LEWIS HAMILTON BLASTS "PRETTY NUTS" 10-SECOND PENALTY AFTER MEXICO CITY GP DUEL WITH VERSTAPPEN

HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, portrait during the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2025, 10th round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from June 14 to 16, 2025 on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montréal, Canada - Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

Lewis Hamilton has criticised the 10-second time penalty he received during the Mexico City Grand Prix, calling the decision “pretty nuts” after it cost him a potential first podium finish with Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion was penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a fierce battle with Max Verstappen on Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The Incident

The flashpoint occurred on lap 18 as Hamilton and Verstappen fought for third place. Hamilton locked up under braking into Turn 4, ran across the grass, and rejoined the track ahead of his rival. In the chaos, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman briefly overtook Verstappen before the order stabilised.

Hamilton retained third position on track, but stewards deemed he had gained an advantage by cutting the corner. The 10-second penalty, served during his pit stop, dropped him out of podium contention and he ultimately finished eighth.

“Didn’t Make Sense”

Hamilton was left frustrated by the decision, arguing that other drivers including teammate Charles Leclerc and Verstappen himself had gone off track earlier in the race without facing similar punishment.

“I mean, that’s pretty much the same as all the other people around me, so… didn’t make sense,” Hamilton told reporters post-race.

“I had a great start. You’re braking into Turn 1, I was into P2, I navigated through Turns 1, 2, and 3. I didn’t go off track. Others cut it and held position and didn’t get penalties. It was pretty nuts.”

Hamilton was also investigated for multiple wheel-to-wheel incidents with Verstappen, including light contact at Turn 1 moments before his off-track excursion.

“It felt like racing,” he said. “I was fine there; it was just the cutting, and then I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty. It was kind of nuts. Ten seconds stop and go.

“I went to go down the exit road, but it’s like the dustiest place on earth, and I couldn’t slow the car down, so I ended up patting the grass. But that’s the exit road.”

“That’s Motor Racing”

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Hamilton gave a short but pointed interview, reflecting on what might have been.

“Itwas fun at the start, and it didn’t end up the way I’d hoped. That’s motor racing,” he said. “It’s very, very dirty offline, and I did the best I could to bring the car back to the track safely. That’s all I could hope for.

“Yes, there are some positives we got some points, at least.”

The result extends Hamilton’s podium drought with Ferrari to 19 Grands Prix, breaking a 43-year-old record previously held by Didier Pironi for the longest wait to reach the rostrum after joining the Scuderia.

Still, Hamilton remains optimistic that a breakthrough is coming and with five races left in the 2025 season, he’ll have more chances to end that streak.

- James Rees

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT THE F1 MEXICO

Formula 1 returns this weekend with its Mexico City Grand Prix

The end of the 2025 Formula 1 season is in sight as the championship hosts the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend to kickstart the final five rounds of the year.

It comes just a week after the United States GP, which Max Verstappen dominated from pole after the Red Bull driver also won the sprint contest to continue his fine run of form.

Talk has been non-stop ever since over if the four-time world champion is in the title fight, or if it is still being fought by the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

That is one of many things to keep an eye on this weekend, so here are five things to look out for at the Mexico Grand Prix.

Will Verstappen continue his title charge?

McLaren had dominated the 2025 campaign so much that it seemed the drivers’ title battle was only between Piastri and Norris who, between them, won 12 of the opening 15 grands prix. Talks had even been held internally about how to celebrate the eventual champion to avoid any dramas with the runner-up.

But McLaren claiming a double championship - having already won the constructors’ title - is no longer a foregone conclusion thanks to the incredible form of Verstappen. It started at the Italian Grand Prix, where Red Bull brought a series of upgrades including a new floor, and suddenly the Austrian outfit had a car that was capable of challenging McLaren on all tracks.

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Across the next four weekends, Verstappen cut his 104-point deficit to championship leader Piastri to just 40 and is 26 behind Norris. It is well documented what Verstappen can do with the best car - 19 wins in 2023, for example - and that is something he has right now, which should continue into Mexico.

