Oct 28, 2025 | Formula 1
Chaos at the start: cross-border racing
The race in Mexico started chaotically. At the first corner, several drivers went over the grass. That resulted in position gains for some. Others felt it was unjustified.
Hamilton said he was penalised for staying within the limits. Fernando Alonso said he lost several places while opponents seemed to win several rows over the grass. The opening sequence at the circuit has been a source of problems for years. As a result, the stewards face tough decisions.
The near miss with marshals
There was also a dangerous situation with marshal personnel at the exit of Turn 1. A driver passed it just in time as marshals walked across the tarmac to remove debris. The organisers later apologised.
Fortunately, it ended well. But the incident leaves obvious safety questions. Better communication is needed so that something like this cannot happen again.
Piastri struggles, Norris benefits
Oscar Piastri is currently going through a difficult period. His lead in the championship was lost. In Mexico, he was clearly slower than teammate Lando Norris. The difference was not tied to one corner, but sat throughout the lap time.
McLaren thinks the low grip and specific conditions in Austin and Mexico don't suit Piastri. If that is true, the problem may disappear at other circuits. But if the weakness remains, his title ambition is seriously threatened.
Norris has the perfect weekend
Lando Norris, on the other hand, had a complete weekend. He was fast in all sessions, showing how well he can handle the low-grip conditions. An extensive debrief after previous races helped him regain his touch.
That form gives Norris momentum in the title race and strengthens his position within McLaren.
Red Bull praises Tsunoda, result says otherwise
Red Bull praised Yuki Tsunoda for his strong pace in qualifying and early race stages. Technically, he was close to Max Verstappen. Yet he ended up 11th. Team tactics played a role: Tsunoda stayed out longer to support Verstappen's strategy.
In addition, Tsunoda suffered a very slow pit stop, causing him to miss out on points. The team speaks of progress, but his place is not yet secure. The priority remains Verstappen's title fight.
Haas tackles it well
Haas showed in Mexico that it can do the right thing when it counts. The updated VF-25 was strong in race trim. Ollie Bearman drove a flawless race and finished as the best result ever for him and the team.
Haas opted for two pit stops and temporarily lost positions. That was a calculated choice. The risk of losing performance with worn tyres would have been too great. Fourth place also brings important points in the battle for sixth place in the constructors' championship.
Aston Martin and Alpine lag behind
Aston Martin has been struggling in Mexico for years. The circuit does not suit the balance and efficiency of their car. This season yielded no points again. Stroll spun on the opening lap and Alonso had to retire due to overheated brakes.
Alpine had an even worse weekend. Both cars were slow and mostly had to make room for the leaders. The team chose not to intervene with risky team orders. Expectations for Brazil are low, even though that circuit was the model for success last year.
Bortoleto fights back and earns point
Gabriel Bortoleto started low due to problems in qualifying. In the race, he showed fighting spirit. From 16th place, he worked his way to the front and secured a point for Sauber.
His race was tactical and aggressive. A bold overtaking move on an opponent earned him tenth place. That point is valuable in the battle for sixth position among constructors.
Summary: What does this weekend take us through?
- The opening chaos in Mexico highlights the need for better enforcement of track limits and starting behaviour.
- Safety around the track is improvement point number one after the incident with marshals.
- Piastri needs to regain his form soon; otherwise he may lose his title chances.
- Norris shows top form and relies on good communication with his team.
- Red Bull sees progress with Tsunoda, but results remain important.
- Haas made wise choices and is now reaping the benefits.
Mexico was a race with many political and sporting implications. The results change the proportions in the championship. The coming races will determine whether this shift is permanent.
Oct 27, 2025 | DTM
The crash at Hockenheim and a painful echo
Rene Rast lost a possible fourth title at the recent DTM final in Hockenheim after he got involved in a chain reaction in the Spitzkehre on the first lap. That corner seems to keep turning against him: the same spot also cost him a championship early in his career.
