The latest round of the 2024 Formula 1 season took us to Mexico City this weekend for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won last time out in Austin ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz and championship leader Max Verstappen, who had a real fight on his hands to keep title rival Lando Norris at bay.
Sainz took pole position this week to underline Ferrari’s remarkable improvements in pace in the second half of this year, with Verstappen still struggling to get the best out of his previously untouchable Red Bull.
Here’s how it all unfolded in Mexico.
Who won the F1 Mexican Grand Prix?
Carlos Sainz triumphed at a thrilling Mexican Grand Prix on October 27.
The Ferrari drive started on pole position but lost P1 to Max Verstappen on the first corner. The safety car was deployed after Yuki Tsunoda and Alexander Albon collided, but the reigning world champion maintained his lead when racing restarted.
However, on lap nine, Sainz put the renewed pace of the Ferrari to good use, overtaking Verstappen in style. The Spaniard never looked back as he cruised to his fourth career victory.
Lando Norris took second at the end of an engrossing race in which Verstappen could only finish down in sixth after being hit with a 20-second penalty as a result of incidents involving his closest championship rival.
The Master of Mexico ✨
Carlos Sainz, what a win! ?#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/jQZ8SsgbeU
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024
The Dutch driver was punished for two incidents, at Turn 4 and Turn 8 of the 11th lap, after Norris was forced off the track, first after overtaking Verstappen for second place and then after the Red Bull driver regained that position.
Norris complained to his McLaren team “This guy is dangerous,” and added “It’s the same as last time” in an apparent reference to similar racing incidents during last week’s race in Austtin.
Norris eventually had the last laugh as he took a chunk out of Verstappen’s championship lead, but Sainz’s win — coupled with third-place Charles Leclerc setting the fastest lap right at the death — gave Ferrari a massive boost in the constructors’ battle.
The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fourth and fifth, but today belonged to Sainz — the man who will be replaced by Hamilton next season.
He wanted one more win with Ferrari.
He got one more win with Ferrari.
‘Cause he’s a smoooooth operator ?#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/zJXslK7dgL
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024
F1 Mexican Grand Prix: Driver of the day
Carlos Sainz was deservedly crowned Driver of the Day following an exemplary weekend in Mexico.
This was one of the 30-year-old Spaniard’s best races, and the fourth time he took the chequered flag. Given that he will give up his seat for Hamilton next year, this will have felt like a sweet victory indeed.
Who else could it be? ?️
Your @salesforce #F1DriverOfTheDay is Carlos Sainz! ?#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/EQz1Ufb1LD
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024
F1 Mexican Grand Prix: Race results, standings
| Driver | |||
| 1. | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) | 11. | Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) |
| 2. | Lando Norris (McLaren) | 12. | Franco Colapinto (Williams) |
| 3. | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 13. | Esteban Ocon (Alpine) |
| 4. | George Russell (Mercedes) | 14. | Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber) |
| 5. | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | 15. | Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber) |
| 6. | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | 16. | Liam Lawson (RB) |
| 7. | Kevin Magnussen (Haas) | 17. | Sergio Perez (Red Bull) |
| 8. | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | DNF | Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) |
| 9. | Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) | DNF | Alexander Albon (Williams) |
| 10. | Pierre Gasly (Alpine) | DNF | Yuki Tsunoda (RB) |
F1 Drivers’ World Championship 2024 updated standings, points
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 362 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 315 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 291 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 251 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 240 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 189 |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes | 177 |
| 8 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 150 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 62 |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 31 |
| 11 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 24 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 22 |
| 13 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 14 |
| 14 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 12 |
| 15 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB | 12 |
| 16 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 9 |
| 17 | Oliver Bearman | Ferrari | 7 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 5 |
| 19 | Franco Colapinto | Williams | 5 |
| 20 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber | 0 |
| 21 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber | 0 |
F1 Constructors’ Championship 2024 updated standings, points
| Position | Team | Points |
| 1 | McLaren | 566 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 537 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 512 |
| 4 | Mercedes | 366 |
| 5 | Aston Martin | 86 |
| 6 | Haas | 46 |
| 7 | RB | 36 |
| 8 | Williams | 17 |
| 9 | Alpine | 14 |
| 10 | Kick Sauber | 0 |
F1 live stream, TV channel: How to watch races in 2024
| Country | TV channel | Live stream |
| USA | — | FUBO, F1TV |
| Canada | TSN (English); RDS (French) | TSN Direct |
| UK | Sky Sports F1 | SkyGo, NOW TV |
| Australia | Fox Sports | Foxtel Go, Kayo Sports |
| India | — | F1 TV Pro |