The high altitude of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is defined by its thin air, which negates the effect of bigger wings and is a reason Red Bull typically thrives in Mexico. Its car also enjoys stable downforce at the higher ride heights that are required to protect the planks from Mexico’s bumpy track, and fast corners aren’t where McLaren is at its best.

So not only is Verstappen claiming a fifth, consecutive title a genuine possibility, but his recent form can also serve as a test to the McLaren pair to judge their mettle. Both are fighting for their maiden crown and Piastri, in particular, needs a huge result to stop any momentum from his challengers.

Will Red Bull announce its 2026 driver line-up?

Verstappen may be loving life right now, but his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda certainly isn’t. Well, in fact, any team-mate of the Dutchman has found it tough in recent years. Liam Lawson started the season in that role, having replaced the struggling Sergio Perez, but the 23-year-old only lasted two rounds after not scoring a point.

So, Tsunoda was given the promotion from sister outfit Racing Bulls for round three, Japan, onwards but has faced similar struggles. The Japanese driver scored just 25 points for Red Bull leaving him 16th in the championship and not yet signed for next year.

He isn’t expected to be signed either, with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar set for the promotion after a solid campaign that included a podium at Zandvoort. With Hadjar moving up, Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad is expected to join Racing Bulls after his season in F2. 

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Red Bull management had previously stated that it aims to announce its driver line-ups across both teams by the end of October, meaning it could be confirmed this weekend. The only real question is who will be Lindblad’s team-mate? It is likely to be either Lawson or Tsunoda with the former being the favourite given he is a couple of years younger than the Red Bull driver and what good would a demotion to Racing Bulls serve for the 25-year-old? 

Tsunoda is in a fight to save his F1 career, so will that result in a points-scoring Mexico weekend? Only time will tell. 

Is Ferrari’s pace genuine? 

Ferrari has been one of the most underwhelming teams in 2025 given it was expected to launch a title fight against McLaren. That comes after the pair was left fighting for last year’s constructors’ championship at the Abu Dhabi finale, but while McLaren took the next step - Ferrari regressed.

The Scuderia is third in the championship, 344 points behind McLaren and yet to even win a grand prix. Austin, however, marked vast improvement for the team as Charles Leclerc finished third with Lewis Hamilton in fourth - marking its highest points tally from a grand prix since Austria in June. 

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Granted, a good reason behind Leclerc’s podium was his offset strategy by taking softs at lights out, but even when he was on the medium rubber he displayed solid pace against soft-runner Norris in the fight for second. Hamilton, as well, showed promise by holding off Piastri and this weekend will serve as a good test for Ferrari to see if its Austin weekend was a one-off or if it can actually fight at the front consistently.

 Ferrari finished 1-3 in Mexico last year, but since chasing lower ride heights for the SF-25, it has often struggled on bumpy tracks in 2025. Just look at Singapore, where it finished fifth and sixth and was well behind Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren. 

All is not well at Alpine as Colapinto fights for his future

This has not been the season that anybody at Alpine was hoping for as the French outfit is bottom of the championship. It is therefore on course for its worst finish since the brand took over from Renault in 2021 and also the worst finish for the Enstone-based team since Renault came ninth in 2016. 

Austin was an example of how dire things are given Alpine not only finished 17th and 19th, but its drivers also had a battle in spite of the instructions of the team. Franco Colapinto was being chased by Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in the final laps while also closing in on team-mate Pierre Gasly.

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Despite Alpine telling Colapinto to hold position in 18th, the Argentine overtook Gasly who also then dropped behind Bortoleto into 19th. Alpine director Steve Nielsen called it “disappointing” and in the team’s Mexico preview, Colapinto revealed the matter had been “discussed internally” and that “instructions by the team must always be followed”.

It seems like he has been reprimanded for the incident, so it will be interesting to see how Colapinto fares this weekend - particularly as he is fighting for his 2026 spot. The 22-year-old has not scored a point since replacing Jack Doohan for round seven, Imola, and it is unclear if Alpine will stick with him or look for a new driver to partner Gasly next season. 