At Hockenheim, Rast came out of the first lap as a casualty, his car too badly damaged to continue driving. With that, his championship chances evaporated in one fell swoop.
What exactly happened in 2006
In 2006, Rast raced in the Seat Leon Cup and started the final race weekend as championship leader, from the front row, on a drying track. As in Hockenheim later, things went wrong on the first lap: defending champion Thomas Marschall hit Erik Janis, causing Janis to collide with Rast again. Rast had to abandon the race as his car was too badly damaged.
The race organisers pointed to Erik Janis as the culprit and awarded him a penalty. Florian Gruber, who came to the final third in the championship, took advantage and took the championship with a satisfactory result. Rast finished second that season, with three wins, and eventually missed out on the title by just three points.
- Season: 2006, Seat Leon Cup - title loss due to incident in Spitzkehre
- Drivers involved: Rene Rast, Thomas Marschall, Erik Janis, Florian Gruber
- Results: Janis penalised as perpetrator; Gruber benefited
- Rast: three season victories, finishes two points short of the lead
Setback finally led to breakthrough
After that disappointment, Rast picked up where he left off. In 2007, he switched to the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. A year later, he won the title in that series. Between 2010 and 2012, he made a name for himself in the Porsche Supercup with three titles in a row.
Despite his success in Porsche, Rast also had setbacks: BMW and Audi did not initially see him as a DTM contender. It was only in 2016 that he made his DTM debut at Zandvoort due to an injury to Adrien Tambay, and a year later he took his first DTM title in his rookie year.
The parallel between 2006 and the recent Hockenheim incident shows how one turn in one lap can change careers. For Rast, it ultimately remained a path with deep setbacks, but also with a strong comeback and later great success.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Main outcome
The stewards have explained why Lewis Hamilton received a time penalty in the Mexican Grand Prix. Max Verstappen received no penalty for the collision at Turn 1. The stewards investigated several moments in the battle between the two drivers.
The collision at Turn 1
It started with an overtaking attempt in Turn 1 on lap six. Verstappen dived in on the inside. Coming out of the corner, the two touched briefly. As a result, Hamilton slid slightly to the outside.
The stewards ruled that Verstappen's car was clearly in front of Hamilton's mirror at the inside point. That meant Verstappen was entitled to the ideal line. The collision remained light. Neither car sustained any damage. Therefore, the stewards qualified it as a racing incident and imposed no penalty.
Turn 2 and Turn 3
After the collision, the cars drove side by side for a short time. Verstappen hit the grass at Turn 2 and returned after Turn 3. In doing so, he did not lose a penalty, according to the stewards.
Turn 4: two investigations
Shortly afterwards, discussion arose on Turn 4 about rejoining the track. Hamilton came to the corner at high speed and stalled. He went into the run-off lane, cutting across the grass to get back in front of Verstappen.
This resulted in two investigations. The first was about not using the prescribed asphalt exit lane. The stewards felt the car had too much speed to safely use that asphalt lane. Therefore, they saw a just cause for it.
The second investigation dealt with whether Hamilton had gained a permanent advantage by leaving the track. The stewards decided that this was the case. Hamilton had gained a position and did not give it back. He was therefore given a 10-second time penalty.
Stewards' viewpoint
Their main arguments were brief: Verstappen had enough of the front for Hamilton on entering Turn 1 to lay claim to the line. The wheels touched lightly, leading to no sporting consequence. By Turn 4, on the other hand, Hamilton had gained a lasting advantage by using the grass.
Response from Hamilton
Hamilton reacted critically after the race. He called the incident in Turn 1 simply racing. He said he found it hard to understand why he was the only one to get a 10-second penalty.
Brief overview
- Turn 1: minor collision, assessed as racing incident, no penalty.
- Turn 2/3: Verstappen temporarily on the grass, no penalty.
- Turn 4: Hamilton cut across the grass and gained a lasting advantage.
- Consequence: Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty.
