Follow us on Google Discover McLaren driver Lando Norris took the lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship after a magnificent win at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Going into the Mexico City Grand Prix, all eyes were on the three main contenders for the drivers’ championship.
Oscar Piastri still had a points advantage over his teammate Lando Norris before the race, but since his victory at Zandvoort, it had been shrinking rapidly.
McLaren’s peculiar choice to use team orders since papaya rules made its debut at Monza last year has also allowed four-time world champion Max Verstappen to rapidly close the gap when he looked out of contention a few months ago.
However, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez witnessed what Norris would later call the greatest weekend of his Formula 1 career to take the lead of the championship with four races to go.
Norris took a brilliant pole position, setting a time six-tenths faster than what Piastri could manage.
He went on to win the race by more than half a minute, barely featuring on the official broadcast because he was so far out in front of all of his rivals.
However, Norris was booed during his post-race interview, with Charles Leclerc and Verstappen receiving a much more pleasant reception.
Once the boos stopped, fans started chanting for another driver who will be making a very popular comeback to the grid next season: Sergio Perez.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Photo by Peter Fox/Getty ImagesMexican Grand Prix fans started chanting Sergio Perez’s name after booing Lando Norris
A report from the New York Times shared more details about the peculiar reception that Norris received.
They report that ‘boos echoed’ around the stadium section of the circuit after the race that hosts the podium ceremony at the end of the Grand Prix, while Norris was speaking.
However, these boos later morphed ‘into chants for Cadillac Formula 1 driver (and home hero) Sergio Perez’ ahead of his return to the sport in 2026.
TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacValtteri BottasSergio PerezFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesGeorge RussellKimi AntonelliRacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
Norris received a poor reception at the Italian Grand Prix, when McLaren’s decision to swap their two drivers following a slow late pit stop for the Brit didn’t go down well with a predominantly Ferrari-supporting crowd.
There have been comments in the past from Norris about Perez, but an explanation given to Norris during his post-race interview suggested that their belief that McLaren have manipulated the decision to favour the 25-year-old over Piastri is why he’s not popular in Mexico.
READ MORE: Cadillac driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
How Lando Norris and Andrea Stella responded to booing at the Mexico City Grand Prix
Norris admitted after the race, when asked about the booing, that he ‘can’t stop laughing when I get booed’, although it’s not a pleasant experience for any driver to receive such a reception after what could be a career-defining result.
Team principal Andrea Stella was also asked about the incident and said: “It will just strengthen Lando’s confidence.
“But Lando and Oscar go into the final four races with reasons to be confident, and the team also have more understanding of how to extract performance from the car consistently.
“Over the last few races before Mexico, at times, we have left some performance in the garage.”
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 357 2 356 3 321 4 258 5 210 6 146 7 97 8 73 9 41 10 39
Perez will hope that it’s the first of many signs that he’s made the right decision to return to Formula 1.
Many people wondered how much appetite there would be for a race in Mexico City without Perez on the grid.
Sunday’s race highlighted that the race will continue to be popular until at least the end of its current deal, which expires in 2028.