Overview of a volatile race
The 2025 Mexican Grand Prix delivered plenty of action and unexpected shifts in the standings. Some teams grabbed plenty of returns. Others lost chances or points. Below I cover the main winners and losers of the weekend.
Main winners
Ollie Bearman (4th)
Bearman had shown good race pace during the simulations. Haas and he now cashed in on that opportunity. He took advantage of an incident between Hamilton, Verstappen and Russell. After that, he drove smart and kept faster cars behind him. It was his best F1 hour to date. Esteban Ocon also scored points, taking Haas to eighth place among constructors. That is important in the battle for spot six in the championship.
Lando Norris (1st)
Norris dominated the weekend from start to finish. He is now top of the championship. The win was convincing and well-timed. McLaren showed strong speed on dry tracks, like last year in Brazil. If the weather cooperates, McLaren can put up a weekend like this more often.
Max Verstappen (3rd)
Verstappen made the most of a tough Sunday. His stint on the softs was very strong. As a result, he closed a big gap and returned to the podium. On a day like this, it shows how important it is to limit damage. This podium finish keeps his title fight alive.
Charles Leclerc (2nd)
Leclerc pulled in a solid second place. Ferrari seemed a little short against Verstappen at times, but Leclerc took advantage early in the race. Thanks to his performance, a Ferrari stayed in front. Two podiums in a row are a welcome boost. Ferrari is now one point ahead of Mercedes in the battle for second place among constructors.
Gabriel Bortoleto (10th)
Bortoleto grabbed the last point with a clever strategy. Sauber chose medium to soft and that proved just a little quicker in the midfield. He took advantage of a slow pit stop by Tsunoda and overtook Hadjar briskly at Turn 1. For Sauber, this was a nice salvation after a difficult weekend.
Main losers
Yuki Tsunoda (11th)
Tsunoda showed moments of speed and kept Piastri behind him for a while. But he also had long stretches where his pace dropped away. A slow pit stop cost him valuable places. As a result, he lost points that might have been attainable. His expectation of a top-six place was therefore too optimistic.
Oscar Piastri (5th)
Piastri rode sensibly and fought his way back after a mediocre qualifying session. Fifth place was a neat recovery. Still, the result is painful in the title race. He lost too many points in a weekend where he could have scored.
George Russell (6th)
Russell was forcefully leading his points on the radio, trying to force progress. Yet his race did not go as expected. He had to deal with actions from other drivers and lost ground. In the end, he finished outside the podium. It was a disappointing day given the expectations.
Lewis Hamilton (8th)
Hamilton seemed well away at the start, but an incident at Turn 4 cost him a lot of time. He received a penalty for not giving back position or time gained. The 10-second time penalty after the pit stop threw away his podium opportunity. It was an expensive mistake in a race where he could have scored.
Carlos Sainz (DNF)
Sainz had a bad start and got involved in a collision. That collision caused vibrations that damaged the pit-lane limiter. The problems caused him two penalties, including a drive-through. In the end, he had to abandon the car. For him, it was a weekend to quickly forget.
Alpine (15th and 16th)
Alpine experienced probably the worst weekend of their season. Both cars were far from the field. It became a long and lonely afternoon for both drivers. This result shows how big the gap is sometimes.
Racing Bulls (13th and DNF)
Racing Bulls again remained without points. That is now three races in a row without a score. Sainz's starting crash hit Lawson and Hadjar was fouled early in Turn 6. As a result, the team dropped far back. With several teams close together, this negative pace could become costly.
Summary conclusions
- Bearman and Haas took full advantage and recorded a game-changing result.
- Norris grabs the lead and confirms McLaren's dry-weather speed.
- Verstappen keeps title fight alive by limiting damage.
- Sainz, Alpine and Racing Bulls lost the most this weekend.
The outcome in Mexico changes the season. Some teams gained new energy. Others face remedial work. Next races will be crucial in the title and constructors' battle.
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