F1: Record-breaker Max Verstappen wins Mexico Grand Prix, as Charles Leclerc booed over Perez crash
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has defended himself against abuse by angry F1 fans after a wild Mexico Grand Prix, as a violent brawl erupted in the stands.
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Furious F1 fans have been filmed brawling in the stands at the Mexico City Grand Prix after hometown hero Sergio Perez sensationally crashed out of the race on the opening lap.
The spotlight was already on fan behaviour ahead of the race after Perez’s Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen was heavily booed during the trophy ceremony last weekend in Austin.
Red Bull responded by hiring security guards for Verstappen ahead of the race in Mexico City.
But it was Ferrari star Charles Leclerc who quickly became public enemy number one in the eyes of the hostile home fans on Monday morning.
Leclerc was forced to defend his role in the opening turn incident that ended Perez’s race just seconds into the Grand Prix.
Leclerc reported for the post-race interview after finishing third behind Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton and was welcomed by a chorus of boos from furious Perez fans.
“A lot of booing – a lot of booing,” mused Leclerc to the crowd.
“Guys, I had nowhere to go.
“Unfortunately I touched Checo, but I had nowhere to go.
“It damaged my car as well.
“It’s life. Of course I’m disappointed to end the race of Checo like that, but I really didn’t do it on purpose. I had nowhere to go.”
Perez had earlier declared the crash a “racing incident” and although disappointed he refused to blame Leclerc.
That didn’t stop the hoard of hometown fans from showing their displeasure, which devolved into a violent brawl in the stands.
😱 UNBELIEVABLE!
— RedFlagF1 (@redflagf1_) October 29, 2023
💥 Fight breaks out in the grandstand at Mexico gp!#F1#MexicoGP
pic.twitter.com/xL3L3lczZw
RICCIARDO’S CRAZY $20M WINDFALL AS WILD CRASHES MAR F1
Daniel Ricciardo may have just delivered a $20 million windfall to AlphaTauri as Max Verstappen re-wrote the Formula One record books with another comfortable victory in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Verstappen made it 16 wins from 19 starts this season, crossing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with Ricciardo hanging on for seventh.
The affable Aussie’s points finish propelled AlphaTauri from the foot of the Constructors’ Standings to equal on points with Alfa Romeo.
But Red Bull’s sister team will finish the round ahead of Alfa Romeo and Haas courtesy of the highest finish tiebreaker.
In just his second race returned from a broken hand, Ricciardo converted his stunning qualifying pace into a season-best finish for AlphaTauri that – should the team hold on to eighth for the end of the season – will hand it an extra $20 million.
It was a nightmare result for Sergio Perez fans who had to watch the hometown hero crash out at the opening turn before Verstappen romped home for yet another stark reminder of the gap between the Red Bull teammates.
Perez’s risky decision to charge down the outside of Charles Leclerc in the run down the first corner immediately backfired as the under-fire Mexican driver rolled over the left front wheel of his Ferrari rival and shot off the track.
With pressure continuing to mount on Perez amid rumours his 2024 seat is under threat, a crash in front of his home fans was the worst possible result.
It mattered little to Verstappen, who defied a mid-race red flag to gap the field by more than 14 seconds to record the 50th race victory of his career.
Compounding Perez’s headache was Lewis Hamilton’s runner-up finish.
Hamilton is now just 20 points behind Perez in the race for second in the Drivers’ Championship.
If not for Hamilton’s controversial disqualification in Austin he would be even closer to leapfrogging the flailing Red Bull.
Lando Norris charged home to finish fifth having started from 17th on the grid.
He was helped by team orders from McLaren who told Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri to let Norris past so that he could round up both Ricciardo and George Russell before the finish.
Piastri came home in eighth – a solid result for the Victorian after he avoided an almost catastrophic coming together with Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda late in the race.
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RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION OF THE RACE IN OUR BLOG BELOW
9.10AM: VERSTAPPEN WINS IT ALL AGAIN!
Another grand prix, and another win for Max Verstappen. He is, simply, unstoppable.
But it was a dramatic race from start to finish, with his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez wiped out on the first lap of his home grand prix.
From there, it was almost all Verstappen – save for a lengthy delay after a second crash, as Kevin Magnussen’s race ended prematurely.
Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo finished seventh, and Oscar Piastri eighth, while Lewis Hamilton (second) and Charles Leclerc (third) rounded out the podium.
9.00AM: THE TRUE VALUE OF RICCIARDO’S SHOCK RESULT REVEALED
Has Lando Norris just cost AlphaTauri USD$20million?
Maybe, maybe not.
The McLaren star overtook Daniel Ricciardo and claimed sixth place in the Mexican Grand Prix 10 laps from the finish – and it may be costly drop for the affable Aussie.
