SAINZ CRUISES TO VICTORY IN MEXICO
Formula One was in Mexico for Round 20 of this the longest ever World Championship season. It was Carlos Sainz on pole for Saturday and it was the top step of the podium on Sunday for the future Williams driver. In what was a perfect race for Sainz who never looked like slipping down the order and its a second win this season for Carlos who last won in Australia. Lando Norris took second which has helped his title hopes after Verstappen's penalty filled race and Austin race winner Charles Leclerc finishes third.
The lights go out and its Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) who go wheel to wheel momentarily before Verstappen leads going into the breaking zone for turn one as Sainz goes off cutting the grass and taking back the lead but concedes the position to Max.
However... Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) wouldn't even make the first corner as he is sent flying into the run off after making contact with Alex Albon (Williams) down the straight. The Safety Car is deployed and Tsunoda and Albon are out.
The early top five is as such; Verstappen leads from Sainz in second, Lando Norris (McLaren) third, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) fourth and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) fifth.
On lap six we see the Green flag. The Safety Car is in.
Just three laps later it was Sainz who braked latest into turn one and he gets past Verstappen for the lead of the race! The Ferrari is so quick down the straight without DRS and with DRS it was easier for Sainz than it would be for most.
Come lap ten it was Lando's turn to try to overtake Max but it wasn't going to be as easy, Lando tried to overtake Verstappen but Max appears to drive him off the track who get in a muddle and BOTH go off track and Leclerc comes through and takes second!
Verstappen is third and Norris fourth. It’s a repeat of Austin all over again!
The verdict was in on lap fourteen when Max Verstappen was given a 10 second penalty for causing another driver (Norris) off the track.
Sixteen laps into what should have been a very special weekend for the legendary Fernando Alonso turned sour when he is forced to retire on what is his 400th Grand Prix. An overheating problem for the Aston Martin.
And on lap 20 if Max's weekend couldn't get much worse it did as the Red Bull is given another 10 second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Max will now be stationary for 20 seconds when he pits... And on lap twenty seven he does just that and Verstappen pits and rejoins in 15th.
The final piece of action came on lap sixty three as coming out the final corner Leclerc looks like he was heading straight into the wall and gifts second place to Norris.
The next race is the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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