The stewards also referred to previous similar cases where no further action was taken. But in this case, track abandonment on Turn 4 did result in a penalty.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Decision remains postponed for now
Red Bull is waiting longer to choose its line-ups for 2026. The team initially wanted to provide clarity after the Mexican Grand Prix. That schedule has now been changed.
Favourites and uncertainties
Isack Hadjar still seems to be the leading candidate for promotion to the senior team. This would give Max Verstappen his fourth teammate in just over 12 months. Still, it is not certain that Yuki Tsunoda will be replaced.
Uncertainty in second team
For the second team, Racing Bulls, the situation is unclear. Tsunoda could possibly return there alongside Liam Lawson. Another option is for one of them to be paired with rookie Arvid Lindblad. Red Bull is keeping all options open.
Why Red Bull is taking more time
Team advisor Helmut Marko had previously indicated that the choice could fall after Mexico. That deadline has now been pushed back. Laurent Mekies, team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, said Tsunoda is “taking steps forward”. That is one of the reasons for waiting.
Tsunoda's weekend in Mexico
Tsunoda suffered bad luck at his pit stop in Mexico. As a result, he missed out on an apparent top-10 finish. However, he was close to Verstappen in qualifying and his first stint in the race was strong. Mekies stressed that Tsunoda was only a few tenths behind Verstappen in qualifying.
Key facts at a glance
- Hadjar is still seen as favourite for promotion.
- Tsunoda showed improvements in Mexico, but a pit stop cost him results.
- Racing Bulls line-up (Tsunoda, Lawson or Lindblad) undecided.
- Red Bull wants to make the decision before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Tsunoda's minor qualifying deficits versus Verstappen (2025)
- 0.163s - Hungary
- 0.211s - Mexico
- 0.263s - Austria
- 0.381s - Belgium
- 0.464s - Canada
Timing and strategic considerations
Red Bull does not want a decision that distracts teams at the decisive stage of the championship. Verstappen's remaining chances for the drivers' championship come into play. The constructors' battle for both teams is also a factor. A public announcement could disrupt the team focus.
Mekies indicated that the team has the freedom to choose quietly. Still, Red Bull does not want to wait until mid-December like last year. The aim remains to clarify before Abu Dhabi, both internally and possibly publicly.
What lies ahead?
The decision depends on several elements. Form and performance weigh in. Team goals in the final phase of the season are also important. Red Bull considers those parameters before announcing the news.
Oct 27, 2025 | Formula 1
Mexican GP puts title fight on edge
Lando Norris won convincingly in Mexico. He drove from pole to win by a wide margin. As a result, he now tops the championship. It is a clear message: Norris should be competing for the title.
Norris dominated, Piastri lost ground
Norris had a top weekend. Everything fell together well for him. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, had a difficult race weekend. He lost places at the start and hit back problems around the first pit stops. In the end, Piastri crossed the line in fifth place. He finished well behind his teammate. This is worrying for Piastri, as we saw this pattern earlier this season.
Verstappen fights back to podium
Max Verstappen did not come out of qualifying looking pretty. Yet he still dragged out a podium in the race. That shows resilience. Without the virtual safety car, he might even have finished second. His result keeps the tension in the title race.
What does this mean for the championship?
The title fight is now a real triangle between Norris, Piastri and Verstappen. Nothing has been decided. There are still four grands prix and two sprint races to go. A total of 116 points are still on the table. Small mistakes or technical problems could prove very expensive later on.
Key points to remember:
- Norris has the lead, but only by one point.
- Verstappen is still behind, but is back in contention thanks to his podium.
- Piastri needs to stop his recent dip in form to avoid slipping in the championship.
Why this is good for sport
This kind of change makes the title race exciting. The upcoming circuits differ greatly from each other. That could change the proportions again. Also, McLaren and Red Bull each have their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, the title cannot be decided only on the best days. Instead, it may depend on who does the least wrong on the bad days.
Conclusion
Mexico brought the top three closer together. Norris proved he is in contention for the title. Verstappen showed character with his recovery to the podium. Piastri is under pressure and needs to respond. The denouement promises to be another exciting stage.
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