What is clear is that Colapinto’s performances need to improve and there is no time like the present, so what better way to bounce back from Austin than by giving Alpine its first points finish since Belgium in July?

At least nine rookies contesting FP1 in Mexico

F1 rules mandate that each season a car must give at least two practice outings to a driver with no more than two grand prix starts. Alex Dunne, for example, replaced Norris for Austria FP1 as did Dino Beganovic instead of Leclerc.

They were the only two youngsters in that session, whereas this weekend FP1 will have at least nine of them. Pato O'Ward is replacing Norris, Antonio Fuoco is in for Hamilton, Lindblad in for Verstappen, Frederik Vesti in for George Russell, Jak Crawford in for Lance Stroll, Paul Aron in for Gasly, Ryo Hirakawa in for Oliver Bearman, Ayumu Iwasa in for Lawson and Luke Browning is in for Carlos Sainz.

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It was a similar situation last year when four rookies partook, showing Mexico as an ideal place for a full-time racer to skip the opening session. This is because it is a well-known circuit, a place where teams have lots of data and the track is often dusty in FP1 meaning it is an unrepresentative session. It is also not a sprint weekend, and many teams are no longer fitting upgrades ahead of next year’s rule change.

So FP1 may be more interesting than usual given the many new faces, who may use it as an opportunity to show why they should be an F1 driver. Dunne, for example, put himself on people’s radar after finishing fourth in Austria, while Friday can also serve as preparation for somebody like Lindblad ahead of his expected promotion.

- Ed Hardy

F1 CHAMPION MAKES CRUCIAL ASSESSMENT OF MAX VERSTAPPEN AS PRE

© Red Bull Content Pool

Max Verstappen has been declared "relaxed" and with "nothing to lose" in his F1 drivers' championship battle with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

From a position where even Verstappen was suggesting he was not in contention to become a five-time F1 champion, a stirring run of results have propelled the Red Bull driver back into the fight with Piastri and Norris.

In the five grands prix since F1 returned from the summer break, Verstappen has scored three wins and finished second on the other two occasions, whilst he also triumphed in Saturday's United States Sprint.

The addition of a new floor and front wing on his RB21 over the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix respectively have transformed his RB21, providing it with the aerodynamic grip and balance it was so previously sorely lacking.

Heading into this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen trails Piastri by just 40 points, eating into what was once a 104-point deficit just four races ago.

Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 champion, senses Verstappen's approach to the second half of this campaign has been the key danger to Piastri and Norris.

"He's relaxed," said Hill, speaking to RacingNews365. "He's got nothing to lose. Don't misinterpret that. He wants another world title. Then he's got five.

"This is a game of winning the most, but he's not under the same pressure as the other two."

Whilst Red Bull has continued to upgrade the RB21, McLaren switched off the development of its MCL39 a few races ago.

Despite the precarious position it now finds itself in, with Verstappen breathing down the necks of Piastri and Norris, team principal Andrea Stella has insisted there is no change of mind given the focus and resources required for 2026.

Teams have been forced to balance their needs accordingly. Red Bull has clearly had the means and opportunity to continue with updates to its car, in contrast to McLaren.

"The budget cap has done its job," said Hill. "It's actually closed things up towards the end of the season. In a way, it's a good regulation. It's what we want."

As to whom he would put his money on for the title now given what has happened, Hill said: "What are the odds? I'd put it on Max, wouldn't I, because the odds are going to be ridiculous.

"If you ask me, who's going to win, I don't know. I would just say, if you're talking about who's the biggest threat, it's Max."

- Ian Parkes

FERRARI'S SAINZ CLAIMS VICTORY IN MÉXICO, VERSTAPPEN PAYS PRICE FOR RUTHLESS TACTICS

MEXICO CITY, Oct 28 — Carlos Sainz cruised to an emotional victory for Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in Sunday’s incident-filled Mexico City Grand Prix as Red Bull’s series leader Max Verstappen was handed two 10-second penalties on his way to sixth.

The stewards took a dim view of Verstappen’s aggressive driving, the Red Bull driver twice forcing his title rival Norris off the track.

