mexican Grand Prix
Driver
Team
Points
When the next points will expire
O. Berman
Haas F1
10
02/11/25 - 2 points
M. Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
7
02/11/25 - 1 point
L.
Max Verstappen revealed the helmet livery he will use during the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend. Talking about the new design on social media, Max explained that he considers Interlagos a special track, given his wins at this venue and the fact that Kelly Piquet was born in Brazil. The helmet design combines the colors of Red Bull and the Brazilian national flag.