Max Verstappen concluded the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend with an unexpected podium in third place. Despite winning Friday’s practice session, the Red Bull driver was hindered during the race by a suboptimal tyre strategy and a hectic opening phase, whilst Lando Norris dominated to victory and extended his lead in the championship battle.
The Story
The Mexico City Grand Prix weekend began promisingly for Max Verstappen. In Friday’s second practice session the Red Bull driver dominated the field with a time of 1:17.392 - almost two‑tenths of a second faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes debutant Kimi Antonelli.
That Friday form gave reason for optimism, especially as Verstappen still has an impressive record in Mexico: he boasts five victories at this circuit and possesses valuable experience at the high‑altitude track where strong Red Bull performances have been rewarded in previous years.
But the race weekend proved a completely different story. In the race itself Verstappen started from P5, and the opening phase was decidedly chaotic. “It was very hectic at the start of the race,” he said afterwards. “Everyone around me was on the softs, I was on the mediums, but that proved more difficult than expected.”
That tyre strategy choice would continue to be felt throughout the race. Whilst Verstappen struggled with grip in the first stint, he also got involved in an incident with Lewis Hamilton, where both drivers went through the chicane – a manoeuvre permitted under the regulations.
A pitstop brought salvation: Verstappen switched from mediums to softs, which immediately improved his competitiveness. He ultimately finished on the podium in third place, behind winner Norris and Leclerc. However, a late Virtual Safety Car prevented him from a potential battle with Leclerc in the closing phase.
“I honestly didn’t expect to be on the podium today,” Verstappen admitted. “Given how the weekend went, this is a very strong result.” He characterised his race as pure survival, especially given McLaren’s dominance with Norris and Oscar Piastri (P5).
The result had consequences for the championship standings. Norris’ victory by more than thirty seconds extends his advantage to 36 points with only four races remaining. It underlines the challenge Red Bull faces: after months of dominance, the team is now playing catch‑up.
Analysis
This Mexico weekend illustrates a crucial moment in the 2025 season. Red Bull, long the benchmark, now sees McLaren as the dominant force. Norris’ victory with a comfortable margin shows how large the gap in pure race pace has become.
Verstappen’s performance, whilst not a victory, was tactically fascinating. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the team executed “the perfect strategy” in Verstappen’s second stint. This suggests the team consciously chose the risky medium‑start scenario – possibly taking into account the expected race dynamics at this circuit.
The incident with Hamilton also raises questions about the current regulatory framework. Verstappen noted that “the rules allow you to do the things we do nowadays in racing.” This points to a broader discussion point: are the current corner‑cutting regulations still appropriate for modern F1?
For Red Bull, the coming months are crucial. With 36 points in arrears and only four grands prix remaining, the team must make dramatic improvements. Mexico showed that speed is available – Verstappen was fastest in FP2 after all – but that reliability and strategy are equally important.
For the Sim Racer
For the sim racing community, this Mexico weekend offers valuable lessons. First: tyre mix and strategy decisions can change everything. Verstappen’s medium start seemed suboptimal, but Red Bull played this tactically smart. In iRacing and other sim platforms, these sorts of strategy tweaks prove essential at circuits with large grip differences.
Second, Mexico itself is a fascinating circuit for simulators. The altitude of 2,250 metres above sea level causes lower downforce and is difficult to set up properly. Verstappen’s remark about mediums feeling like “driving on ice” will be recognisable to anyone who’s driven the Mexico layout in F1 24/25 – tyre grip is absolutely noticeable depending on setup choices.
The hectic opening phase also translates well to multiplayer racing: good positioning in the first corners can determine an entire weekend. Sim racers can learn from Verstappen’s recovery mindset – even if you don’t start ideally, tactical adjustments can bring you back into the game.
Sources
- FP2: Verstappen leads Leclerc and Antonelli during second practice in Mexico - Formula 1 Official, 24 October 2025
- ‘Didn’t expect to be on the podium’ – Verstappen pleased with P3 in Mexico - Formula 1 Official, 27 October 2025
- What the teams said – Race day at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix - Formula 1 Official, 27 October 2025
- NEED TO KNOW: Facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix - Formula 1 Official, 23 October 2025
- Max Verstappen reacts to late disruption after ‘hectic survival’ - RacingNews365, 26 October 2025