Just a week on from Ferrari’s one-two finish in Austin, the team’s two drivers were back on the podium in Mexico City on Sunday. Though an error in the final stages cost Charles Leclerc P2, the Monegasque ran a good race and picked up an additional point by driving the fastest lap, despite having to settle for third place overall.
Sainz had qualified in P1, while Leclerc started the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday 27th October from the second row in P4. As in the US Grand Prix a week earlier in Austin, the Ferrari drivers were joined at the front of the grid by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who took the initial lead once racing began, and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
A safety car was sent out on Lap 1 after a collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Alexander Albon, and clear racing didn’t resume until Lap 7. Realising his only chance of getting past Verstappen would be a surprise attack, Sainz got ahead of the Red Bull in a braking zone on Lap 9 and took the lead.
A battle ensued between Verstappen and Norris, with the Dutchman picking up two 10-second penalties for forcing his rival in the Drivers’ Standings off the track and for leaving the track himself and gaining an advantage. Leclerc capitalised on the incident to soar past them both, moving up from fourth to second.
The two Ferraris gradually pulled away from the pack, creating enough space between themselves and the rest of the drivers to pit and rejoin without compromising their positions.
By Lap 52, however, Norris was hot on Leclerc’s heels and began his chase. An error by the Monegasque 10 laps later, when he went wide on the final corner, allowed the McLaren to get ahead, costing Leclerc his second place.
But the race was far from over for the 27-year-old, and with plenty of space between Leclerc and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, the Monegasque zipped back into the pits for a fresh set of tyres and headed back out to earn the fastest lap of the race.
Sainz enjoyed a comfortable victory and was joined on the podium by Norris in P2 and Leclerc in third.
The points have allowed Ferrari to move up to second place in the Constructors’ Standings, overtaking Red Bull. Ferrari now has 537 points to McLaren’s 566. Leclerc is third in the Drivers’ Standings, with 71 points between him and rankings leader Verstappen.
“It was a difficult race, and I think P3 was the best we could do, having spent the weekend a bit on the back foot,” said Leclerc in the aftermath of the race. “The first stint was all about managing the tyre temperatures, which was not easy. After that, I just had to bring it home and maximise the points we scored as a team. It was a good race for Carlos and a nice points haul for the team, which has been working really well, coming back to the level we want to be at, which is amazing to see. Our target is still to fight for the Constructors’ title, and we are getting closer thanks to weekends like the last two. Now on to the final race of this triple header, where we will push to keep up this momentum.”
The grid will now head to Brazil for the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix on 3rd November.
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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
