The F1 season resumes in Mexico City this weekend, following the highly contentious battle in Austin between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who has won five of the last six races here.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosts the Mexican Grand Prix in round 20 of the 2024 season with plenty up for grabs across the final five races.
Charles Leclerc produced a sensational drive to claim victory at the US Grand Prix with Ferrari impressing with a one-two thanks to Carlos Sainz.
The Scuderia are contending a fierce battle with McLaren and Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, with qualifying set to be vital here. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will bid to banish a nightmare weekend last time out in Texas.
Follow live updates from the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING - LATEST UPDATES
- Qualifying in Mexico City starts at 10pm (BST)
- Max Verstappen and Lando Norris resume battle for drivers’ championship with Red Bull star’s lead up to 57 points
- Russell crashes in practice while Verstappen suffers engine trouble
- Sergio Perez under pressure in front of home fans after poor season
- Verstappen changes engine overnight but avoids grid penalty
- Piastri and teammate Norris fastest in FP3 as McLaren gap the field
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates
21:22
Jack Rathborn
“I’ll believe in it until it’s mathematically impossible, we can overtake the McLaren and the Red Bull as well,” says Charles Leclerc, who can still win the drivers’ championship, even if it is extremely unlikely.
“I mean, never say never. [But] even if we do everything perfectly, I feel like it will require a little bit of luck inside that to try and get that [drivers’] title, and we cannot really rely on luck.
“So, the drivers’ [championship] seems to be quite unlikely. But again, I will believe in it until it’s mathematically impossible.”
Leclerc is 22 points behind Norris, who trails Verstappen by 57 points. The Monegasque would need to win all five of the remaining grand prix, plus the sprint races, with Verstappen finishing on average fifth or worse in every race and setting no more than three fastest laps.
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates
21:14
Jack Rathborn
The animosity and tension from last weekend’s US Grand Prix lingers...
Debate will rage as to whether Lando Norris deserved his penalty as Max Verstappen furiously defended his place on the podium.
Sky Sports have reported a lively drivers’ meeting in Mexico City overnight, with direct exchanges between the two title contenders.
The nature of that was “calm” and “respectful,” according to the broadcaster.
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Qualifying updates
21:05
Jack Rathborn
Just an hour until qualifying begins... Can Red Bull and Ferrari find something or will the McLarens have too much one-lap speed to block out the front of the grid?
Verstappen was desperate for grip in FP3, will the Red Bull find something new in qualifying?
if Lando can beat out his teammate, there could be separation on the grid before lights out tomorrow.
Ferrari mechanic takes a tumble during final practice at Mexico Grand Prix
20:55
Jack Rathborn
Ferrari mechanic Alessandro Fusaro took a scary tumble during practice as Charles Leclerc prepared to leave the Scuderia’s garage.
But he styled it out beautifully, take a bow, Alessandro!
Kudos to this Ferrari mechanic for styling out this pit lane fall pic.twitter.com/mBTacL9PHO
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 26, 2024
Oscar Piastri takes swipe at Carlos Sainz during practice
20:45
Jack Rathborn
During third practice, Piastri had some words for Carlos Sainz and was heard saying on his radio: “Typical Carlos.”
It is not thought to be too serious, although Sainz could have gone quicker at turn 10. It led to Piastri abandoning a lap during the session.
Oscar Piastri: "Typical Carlos" #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/6rmCmMo6uX
— McLaren News | (@McLarenF1_News) October 26, 2024
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 standings
20:35
Jack Rathborn
- Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:16.492
- Lando Norris McLaren +0.059
- Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.340
- Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.511
- Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.568
- Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.740
- Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.810
- George Russell Mercedes +0.849
- Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.982
- Liam Lawson RB +1.002
David Coulthard rips McLaren over ‘excuses’ and ‘naïve’ Verstappen v Norris strategy
20:25
Jack Rathborn
“My position was that whoever is ahead at what I define as the apex, has the right to control the corner,” David Coulthard said on the Formula For Success podcast.
“And if I put myself on the outside of Michael [Schumacher], right, what do I think is going to happen? If I’m slightly behind and I put myself on the outside, he’s going to push me off the track. Of course he is. That’s exactly what Max is going to do. The fact that Max then ran a little bit beyond the white line, actually, the point at which you are when you arrive at the apex, is what defines it. In the case of George, who was given the penalty, he was behind as they went through the apex, and then took a wider line, which forced the other car wide. So that’s why he was given the penalty.
