For the first time since the Dutch Grand Prix, nearly two months beforehand, Max Verstappen was pipped to the chequered flag by a McLaren driver.<\/p>\n
After spending much of the Mexico City weekend trying to fine-tune balance issues, the Dutchman recovered from fifth on the grid to third at the finish, with a late virtual safety car intervention likely preventing him from a probable fight for second.<\/p>\n
Although Norris, the new world championship leader, extended his points lead over the chasing Red Bull driver, the Dutchman actually closed his gap to the top, because of Oscar Piastri\u2019s fifth-place finish.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcf2\u00a0Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri started the weekend as the man to beat, but his run of races without a podium, currently at four, have wiped away what was once a 34-point advantage.<\/p>\n But Verstappen, whose momentum has built monstrously over the past month, was understandably not satisfied with his Mexican visit.<\/p>\n \u201cI lost 10 points to Lando [Norris], so as I said before the weekend, everything needs to go perfect to win,\u201d he told Sky Sports F1<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this weekend didn\u2019t go perfect. I think it\u2019s going to be tough, but let\u2019s see what we can do in other tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n With four race weekends to go, the reigning world champions sits 36 points behind the Brit. That means that he must outscore Norris by an average of nine points across those events, which do also include sprints.<\/p>\n Ollie Bearman SENDS a lunge on Max Verstappen… and gets through! \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8<\/p>\n The Haas driver is currently P4 on the road \ud83d\udc40#F1<\/a> #MexicoGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MbX4ABNQpm<\/a><\/p>\n