As the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship took yet another turn, who conquered the altitude in Mexico City and who is still grasping for air?
Lando Norris: 10
A stellar weekend from Lando Norris saw the Briton retake the Championship lead by just a single point after a dominant performance on race day.
Having stunned even himself with his pole lap, Norris survived the opening lap mess to win by 30 seconds, the largest margin since Hungary 2023.
Oscar Piastri: 6.5
Another off-form weekend for Oscar Piastri made it four consecutive races without a podium finish, culminating in him losing the championship lead.
Struggling on another low grip circuit, the Australian only qualified eighth, later promoted to seventh thanks to a grid penalty for Carlos Sainz, six tenths off Norris’ pole time.
Piastri also found it difficult to make up places, although a bold overtake on George Russell into Turn 1 in the closing stages saw him recover to fifth.
Charles Leclerc: 9.5
Charles Leclerc made it back-to-back podiums after a late VSC saved him from a charging Max Verstappen as he held onto his grid position of second.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, though, as the Monegasque took to the grass on the opening lap while side-by-side with Lewis Hamilton and remained ahead.
Having nowhere near the pace of Norris’ McLaren up front, second was the best Leclerc would achieve, especially on the unfavoured one-stop strategy.
Lewis Hamilton: 8
Despite achieving his best Grand Prix Qualifying for Ferrari with third place, Hamilton was again unable to convert to a maiden trip to the rostrum in red.
The Briton felt aggrieved as he viewed both Leclerc and Verstappen as having gained an advantage by running off the track on the opening lap
His mood would not improve as a feisty duel with Verstappen saw him pick up a harsh 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
With damage to his Ferrari and the penalty, eighth place is all a despondent Hamilton could achieve, ensuring his wait for a podium in 2025 goes on.
Max Verstappen: 8.5
A drama-filled race for Verstappen saw him recover to a podium finish after qualifying fifth, although some will wonder how he escaped a penalty.
Verstappen launched one of his classic manoeuvres on Hamilton, which saw not only the Red Bull collide with the Ferrari but also take to the grass again while in combat.
The alternate strategy worked well for Verstappen, but the VSC put pay to him launching a proper attack on Leclerc, ensuring he settled for third.
Yuki Tsunoda: 7
Despite missing out on Q3 once again, it would be a 12-second pitstop that would cost Yuki Tsunoda a run to a points finish in Mexico.
Having run well in the points on the same alternate strategy as Verstappen, the Japanese driver would drop back after his sole pitstop.
Just a handful of seconds away from the points come the chequered flag was disappointing for Tsunoda, who felt hard done by the result.
Oliver Bearman: 9.5
A third consecutive Q3 appearance put Oliver Bearman in a prime position to make the most of a dramatic opening stint in Mexico.
The Briton would move up to sixth on the opening lap and capitalise perfectly on the Verstappen-Hamilton drama to move into a potential podium position.
Moving onto the two-stop strategy meant the podium slipped away, but a valiant defence would see Bearman achieve his best-ever finish with fourth.
Esteban Ocon: 8
Esteban Ocon backed up Bearman’s stunning performance to make it a first double points finish for the Haas team since Zandvoort.
Narrowly missing out on Q3, the Frenchman executed the one stop well and was key in holding up faster cars for team-mate Bearman as he held on for ninth.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: 7
Andrea Kimi Antonelli returned to the points in Mexico with sixth, but was left ruing a missed opportunity after a team order debacle lost him a place to Piastri.
George Russell: 7
In a race which saw many drivers left frustrated, Russell was perhaps the most frustrated of all.
The Briton was confused after penalties weren’t handed out to drivers who took to the grass at Turn 1, while he also had a heated exchange with his engineer.
Mercedes would allow him past Antonelli with Piastri breathing down his neck, but unable to make an impression on Bearman, the two swapped at the end.
Gabriel Bortoleto: 8.5
Despite being knocked out in Q1, Gabriel Bortoleto stormed through the field to secure the final point in 10th and a first points finish since the Italian Grand Prix.
Nico Hulkenberg: 6
A DNF on lap 25 after a power unit issue surfaced on the laps to the grid saw Nico Hulkenberg unable to capitalise on another promising qualifying performance.
Alex Albon: 6.5
The alternate strategy of starting on the Hard tyre wasn’t enough to charge Alex Albon up from 17th on the grid to the points, as the Anglo-Thai driver finished 12th.
Carlos Sainz: 7
Despite a brilliant lap in qualifying to take seventh and even outqualify one of the McLarens, race day would be a tough one for the Spaniard.
Starting 12th due to a five-place grid penalty carried over from COTA, Sainz would pick up damage on the opening lap to his wheel rim, not only forcing him into an early stop but also causing vibrations which played havoc with his Williams’ sensors.
With his pit limiter not functional, multiple penalties for speeding in the pit lane would be compounded by a late crash in the stadium section saw him DNF in back-to-back weekends.
Isack Hadjar: 6
Isack Hadjar was unable to hold on to his ninth place on the grid, falling to 13th come the chequered flag.
Liam Lawson: N/A
A DNF due to damage sustained on Lap 1 would see Racing Bulls walk away from Mexico ruing some missed potential after some promising pace.
Lance Stroll: 6
Out in Q1 yet again, Lance Stroll managed to move forward on race day, but his Aston Martin was no threat to the points as he crossed the line in 14th.
Fernando Alonso: 5.5
Fernando Alonso retired with a brake problem at the mid-point, marking a fourth consecutive DNF at a venue where Aston Martin didn’t have the pace.
Pierre Gasly: 6
15th might sound like a marked improvement, but a few DNFs and a 30-second margin to the nearest car is the sad reality for Pierre Gasly and Alpine.
Franco Colapinto: 5.5
Starting on the Hard tyre didn’t pay off for Franco Colapinto as a rather lonely race saw him prop up the finishers in 16th, behind his team-mate.
READ MORE – Lando Norris seizes F1 title lead with dominant Mexico GP victory
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