Verstappen Sets Sights on Tightening the Noose on McLaren at the Mexico City Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen, the Dutch Red Bull driver, returns to championship contention after a string of strong results, hoping to extend his winning streak at the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City.

The four-time world champion, who won three of the last four races (Italy, Azerbaijan, United States), continues to pile up points and closes in on Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, noting that McLaren’s drivers had been well off the title pace a few weeks ago.

After another superb weekend in the United States at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Verstappen, who dominated both the sprint and the main race, took a full 33 points and cut the gap to 40 points behind Piastri and 26 behind Norris.

Two months ago he trailed McLaren by 104 points, but the 28-year-old has now admitted he could defend the crown for a fifth straight season, saying, “Of course I still have a shot at winning. The gap is tight, so we must keep delivering perfect results and avoid mistakes through the end of the season.”

Exploiting McLaren’s slump

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is among Verstappen’s favorite venues, where he has won five times (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) and where he holds a Mexico City win record in Formula 1, with five podiums in nine starts. The timing seems ideal for the title defender to press his advantage.

Piastri, whose last win dates back to the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31, says back-to-back races offer a great chance to rebound and improve. “I’m confident the weekend will be productive. I’m excited and focused on delivering my best,” he said.

Since stepping onto the podium at the season opener in Australia, Piastri’s results have included a retirement and two fourth- and fifth-place finishes.

Meanwhile Norris, after returning from the Netherlands empty-handed due to a retirement costing him 18 points, has rebounded and outpaced his Australian teammate over the ensuing four races, cutting the gap to 14 points (346 vs 332).

Going into Mexico, Norris says he will focus on beating Piastri in the Mexican heat, aiming to climb further in the standings. “After second place in Austin, I want to build on that and chase more points this weekend. I’m excited to drive this incredibly fun track and feel the fans’ energy,” Norris said.

Race for the Constructors’ silver

While Verstappen and McLaren are expected to command most attention, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull will contest for second place in the constructors’ standings after McLaren clinched the title for a second straight year. Mercedes sits in second with 341 points, ahead by seven and ten points respectively over Ferrari and Red Bull.

Last year Ferrari won in Mexico City thanks to a brilliant performance by Spaniard Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc’s climb to the podium in Texas boosted team morale. Frederic Vasseur said, “We had one of the strongest weekends of the season in Austin, so staying focused is key. The secret is finding the right setup, considering altitude which impacts engine performance and tire management.”

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who finished behind Sainz in Ferrari, has not stood on the podium in 19 races, while Leclerc achieved the feat in six. Vasseur praised Hamilton’s strong Austin showing, noting the 40-year-old has returned to his best form as he eyes a third Mexico victory after 2016 and 2019.

Attention also turns to rising French driver Isaac Hadjar (Racing Point), who endured a tough weekend in the United States, including a crash in practice. Red Bull could decide Verstappen’s 2026 teammate after the Mexico City race, with Hadjar’s stock rising to join the Austrian stable, even as Red Bull’s other driver Yuki Tsunoda, who impressed in Austin, still has a say.

Punchline time: If wins were jokes, Verstappen would be the punchline king, but in this case the punchlines write themselves whenever the chequered flag is waved. And if you think this is spicy, wait for the post-race analysis—it’s hotter than the Mexican sun.

Final note: In this sport, the only thing faster than the cars is the Wi‑Fi when you try to stream a race—blink and you’ll miss the overtake, and you’ll miss the snacks.