Follow us on Google Discover Max Verstappen kept himself within range of a fifth consecutive drivers’ championship with some solid damage limitation at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Despite struggling for one lap pace on Saturday, the Dutchman fought back with an impressive stint on soft tyres during the second half of the Mexican Grand Prix. At the start of the race, Verstappen flew off the run-off at turn one, producing a spectacular lock-up on his medium tyres.
Red Bull will be relieved to leave Mexico with another podium, especially when it looked as though they would be fortunate to make the top five at one point in Sunday’s race. The gap to the top of the drivers’ championship is now just 36 points with five races to go.
F1 fans criticised the stewards for not penalising Verstappen following his off-track excursion at the start of the race. Hamilton felt Verstappen pushed him wide and vented his frustration over the radio, before being handed a 10-second penalty to serve at his first pit stop.
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Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesMax Verstappen admits he ‘almost crashed’ after Lewis Hamilton clash at Mexican Grand Prix
Verstappen knows he needs a perfect finish to the campaign if he wants to complete one of the greatest comebacks in the sport’s history. He has clawed back 68 points of the 104-point deficit that he faced shortly before the summer break.
After qualifying fifth, Verstappen had a not normal issue which impacted him through the high-speed middle sector. He really struggled to have confidence in the car beneath him.
The reigning champion spoke immediately after the race on F1 TV about how he ‘almost crashed’ at the start of the race after being forced wide at turn one, while alongside Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
“It was very hectic, the beginning of the race for me,” he said. “We had a very good start, and then, of course, it’s such a long run to turn one, and we were on the outside. Yeah, three [or] four wide, so I had to be on that kerb. It kept bottoming out all the way, so I almost crashed over the grass.
“Even after that, there was a lot going on. Everyone around me was on soft tyres, I was on the medium, and then it looked like that was a bit of a struggle. So it was about surviving the first stint, trying to go as long as we could on the tyres. Once we bolted on the softs, I think we were a little bit more competitive.
“A bit happier. It has been a difficult weekend for us, but to be fighting for P2 with everything that happened in the first few laps, I think is a very strong result. You win some, you lose some. Sometimes the safety car works for you, and sometimes it works against you.”
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Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty ImagesWhy Max Verstappen is right in the Formula 1 title fight after the Mexican Grand Prix
Now that the McLaren drivers are separated by just one point, with Norris leading the way for the first time since April, Verstappen has a new target.
On average, he needs to outscore his two title-chasing rivals by nine points at each weekend, with two sprint weekends to go as well.
It’s an even fight for the McLaren drivers, which could pose more headaches for their team, while Red Bull can afford to focus on one car.
Aggression will be turned right up, and it will be interesting to see how the three-way battle unfolds over the next few races as the pressure ramps up on two first-time contenders. Verstappen’s experience right now gives him the edge.