Norris grabbed second from Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari near the finish as the Briton enjoyed a major boost in his quest to deny Verstappen a fourth consecutive world championship.

The McLaren driver cut 10 points off the gap to Verstappen which now stands at 47 with four race weekends remaining.

Verstappen paid a heavy price for his show of ruthlessness with Norris commenting: “I knew what to expect from Max. I respect him a lot as a driver and I expected it but it was not very clean driving in my opinion.

“It was a very tough race and I spent a lot of it just trying to avoid crashes.”

It was the second week in succession that the two title-chasers had clashed following a penalty for Norris at the United States Grand Prix.

McLaren boss Zak Brown described this latest example of Verstappen’s aggressive streak as “ridiculous”.

“Enough is enough. Let’s just have some good clean racing moving forwards. I think the stewards are on it, I think that’s clear by the penalties that were given. The stewards did a good job this weekend.”

Asked about his drivers’ crown prospects Norris said: “I’m just keeping my head down, we’re doing good job as a team, focus on ourselves, that’s all I can do for now.”

Sainz meanwhile is ensuring he leaves Ferrari with his head held high as he switches next season to Williams to make way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

“Gracias Mexico!” said a beaming Sainz.

“It is incredible to see this crowd. I have felt their support all week and it gave me a lot of strength — I said I wanted one more win with Ferrari and to do it here with this mega-crowd is incredible.”

It was Ferrari’s first victory in Mexico since Alain Prost triumphed in 1990 — enabling them to move ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship — and Sainz’s second win of the season and fourth of his career.

Hamilton finished fourth ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Kevin Magnussen finished behind Verstappen in seventh to deliver Haas’s best result in Mexico ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, who started from the back end of the grid, Nico Hulkenberg in the second Haas and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Tsunoda out

The race began in a festive atmosphere with Verstappen winning the start from pole-sitter Sainz to lead the run to the first corner where RB’s Yuki Tsunoda crashed out after making contact in the midfield squeeze.

The race was yellow-flagged to retrieve the debris. Replays showed he collided with Alex Albon’s Williams going into the braking zone. Albon retired.

Verstappen accelerated as racing resumed on lap six with Sainz soon showing Ferrari’s potential and then sweeping inside him to lead on lap nine at Turn One.

The Dutchman fought but Sainz hung on and next time round on lap 10 Norris made a move at Turn Eight where Verstappen responded by forcing him wide and off-track.

Norris handed the place back.

“I was ahead the whole way through the corner,” said the Briton. “This guy is dangerous. I have to avoid a crash. I’ll end up in the wall.”

As they squabbled, Leclerc moved up to second while Norris tried again at Turn Four on the next lap only to be pushed off again.

“He overtook me off-track and pushed me off,” said Norris.

The stewards noted both incidents and then issued Verstappen with a 10-second penalty for fouling Norris. “That’s quite impressive,” said a sarcastic Verstappen.

Behind the leaders two-time former champion Fernando Alonso, in his record 400th Grand Prix weekend, pitted his Aston Martin and retired after 17 laps before a second stewards’ penalty for Verstappen — a further 10 seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

After a flurry of pit stops Verstappen climbed to sixth as Norris chased Leclerc, passing him for second on lap 63 when the Monegasque slid wide at the final corner.

With five laps to go, Norris was seven seconds behind Sainz as Hamilton finally passed Russell for fourth, setting up a frantic finale. 

— AFP

TOTO WOLFF: MERCEDES IN 'SERIOUS TROUBLE' WITH F1 COST CAP AMID RECENT CRASHES

George Russell's latest crash has put Mercedes in danger with F1's budget cap

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded George Russell’s FP2 crash at the Mexico City Grand Prix has placed the team in “serious trouble” with Formula 1‘s cost cap.

Russell’s participation in the second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was curtailed when his car became unsettled over the kerb in the esses.

The Briton was pitched into a high-speed spin which sent him careering towards the barrier at Turn 9, granting the Mercedes mechanics a comprehensive repair build.

Russell’s incident marked his second in under a week as he also slammed into the wall in qualifying in the United States, costing him the side’s latest update package.