Ricciardo’s shock running in the points had AlphaTauri on track to leapfrog Haas and Alfa Romeo in the Constructors’ Standings.
However Norris, who has shot through the field from P17 to pass Ricciardo and claim sixth place, ruined AlphaTauri’s chance to clear Alfa Romeo by bumping Ricciardo down into seventh.
The difference between AlphaTauri finishing last and eighth in the Constructors’ Standings is a mind-boggling USD$20m.
“That’s $20 million dollars,” Sky Sports’ Karun Chandhock said.
“That’s a very important position for Daniel Ricciardo to try and hang on to.”
But all is not lost for Ricciardo and AT.
If he retains seventh place the team will settle equal on points with Alfa Romeo.
And given Ricciardo’s seventh would be the highest finish between both teams this season, that would put AlphaTauri ahead courtesy of the tiebreaker.
“It’s still going to be a $20 million result this, potentially,” Chandock said.
8.50AM: PIASTRI FORCED TO LET TEAMMATE PASS
Oscar Piastri has been told to let teammate Lando Norris past so that the Briton can set about chasing down his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri.
“Oscar if this is our pace we would need to let Lando past to go and attack Ricciardo,” was the radio call to Piastri.
“We need to find half a second.”
Piastri, who just survived a near-miss with the other AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda, obliged and let his teammate past with 15 laps to run in the Mexican Grand Prix.
“Thank you,” radioed Norris after Piastri let his teammate through.
Norris, who started P17 on the grid after a qualifying shocker, is suddenly hunting after Ricciardo in sixth.
The McLaren ace has almost certainly earned driver of the day honours after a riding a rollercoaster and a hoard of overtakes to romp back into the points.
8.40AM: PIASTRI CRASH INCIDENT UNDER REVIEW
Oscar Piastri survived an almighty scare in his battle with Yuki Tsunoda as the second AlphaTauri fishtailed off the track after a coming together between the two young drivers.
Piastri and Tsunoda had enjoyed an enthralling battle for seventh place following the red flag restart when the latter attempted an overtake around the outside.
But it went all wrong for Tsunoda, who misjudged the corner entry and sent himself into a spin.
It ruined what looked to be a stellar race for AlphaTauri, who had cars running in sixth (Daniel Ricciardo) and eighth (Tsunoda) prior to the incident.
“I don’t think Piastri did anything wrong there,” said Martin Brundle on Sky Sports.
It could prove costly for AlphaTauri, who would have banked some crucial Constructors’ Championship points and possibly risen ahead of both Haas and Alfa Romeo.
The second contact between Yuki Tsunoda and Oscar Piastri #MexicoGP#F1#Formula1#McLaren#Tsunoda#AlphaTauri#Piastri
— giFF1ðŸ (@giFFormula1) October 29, 2023
2024 F1 Calendar Oscar Piastri Edition: https://t.co/Hg4DTdrxuGhttps://t.co/99vRA7SPtvpic.twitter.com/82cnzDSoKY
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has clawed back all the places he lost at the restart as Lewis Hamilton firms for second place behind the rampaging Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
Ferrari looks poised for yet another disappointing race result having started the Mexican Grand Prix with a front row lockout.
Hamilton will have to battle ailing medium tyres in the late stages of the race but the Mercedes pit wall sounds confident the seven-time world champion will be able to hold off the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Fernando Alonso’s season has gone from bad to worse with the former title contender forced to retire the car.
Early season surprise packet Aston Martin continues to fall away and is now almost certain to finish a distant fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
8.20AM: RICCIARDO BLITZED IN RE-START DRAMA
The biggest loser at the red flag restart was … Daniel Ricciardo.
Having looked comfortable in fifth prior to Kevin Magnussen’s massive crash, Ricciardo was quickly passed by George Russell after the restart and has now dropped down to sixth – still one place ahead of fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri.
And suddenly Ricciardo’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda has shot up into eighth place courtesy of a rapid restart of his own.
Meanwhile Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who had done such great work to weave his way through the field after a qualifying shocker meant he started 17th on the grid, tumbled four places down the order.
Despite Ferrari’s call to pit later than Mercedes, Charles Leclerc was still powerless to stop the pursuit of Lewis Hamilton who swallowed up the Ferrari and has now set about chasing after race leader Max Verstappen.
8.10AM: ‘VERY SAD’ PEREZ HAS NO REGRETS OVER LAP ONE DISASTER
A somber Sergio Perez says he has no regrets about his decision to dive down the outside of Charles Leclerc that ended his Mexican Grand Prix campaign at the opening turn.