“So for me, it’s absolutely clear, and I think that McLaren made a mistake in not saying to Lando, ‘Give the place back, pass him somewhere else’, because he had the pace to do it. And then complaining afterwards, ‘Oh, there’s rules for one, there’s rules for another’, join a long line of people who complain and make excuses. You count the winners by the chequered flag, assuming there’s no penalties afterwards.
“So, I think it was a brilliant bit of aggressive, strategic understanding of the rules by Max, and it was a slightly naïve position from McLaren. And Lando, on the in-lap I believe, and I can’t say word for word, kind of asked: ‘Why didn’t we give the place back?’ He was in the car present, but he was, at the moment, trusting in what the team were saying, and trusting in the fact that they’d both gone off, so therefore he should be able to keep the position. But of course, he doesn’t know the relative placing of the cars as they ran through the apex.”
Lewis Hamilton reacts to LMVH deal worth reported $1b to F1
20:15
Jack Rathborn
“All I hope is that, there probably isn’t, but I hope that there’s an impact element to that deal,” Lewis Hamilton said on the mega deal.
“Because it’s two huge organisations making a crazy amount of money in a year. It shouldn’t be about how much more money we can make, it should be about what impact we can make with this partnership?
“I bet anyone it’s not the case. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised but I really hope that would be in the conversations.”
Franco Colapinto to VCARB next season?
20:05
Jack Rathborn
Franco Colapinto is calm on his F1 future despite speculation he could join VCARB next season.
If Colapinto joined Red Bull’s junior team alongside Yuki Tsunoda, then Liam Lawson would link up with Red Bull next to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez could find himself out in the cold.
“We see it with Colapinto,” the Argentine youngster told Motorsport-Total. “As a relatively inexperienced and not very successful guy in the junior series, although it must be said that he never had the top teams, but what an incredible performance he is having now.
“I think he has a long-term contract with Williams. He will definitely be someone in the future. What he showed was very, very good.”
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Toto Wolff opens up on Mercedes struggles
19:55
Jack Rathborn
"We had a few big, big shunts in the last few races. The mechanics have done an incredible job, the chassis was damaged, the mood is up and down. It's difficult to read,” says Toto Wolff.
"The story of the year for us, the car has a very narrow band when it functions well. When it was cold, pre-summer, high-speed track, Silverstone and Spa, we're quickest. Cold temperatures are good for us.
"When you heat it right, we can be very quick on a single lap, over the long haul, third or fourth. The worst part [about the schedule] is for the men and women in the garage. It's rough.
"Lewis, in particular, said the car is good. It's pretty close, outside of the outliers of the McLaren. He [Hamilton] is in a good spot. We need a few details, then we’ll see in qualifying where we stand. The car is well-balanced. They’re capable of pushing it more.”
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - Countdown to qualifying
19:44
Jack Rathborn
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
19:36
Jack Rathborn
FP3 concludes and it’s a big boost for the papaya...
Piastri outpaces Norris by six-hundredths of a second.
Ferrari had the pace early on, but McLaren with the soft tyres sizzled... They’ve gapped the field and have half a second on their nearest rival: Carlos Sainz and the Ferrari.
1. Piastri - 1:16.492, 2. Norris - +0.059, 3. Sainz - +0.340, 4. Verstappen - +0.511, 5. Hamilton - +0.568
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
19:31
Jack Rathborn
2 mins to go
Verstappen is not happy, a classic rant from the Red Bull star, who bemoans a lack of grip.
Just two minutes remaining and the world champion stays fourth fastest, two tenths slower than his best of the session so far.
It’s no time to panic for Red Bull, who might have been sampling a different set-up, but all is not well with Checo down in 14th, much to the disdain of the home support here.
1. Piastri, 2. Norris, 3. Sainz, 4. Verstappen, 5. Hamilton
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates, Lewis Hamilton stunned by McLaren pace
19:21
Jack Rathborn
10 mins to go
Lewis Hamilton is shocked by the McLaren speed, he goes fourth and appears delighted, before being informed that Piastri is more than half a second faster.
