Insatiable Max Verstappen! The already crowned three-time world champion won the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix this Sunday evening and thus broke his record for the number of victories in a season at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The Dutchman, who beat the Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and the Monegasque Charles Ferrari (Ferrari), thus won his 16th victory in 19 races in 2023 and improved his previous mark established last season.
The Red Bull driver also signed the 51st success of his career, joining Frenchman Alain Prost in fourth place among the most victorious drivers in F1 history. He also got closer to third, the German Sebastian Vettel (53 victories). However, he is still far from the 103 victories of Hamilton, still active, and the 91 of the German Michael Schumacher.
Perez retires at home
“We are having an incredible season. We only started third but today the pace in the race was very, very good. The next goal will be a 17th victory this year,” Verstappen said after the race.
Starting in third position, the Dutchman, thanks to the 800 m which separated the start of the first turn, took control at the end of the first straight, taking advantage in particular of the collision between Leclerc and Perez, the Mexican driver abandoning immediately the first round at home.
Verstappen then managed events to perfection, such as this second start on the grid after a red flag following a violent exit from the track by Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), whose car saw its left rear suspension break.
One point is all for Alpine
Hamilton, who had not scored a single point in the last two GPs after going off the track in Qatar and being disqualified in the United States last weekend, did the right thing of the day by finishing second. “It’s a great result because I started in sixth position. The last two Grands Prix were difficult so I want to say a big congratulations to the team for being able to bounce back,” underlined the Briton.
Behind the Verstappen-Hamilton-Leclerc podium, Carlos Sainz finished fourth with the second Ferrari, ahead of the whirling Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), author of a superb comeback from 17th to 5th place. His compatriot George Russell (Mercedes) finished in sixth place, ahead of two Australians, the brave Daniel Ricciardo, who had a great race at the wheel of his AlphaTauri, and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
Aston Martin, in difficulties for several weeks, once again experienced a nightmare Sunday with the retirement of the Spaniard Fernando Alonso and the Canadian Lance Stroll, hit by the Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa-Romeo) at the end of the race on the day of his 25th anniversary. Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), one last time after a failed start, took tenth place, just ahead of his teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly.