Perez shot off the line and saw an opportunity to steal the lead from pole sitter Leclerc in his home race but caught the front wheel of the Ferrari and was sent flying off the track instead.
“I had a tremendous start – the gap was there,” Perez told Sky Sports.
“I would have been really disappointed to only be on the podium today knowing I had the chance to go for the lead and I didn’t take it.
“I wasn’t expecting Charles would be in the middle (of the track) … he had less room to brake as late as Max (Verstappen) and I did.
“I think simply there was no room for three cars. It was a racing incident.
“Especially at your home grand prix and being two times in a row on the podium I just wanted to give it my all.”
Red Bull was forced to retire the car on the following lap.
“I’m very sad with the end result because in the first lap to end the race in your home Grand Prix is definitely really sad,” Perez added.
“But on the other side I’m very proud of myself because I gave it my all.
“We had I think the best start of the year so we just went for it.”
With pressure mounting on Perez to perform or risk losing his Red Bull race seat for 2024, the Mexican driver had built up for a strong showing at his home track having stood on the podium in his past two trips to Mexico City.
Instead he suffered the worst possible result – a lap one DNF – amplified by the shock resurgence of Daniel Ricciardo who qualified ahead of Perez in a much slower AlphaTauri.
Ricciardo has been linked to a return to Red Bull next season and is considered one of the main men in line to replace Perez.
This latest setback will only heighten the noise around Perez’s future.
8.05AM: RACE UPDATE
We are eight minutes away from the race restart.
Officials have worked quickly to clean up the track and check the barriers, and now the drivers are getting back into their cars and preparing for a restart.
The race resumption will be a standing start… will we see a similarly chaotic start to what we saw at the start of the race?
8AM: HOW RED FLAG COULD HURT VERSTAPPEN
Max Verstappen was enjoying a 17-second advantage in the race lead before Magnussen went into the barriers.
The red flag could have serious ramifications on the outcome of the Mexican Grand Prix, given Verstappen will resume the race on tyres 10 laps older than his nearest rivals.
Suddenly Ferrari’s call to pit the latest of the leading cars could come back to help it.
Verstappen will resume the race from first ahead of Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo.
Fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri will restart on the rear wing of Ricciardo.
“Of course this just neutralizes the race,” Martin Brundle said on Sky Sports.
“Any gaps in the race are irrelevant now”.
7.55AM: RACE RED FLAGGED AFTER HEAVY CRASH
A red flag has rocked the Mexican Grand Prix after Kevin Magnussen went flying into the barriers on lap 33.
Replays showed Magnussen losing control, bouncing off a kerb and spinning into the wall.
“Something broke there … something broke on the car,” Martin Brundle said on Sky Sports.
The Danish driver looked rattled but OK as he pulled himself from the wreck of his smoking Haas.
A safety car was first called following the incident but after two laps that was changed to a red.
LAP 34/71
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 29, 2023
Lots of debris on the track and damage to the barriers following that Magnussen crash
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴#F1#MexicoGPpic.twitter.com/JpeqwrZomx
7.45AM: MAD MAX SURGES BACK TOWARDS LEAD
In the blink of an eye Max Verstappen is back into second place and piling the pressure on the Ferraris.
Verstappen’s early pit stop sent Ferrari’s pit wall into overdrive with regular radio calls to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz keeping them abreast of the Flying Dutchman’s track position.
The Ferraris will look to extend their first stint on the medium tyres and hope to have more pace in-hand at the end to round up an ailing Verstappen who has been asked to nurse hard tyres for 50 laps following his early stop.
It looks the only chance the Scuderia has to upset Verstappen’s march to yet another race victory.
But have they forgotten about Lewis Hamilton?
Mercedes looks ripe for an undercut on the Ferraris with Hamilton lapping almost half a second faster than Sainz and Leclerc.
Daniel Ricciardo has now pitted for hard tyres of his own and was spat back out into fifth – ahead of fellow Aussie, Oscar Piastri in sixth.
7.35AM: RED BULL TEST OUT RISKY THEORY
Red Bull will ask Max Verstappen to last more than 50 laps on a hard tyre after sending him into the pits on lap 20.
Verstappen ceded control of the race after Red Bull spied a gap in the field ahead of Nico Hulkenberg to release the Flying Dutchman into clear air.
The agreed upon optimal pre-race strategy was a one-stopper over the 71 laps in Mexico City, though few anticipated Red Bull would pit their world champion so early.
But if anyone can manage his tyres for 50-plus laps it’s Verstappen.
In just three laps he was able to round up and pass both George Russell and Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc has retaken the lead ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz and the rapid Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
Daniel Ricciardo remains in fourth with Verstappen hot on his heels.
