The fifth and last race of the F1 season ended for Ferrari Carlos Sainz to the party. Max Verstappen went without a win for the tenth time in a row and received a fierce 20-second penalty in the race for his misbehavior.
In the end, the Dutchman was only sixth in Mexico. Differential Lando to Norris narrowed to 47 points in the World Cup.
Urheilu’s F1 expert Jukka Mildh go through the aftermath of the Mexican GP. If you want, you can also listen to Mildh’s views on the player below or on Areena from behind this link.
How did the race end?
The race in Mexico can be considered to have been decided both by Ferrari’s incredible performance and by Red Bull’s lack of performance. Sainz got behind Verstappen at the start, but soon passed the Dutchman without any problems.
According to Mildh, the Ferrari engines are perfectly suited to the high altitude of Mexico. The second double win in a row almost escaped Charles Leclerc to a driving error at the end of the race.
On the other hand, Norris, who drove second, could also have challenged Sainz for the win, if Verstappen had not questionably kept the Brit behind him at the beginning of the race.
The Dutchman pushed Norris, who was on the outside corner, off the track twice. In Mildh’s opinion, the dangerous driving was deservedly “rewarded” with a 20-second penalty.
– The action can be called Verstappen’s arrogance and stupidity. Headlong diving into the curves was unsportsmanlike, but also spoke of desperation. Norris is the target of all the bulling, so that the point difference doesn’t shrink, Mildh describes.
What speaks?
There is nothing new in Verstappen’s actions, but similar thinking in the middle of the corner was also seen in the previous race. Of course, the stubborn triple champion has always been known for his arrogance on the track.
However, according to Mildh, Verstappen’s recent actions have revealed a flaw in the rules of the FIA and the F1 series.
There are no unequivocal rules on how similar overtaking situations should be interpreted. Overtaking rules and related interpretations exist in several different contexts. For example, the race-specific instructions of the race director and the general rules of car racing are often in conflict.
– One set of rules is needed for overtaking in curves. There has been talk that they would only be addressed in the penultimate race in Qatar. I think the rules should be unified even before the next race, Mildh emphasizes.
Who flopped?
The flop of the race was once again Red Bull’s second driver Sergio Perez. The Mexican fell into a confusing mess in his home race when he stopped at the wrong place on his own starting grid. Perez deservedly received a five-second penalty for this.
The race weekend was a complete stomach-turner from start to finish. The sacking rumors around Perez got new fuel again.
– The mistake was embarrassing, such a thing should not be done in any F1 team or even in the motorsport class. It tells about the grip slipping, which is a shame. The pressure around him is eating away at him and Verstappen is taking the rest of the oxygen out of the room.
Who surprised?
The Haas team emerged as the surprise of the competition. Kevin Magnussen was seventh and Nico Hulkenberg ninth. The team secured their positions in sixth place in the manufacturers’ series. The ranking is downright excellent for last season’s jumbo team.
Of course, the top race is partly explained by Ferrari’s power source, which proved its functionality in Mexico.
– The performance was great. The stable has moved forward in many ways. Their cars are built for different operators and then assembled at the Haas factory. These partners and the leadership in the team have improved.
What about Bottas?
Valtteri Bottas the weekend was cautiously positive. In qualifying, the Finn rarely made it to the second section, where he couldn’t show his final speed due to red flags.
There were still no points from the race, because Sauber’s speed was not enough despite the upgrade package and the Ferrari engine.
It is also worrying that there is still no final certainty about the contract for next season.
– The clock is ticking. Young drivers are raising their heads in the free market, there are more and more of them in line all the time. Unfortunately, it may happen that the decision is political and it may turn against Bottas. You can’t finish with that car either, Mildh reminds.
What next?
In Jukka Mildh’s opinion, it is entirely possible that Norris will still be able to become champion. It just requires the support of a teammate from Oscar Piastr.
Verstappen’s misfortune would of course make the situation a lot easier. Norris’s streak is partly hampered by Ferrari’s excellent results, because it is more and more difficult for him to win races. By winning, the point difference would narrow considerably, even if Verstappen were to drive a reasonable ranking.
The Manufacturers’ World Series seems to be between McLaren and second-placed Ferrari. Mildh is happy that traditional stables can achieve the coveted title after a long time.
– This is really good for the sport, that Red Bull can no longer manage. Especially because it happens thanks to the work of teams like McLaren and Ferrari. Proper organization has made it possible to cover years of superiority, Mildh explains.
The season continues next weekend in Brazil.
Drivers’ World Championship points
There are four races left in the season.
Manufacturers’ World Championship points
Red Bull has won the team championship twice in a row. McLaren has been the manufacturers’ champion for the last time Mika Häkkinen in the first championship season in 1998. Ferrari’s previous championship is from 2008.