Those two episodes succeeded Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will partner Russell in 2025, sustaining a vast impact on his maiden FP1 appearance at Monza last month.

With crash damage contributing to each side’s budget cap allowance, Wolff is worried recent events could have a bearing on Mercedes remaining under the threshold.

“I think we can keep the old chassis, but everything else has to go out,” Wolff explained to Sky Germany.

“The engine has to come out, the gearbox has to be checked and then everything else. Two corners of the car are completely gone. So it’s serious damage.

“We’re in serious trouble. We are all struggling to stay within the budget cap and of course we had a bad accident with Kimi at Monza.

“Then the second one with George last week [in Austin] and now again this week.”

Russell’s participation not in doubt

Russell’s touch with the barrier was recorded at 35G and mandated a trip to the FIA medical centre, but he was cleared and is set to continue competing this weekend.

“[It was] 35G,” Wolff divulged. “So that was a really big impact. He was taken to the medical centre, but he’s okay.

“But of course, the car is badly damaged… but we have the [spare] parts.”

- Taylor Powling

CARLOS SAINS AS GEORGE RUSSELL CRASHES IN MEXICO PRACTICE

Mercedes' George Russell crashed during second practice after setting the fastest time in FP1 on Friday.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was fastest in Formula 1's Mexico City Grand Prix practice on Friday after Mercedes' George Russell led the opening session and then crashed heavily in the late afternoon.

On an eventful day at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen was sidelined by an engine problem and failed to set a lap time in the second session.

The triple world champion, who is 57 points clear of McLaren's Lando Norris with five rounds remaining, has won five of the last six races in Mexico but is currently on a nine-race losing streak.

"This noise is very disturbing, this can't be normal," Verstappen said of the noise coming from his engine when he did venture out early on.

Sainz's fastest lap of 1:17.699 seconds, set on 2025 prototype tyres, was 0.178 quicker than McLaren's Oscar Piastri with RB's Yuki Tsunoda surprisingly third in both sessions.

Alex Albon missed second practice after colliding with Ferrari reserve Oliver Bearman and crashing out of first practice, leaving his Williams mechanics with plenty of work.

Albon called Bearman, who will race for Haas next season, an "idiot" but stewards decided it was a racing incident and took no further action.

Bearman had been driving Charles Leclerc's car in the hour-long opening session and Ferrari got it repaired in time for Leclerc to use in the later session and lap fourth fastest.

Russell had lapped in 1:17.998 in practice one, with Sainz 0.317 slower, but the Briton's later crash at Turn 8 brought out more red flags.

The Mercedes spun and slammed into the barriers sideways, with Russell also taken to the medical centre before being released.

"He's physically OK but it was a significant impact," said a team spokesman.

"Honestly, don't know what happened," Russell said later. "Just the car started bouncing on the ground and before I had a chance to catch it, I was already spinning. A lot of work for the guys tonight again. It seems like it's one thing after another at the moment. It's frustrating.

"FP1 we were very strong, very fast. Tried to take the same line, cutting that corner and for whatever reason on this occasion in FP2 the thing just started going on me.

"I mean FP2 ... because it was the Pirelli tyre test it wasn't hugely valuable in terms of what you learn for the race weekend. Obviously missed out on laps. FP3 is going to be important. Just hope we can get the car fixed."

Norris sat out the first session while Mexican IndyCar regular Pato O'Ward took a turn in the McLaren, to the crowd's delight, and ended up 13th. The Briton returned for the second stint and was fifth on the regular medium tyres.

Mercedes' seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was also absent in session one, handing over his car to Italian Kimi Antonelli who will replace him next season, but was seventh later on.

Antonelli lapped 12th fastest in his second such outing of the season, avoiding any repeat of his debut crash at Monza in August.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso started his preparation for a record 400th race with the 11th best time.

Mexican Sergio Perez, struggling with a dire lack of form, was only 10th and ninth for Red Bull respectively in the sessions.

The second session was extended to an hour and a half to allow teams to test Pirelli's development tyres.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services