7.25AM: RICCIARDO SLIPPING AFTER WILD START
Max Verstappen is already fading into the distance in Mexico City as teammate Sergio Perez fumes in the garage.
Verstappen was the big winner at turn one off the start when he stole ahead of both Ferraris to take the lead.
And the world champion-elect is already out by more than three seconds – another victory seemingly a fait accompli less than 15 laps into the Mexican Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo was able to hold a charging Lewis Hamilton at bay for multiple laps but ultimately succumbed to the Mercedes’ superior pace under DRS and has dropped back to fifth.
But the affable Aussie looks poised for a strong points finish after the early running.
He will be aided by the retirement of Sergio Perez who would have almost certainly chewed the slower AlphaTauri up during the race.
All eyes were on the battle between the pair given criticism of Perez’s poor form and rumours Ricciardo could replace the embattled Mexican in the second Red Bull seat from next season.
Perez’s disastrous opening lap crash is the worst possible result for his future.
If Ricciardo can produce a strong points finish the noise will only grow louder for a reunion with Verstappen at Milton Keynes next season.
Elsewhere, McLaren’s Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri avoided the early carnage and is running sixth just behind Ricciardo.
7.05AM: PEREZ SUCCUMBS TO OPENING TURN CARNAGE
Hometown hero Sergio Perez has sensationally crashed out of the Mexican Grand Prix on the opening lap as teammate Max Verstappen took early control of the race.
Perez shot himself out of a cannon off the line and saw a gap up the outside of pole sitter Charles Leclerc.
But as the two cars reached the apex of the corner Leclerc was squeezed for room with the second Red Bull of Max Verstappen on his inside.
Perez attempted to turn in however Leclerc had nowhere to go and the Mexican rode over the front wheel of the Ferrari and flew into the air before crashing into the gravel trap.
Red Bull called Perez in to box at the end of the opening lap and the call was quickly made to retire the car.
DRAMA AT TURN 1!!!
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 29, 2023
Perez and Leclerc make contact 💥
Perez limps on but he is out of the race âŒ#F1#MexicoGPpic.twitter.com/CrkPKusLG7
It’s a cruel blow to the Mexican driver and the tens of thousands of fans at the Mexico City track who came to watch their F1 hero in action.
Debris from the crash brought out a virtual safety car on lap five.
Verstappen, courtesy of the coming together between Leclerc and Perez, stole the lead from third of the grid.
Surprise second row sitter Daniel Ricciardo retained his place in fourth.
6.30AM: PIASTRI FORCED INTO PITS AFTER PRE-RACE DRAMA
We’re 30 minutes from the start of the Mexico Grand Prix – and Australian hopeful Oscar Piastri is stuck in the pits.
Having qualified seventh fastest, Piastri was optimistic about his chances of building on a dream debut F1 season, but he’s been hit by a bit of drama early on Monday morning.
During the reconnaissance lap, Piastri ran over a bit of paper and it became lodged in the front of his car – forcing him back to the pits to get it removed.
“I think I have a paper sign stuck in the floor somewhere. I ran over it and I didn’t see it come out,” Piastri said.
🗣 Piastri during reconnaissance lap: "I think I have a paper sign stuck in the floor somewhere. I ran over it and I didn't see it come out".
— McLaren News | 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@McLarenF1_News) October 29, 2023
He went back to boxes to get it removed #MexicoGPpic.twitter.com/p5wtcwLPz0
6AM: AUSSIE PAIR EYE UNEXPECTED GLORY
Australian duo Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri are poised for big showings in the Mexico Grand Prix after qualifying strongly.
Ricciardo, of AlphaTauri, will start from fourth on the grid and has declared: “I feel a lot like my old self. I can do well.
“From lap one yesterday I felt really confident.
“P4 is maybe a little more than we thought, but coming into quali it wasn’t about getting Q3 but how far we could get inside.
“Definitely as a team we had confidence, but I thought maybe with a perfect lap it’s P6, P7, not a P4.”
Piastri qualified in seventh but is wary of car issues plaguing McLaren.
“It just didn’t really come together in Q3 and I don’t really know why,” Piastri said.
“I think that’s probably the most frustrating part at the moment.
“We’ll have a look and see what I could have done differently, whether we should have done something with the car, but yeah, just didn’t seem to find the step in pace that everyone else did.”
Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris had a shocker, qualifying 19th.
“I mean, it’s difficult to go backwards, I’ll be worried if I go backwards tomorrow,” Norris admitted.
“The pace is good, Oscar’s doing a good job. I probably should have gone P1 if I put my lap in before, but there’s a lot of ‘shoulda woulda coulda’ for me at the minute.
“Yeah, a shame, but points will be our target so we’ll see what we can do.”
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