Mexico GP: Verstappen scores record win as Perez crashes out

Max Verstappen has made it a habit of sorts to break records this season, and this time around he’s surpassed one of his own ones. The Red Bull driver took a dominant win at Mexico to collect his 16th win of the season, outdoing his own previous record of 15 wins.

With home hero Sergio Perez crashing out on the opening lap itself, Lewis Hamilton finished second on the podium, followed by Charles Leclerc.

1. Verstappen wins, 13.875 secs from Hamilton
2. Leclerc on podium
3. Perez crashes out of home race

Verstappen claims 16th win of 2023 F1 season

Starting from third on the grid, Verstappen made a lightning quick start and used the tow from polesitter Leclerc to take the lead into Turn 1. And there was no looking back from there on.

There was a flag period, triggered by Kevin Magnussen’s crash, but Verstappen aced the re-start to take another comfortable win. "To be honest, we, of course, are experiencing an incredible season," said Verstappen. “And today, of course, we had to start P3, but I think the pace of the car was very, very good. We tried to do a different strategy to everyone else and unfortunately with the red flag we couldn’t really show it. Nevertheless, on those hard tyres at the end, I think we were very, very strong.”

Perez crashes out

Perez also had a strong getaway from fifth on the grid. But he made contact with Leclerc as he attempted to go around the outside of the Ferrari into Turn 1. While he managed to return to the pits, Red Bull couldn’t fix the damage on his car and he had to pull out of the race.

“I had a tremendous start, probably my best of the year. The gap was there and if you don’t go for it what’s the point in being here. I went for it and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting Charles to brake as late as he did and simply, there was not room for three cars,” Perez explained. 

“I wanted this victory badly and I knew it was risky but if it had worked, I would have ended up in the lead," he added.

Lewis Hamilton appears to be a lot happier with the updated Mercedes W14, at one point event getting on the radio to report that “balance is great”. On Lap 40, he passed Leclerc on the run down to Turn 1 and moved up to second place.

Norris goes from P17 to P5

Leclerc survived the earlier contact with Perez to finish on the podium, ahead of his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. McLaren’s Lando Norris made up for a disappointing qualifying, pulling off an incredible recovery drive from P17 on the grid. He overtook George Russell in the closing stages to finish fifth.

Russell himself had to fend off Daniel Ricciardo, but the Mercedes driver held on to sixth place. P7 is nevertheless a strong result for AlphaTauri and Ricciardo, who has returned to racing following a couple of weeks out of action due to his wrist injury.

Oscar Piastri survived a clash with Yuki Tsunoda to finish eighth, followed by Williams’ Alex Albon and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

2023 F1 championship standings

Verstappen already wrapped up the 2023 title at Qatar. But the battle for second in the standings is very much on. Perez still holds on to second overall, but Hamilton is now just 20 points behind with three more rounds to go.

F1 will now head to Sao Paulo for the next race on November 3-5.

2023 Mexico GP results