The Mercedes star says: “That was a decent lap, **** they're quick!”
1. Piastri, 2. Norris, 3. Sainz, 4. Verstappen, 5. Hamilton
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
19:18
Jack Rathborn
13 mins to go
Better from Max Verstappen, on some new soft tyres, as he goes fastest with a 1:17.003, a bit of a statement to leapfrog the Ferraris.
Verstappen thriving in the middle sector, but he’ll still want to ease some concerns on the slow-speed corners. Remember, he went 1:17.800 last year here.
But Norris with a stunning time, quickly followed by Piastri, the McLarens more than half a second faster than Verstappen.
1. Piastri, 2. Norris, 3. Verstappen, 4. Hamilton, 5. Sainz
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
19:15
Jack Rathborn
16 mins to go
Now then, is this ominous for the rest? Ferrari stretch their advantage.
Sainz and Leclerc, on the soft tyres still, go 1:17.334 and 1:17.430...
The gap to the rest is more than 0.500 seconds.
1. Sainz, 2. Leclerc, 3. Tsunoda, 4. Norris, 5. Colapinto
Sergio Perez eager to snap podium drought at Mexican Grand Prix
19:00
Karl Matchett
“Momentum in F1 is very important,” Perez added. “If I get a good one here, then the season can take a huge turn.
“The most important thing is that I feel comfortable in the car. At the moment we are unable to unlock the full potential of the car.
“I feel that we are working towards solving it. We are heading in the right direction. This is Formula One, sometimes the results are not coming, you have to keep your head down and focus on the stuff that you can control.”
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
18:57
Jack Rathborn
27 mins to go
Lando Norris goes third, behind the two Ferraris. But there’s trouble for Liam Lawson, who spins at the penultimate corner after going on the curb, it’s a slow spin.
“No, no, I know what happened,” explains Lawson.
Sergio Perez is up to fourth, in what could be a pivotal weekend for the Mexican’s future.
But Checo drops one place after Piastri’s latest effort, just +0.014 to his teammate Norris.
1. Sainz, 2. Leclerc, 3. Norris, 4. Piastri, 5. Perez
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
18:49
Jack Rathborn
Ferrari have the pace again, then, both Sainz and Leclerc top the lap times for the time being.
Sainz with a 1:17.825, with Leclerc just +0.064 seconds. It’s time to see what McLaren have. Norris and Piastri are out...
“My left-hand mirror is loose,” says Russell, with the Mercedes coming into the pits to fix a minor issue.
Remember, Verstappen's power unit has reportedly been switched out overnight due to intake air circuit leakage, but there will be no grid penalty.
But the drivers’ championship leader is on thin ice, should he take on a brand-new power unit later this weekend or the remaining four rounds, then he will trigger a grid penalty.
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
18:44
Jack Rathborn
Verstappen not messing about and out early in FP3 to make up for lost time yesterday.
On the softs, he clocks a 1:18:329 to set the early pace.
Lewis Hamilton follows the Red Bull star, but the Mercedes, also on the softs, loses chunks of time and is +0.659 seconds.
But that’s better for the Silver Arrows, George Russell goes fastest, +0.045 seconds quicker than Verstappen.
F1 2024 race schedule: Start time and how to watch Mexico Grand Prix
18:40
Karl Matchett
F1 rolls around to Mexico City next as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez plays host to the Mexican Grand Prix and round 20 of the 2024 season.
Charles Leclerc won an action-packed US Grand Prix on Sunday, leading home a Ferrari one-two on a memorable day for the Scuderia in Austin.
The main talking point was the highly contentious battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with the McLaren driver coming off second-best and demoted to fourth after a penalty. Alongside his sprint race victory, it means Verstappen extended his lead to Norris in the world championship to 57 points with five rounds remaining.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes endured a nightmare weekend in Texas and will be looking to bounce back this weekend. Verstappen has a terrific record in Mexico, winning five of the last six races.
See below for all the key information ahead of this weekend’s race:
Mexico Grand Prix 2024 - FP3 latest updates
18:31
Jack Rathborn
Here we go then, FP3 coming up, Verstappen has taken a new engine from his pool, replacing the one he had yesterday, when he only completed 18 laps.
Red Bull on the limit for power units, a penalty could come their way in Brazil, perhaps, another wrinkle to this fascinating run-in.
