Overview
- Lando Norris dominated from pole in Mexico to reclaim the championship lead by one point over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, with McLaren crediting low‑grip conditions and post‑Singapore set‑up work for the step.
- Max Verstappen finished third and sits 36 points off the lead, acknowledging the chase is now tough after a weekend he said was not perfect.
- Lewis Hamilton received a 10‑second penalty for leaving the track at Turn 4 and gaining a lasting advantage, a sanction the stewards said fit the standard framework.
- Pundits split on officiating as Karun Chandhok called Hamilton’s penalty harsh and urged guideline tweaks, while Martin Brundle and Jacques Villeneuve deemed it deserved and argued Leclerc and possibly Verstappen should have been penalised for the start.
- Carlos Sainz said opening‑lap contact with Liam Lawson damaged sensors and the pit‑limiter, leading to speeding penalties and a late retirement that triggered the Virtual Safety Car which quelled Verstappen’s late push.