Ferrari takes home another victory, the fifth of the season, thanks to a Carlos Sainz flawless in Mexico. Starting from pole position, the Spaniard dominated the race with an extraordinary performance, consolidating the positive moment of the Reds. In contrast, the Mexican GP saw some protagonists struggle, with Red Bull experiencing a black weekend between penalties and results below expectations. So let's see who stood out and who disappointed in Mexico, with a look at the top and flops at Fanta F1.
Fanta F1 Tops Over Mexico Weekend
Carlos Sainz: Sainz confirmed his exceptional form, taking home a victory that is crucial for Ferrari and its end-of-season ambitions. After a flawless pole, Sainz resisted the initial attack of Max Verstappen, responding with a precision overtaking on the first lap to retake the lead. The Spanish driver managed an intense race with clarity and demonstrated that he can capitalise on every opportunity, contributing to Ferrari overtaking Red Bull in the constructors' standings. With this performance, Sainz confirms himself as one of the most consistent protagonists of this final part of the season.
Kevin Magnussen: A weekend to remember for Kevin Magnussen, who made the most of his opportunities to secure a valuable seventh place for himself and Haas. After making it to Q3, the Dane managed the race with confidence, staying well clear of midfield traffic and staying ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri towards the end. This placement helps Haas secure further valuable championship points builders, consolidating their position on Racing Bulls.
Lewis Hamilton: Hamilton finished in fourth position, scoring important points for Mercedes and keeping pace with the leading group. The Briton was able to take advantage of the difficulties of his rivals, including the elimination in Q1 of Piastri and Perez, to strengthen his position in the race. With a precise and error-free drive, Hamilton achieved a solid result that is proving to be fundamental for the team at this crucial stage of the season.
The Flops at Fanta F1 in Mexico
Max Verstappen: Verstappen has lived a Mexican Grand Prix that he will hardly forget, penalized by 20 seconds for two incidents with Lando Norris. Despite a promising start and an overtaking on Sainz at the start, the Dutchman then lost control of the situation, pushing Norris off the track on two occasions and receiving harsh penalties from the stewards. His race ended with a sixth place, a result that weighs not only on the drivers' championship, but also on Red Bull in terms of constructors, given the lack of points for Perez too.
Sergio Perez: A disastrous weekend for Sergio Perez, who was hoping for a great performance in front of his home crowd but disappointed expectations. After an already heavy elimination in Q1, the Mexican driver was unable to recover during the race, finishing outside the points zone. For Perez, this result represents a significant setback and a serious blow to Red Bull's hopes of maintaining its advantage over its rivals in the constructors' championship.
Yuki tsunoda: A weekend to forget for the other two “Red Bulls” too. Tsunoda’s Mexican GP was compromised right from qualifying, when a crash into the barriers in Q2 reduced his chances for the race. During the race, things went even worse: involved in an accident on the first lap, the Japanese driver had to retire early, leaving the field open to Haas, who thus earned precious points for the constructors’ championship.