Max Verstappen wants F1 driver voting rights - and reveals why he won’t break Lewis Hamilton title record
18:20
Karl Matchett
Max Verstappen has yet to make peace with Formula One’s governing body after being sanctioned for swearing in a press conference but he is clear on what he would like to see happen in an ideal world.
“Drivers need to get more power,” Red Bull’s triple world champion told Reuters in an interview ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
“It’s a tough one, I know, but this is something that I think is very important for the future, for the young drivers not so much for us.
“I mean, I’m happy with what I’m doing, even if many things change. If I’m not happy, I stop. It’s done,” added the 27-year-old.
“But the young kids that are now working towards their goal to get to Formula One, that is the main priority -- to make sure that for them it’s not only going to get worse from what it is.”
Asked what he meant by more power, Verstappen replied: “Voting rights. At least that we can actually be involved in the discussion.”
Sergio Perez admits to poor season with speculation over Red Bull future
09:30
Jack Rathborn
“I know I have had a terrible season. It started really well but it has been really difficult for me,” Perez said.
“If I get a strong result (here), it can definitely change my season massively, I am really up for it.
“Having Ferrari there does not change anything, we want to win the constructors, finishing second and third is no difference.
“We want to win it and for that we need both cars with the best possible performance and best possible package.”
Lando Norris makes admission in F1 title fight with Max Verstappen: ‘It’s a shame but it’s the truth’
09:00
Jack Rathborn
Lando Norris has admitted he is “not quite” at Max Verstappen’s “level” during this critical juncture in the Formula 1 title race.
Norris had two chances to narrow the gap to title leader Verstappen last weekend, in Saturday’s US Grand Prix sprint race and in Sunday’s standard race.
Red Bull’s Verstappen started on pole in the sprint and converted for a win, while McLaren’s Norris dropped from second to third. Then, on Sunday, Norris dropped from pole to fourth, while Verstappen fell from second to third.
A dramatic battle late in the race saw Norris penalised for an overtake of Verstappen, costing the Briton a place and seeing the Dutch-Belgian’s lead increase to 57 points – with five Grands Prix and two sprints left.
McLaren lose bid to have Lando Norris penalty overturned following Max Verstappen incident
08:30
Karl Matchett
McLaren have failed in their bid to overturn Lando Norris’ penalty from the United States Grand Prix.
The team invoked a “right of review”, asking the stewards to look again at the turn 12 incident in Austin, where Norris was handed a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage while overtaking Max Verstappen in the closing stages.
That demoted the British driver below his title rival as the Dutchman extended his championship lead to 57 points.
Ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, Norris repeated his view that the penalty was unfair and said he believes Verstappen, who also left the track, was only ahead at the apex because he braked late and had no intention of making the corner.
Full news report here:
George Russell crashes in Mexico GP practice as Max Verstappen hit by engine issues
08:00
Karl Matchett
George Russell suffered another high-speed crash as championship leader Max Verstappen complained of engine issues during practice for the Mexico Grand Prix.
Russell, who had earlier topped the standings in first practice, caught the kerb and careered into the barriers at turn nine 12 minutes into the second session.
It comes a week after the Mercedes driver crashed during qualifying in Austin. The British driver was taken to the medical centre and the 90-minute session – an hour of which was devoted to Pirelli tyre testing for 2025 – was red-flagged for 24 minutes. Mercedes later confirmed Russell had been released from the medical centre and was OK.
Full practice report:
F1 2024 race schedule: Start time and how to watch Mexico Grand Prix
Thursday 24 October 2024 15:22
Jack Rathborn
F1 rolls around to Mexico City next as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez plays host to the Mexican Grand Prix and round 20 of the 2024 season.
Charles Leclerc won an action-packed US Grand Prix on Sunday, leading home a Ferrari one-two on a memorable day for the Scuderia in Austin.
The main talking point was the highly contentious battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with the McLaren driver coming off second-best and demoted to fourth after a penalty. Alongside his sprint race victory, it means Verstappen extended his lead to Norris in the world championship to 57 points with five rounds remaining.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes endured a nightmare weekend in Texas and will be looking to bounce back this weekend. Verstappen has a terrific record in Mexico, winning five of the last six races.
