Max Verstappen cruises to victory after chaotic Mexican Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo has delivered a stunning display as the pressure on an underfire driver ramps up following his latest nightmare.

It was enjoyment for Ricciardo and more heartache for Perez. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen has cruised to victory yet again after a chaotic Mexican Grand Prix unfolded behind him.

The Red Bull superstar won his 16th race of the season as he crossed the line more than 10 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

It means Max has broken his own record of most race wins in a season after he recorded 15 victories in 2022.

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After starting third on the grid the Dutchman took the lead into the opening turn thanks to a blistering start.

It was misery for his under-fire teammate Sergio Perez who crashed out after a racing incident at turn one with Leclerc. Perez was sent into the air and off the track with Red Bull retiring the car before he completed one lap.

More carnage unfolded halfway through the race when Haas’ Kevin Magnussen slammed into the barriers, bringing out a red flag.

Perez’s nightmare continued. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Magnussen slammed into the barriers.

Aussie Daniel Ricciardo was the star of the weekend after producing a qualifying masterclass that saw him start the race from fourth on the grid.

He managed to avoid the chaos that unfolded in front of him. As the race went on the 34-year-old gave it his all as he ultimately crossed the line in seventh place.

Ricciardo came agonisingly close to getting past Mercedes driver George Russell but couldn’t get the job done over the final two laps.

The stunning drive from Ricciardo will only pour fuel on the speculation of him replacing Perez at Red Bull.

The Mexican driver’s nightmare season has continued to go from bad to worse as the rumour mill keeps on spinning.

Daniel Joseph Ricciardo, I was indeed familiar with your game but the rest of the world wasn't anymore. What a remarkable race 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/lkd7UyTU1h

— Mia (@ricciardosbabe) October 29, 2023

DANIEL RICCIARDO P7!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT A DRIVE!!!!!!

— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) October 29, 2023

Daniel Ricciardo with a statement drive to take P7 in Mexico.

AlphaTauri also jump to P8 in the team standings. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/J4RdCiyU4W

— formularacers (@formularacers_) October 29, 2023

The result is even better for AlphaTauri as the points see them leap over Haas and Alfa Romeo in the constructors standings.

The prize money difference going from 10th to 8th is a staggering $20m USD/$32m AUD.

Sky Sports’ Karun Chandok said: “I was just looking through the points table. Even though they’re equal on points with a few races to go, Alpha Tauri will technically be ahead (of Alfa Romeo) because Ricciardo’s had a better finish. So it’s still going to be a $20m result potentially, this.”

9.45am - Piastri yields to Lando Norris

Aussie driver Oscar Piastri has moved aside to let teammate Lando Norris through with the British driver displaying far superior pace.

A not-so-subtle team message came over the radio, moments later Piastri left the gap open and Norris shot past.

With 14 laps to go Norris is now hunting down Daniel Ricciardo in sixth place with a little over two seconds separating the two.

8.35am - Tsunoda sent spinning off the track

Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda engaged in a tough battle with the AlphaTauri driver hitting the rear wheel of the Aussie driver on lap 49.

But it was on lap 50 when the incident got uglier as they headed into turn one.

Tsunoda attempted to go around the outside of the McLaren driver but appeared to have turned in early, the coming together resulted in Tsunoda being spun around and off the track, tumbling from eighth all the way down to 16th.

Yuki raging at his steering wheel

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) October 29, 2023

8.22am - Hamilton gets past Leclerc for second

Lewis Hamilton was fully committed to getting past Charles Leclerc and almost went onto the grass down the main straight.

But the move was pulled off with the Mercedes star into second with Max Verstappen holding a three second advantage out in front.

8.15am - Race back underway

A standing restart didn’t deliver the fireworks like the opening lap of the race but it has left plenty of question marks ahead for the final 35 laps.

Lewis Hamilton elected to throw on a set of medium tyres with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen on hards.

The Mercedes driver had a little window heading into the opening corner but elected not to throw his nose in.

Daniel Ricciardo lost out to George Russell who is also on mediums.

7.50am - Magnussen crashes out in ugly incident

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has slammed into the barriers at turn 9 after a little moment on turn one of the opening lap. Replays showed his right rear suspension broke as he hit the kerb at turn 8, sending him into the barriers.

A full safety car was called which saw Max Verstappen duck into the pits for a set of fresh tyres.

The race was ultimately red flagged as marshalls began clearing the car and started looking at the barriers.

Magnussen has destroyed the car pic.twitter.com/G53iWOQ8cm

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) October 29, 2023

Daniel Ricciardo remains in fifth place with 36 laps remaining in the race. The race will be back underway shortly with a standing restart on the grid.

7.40am - Mercedes attempting the undercut

Lewis Hamilton had closed the gap to be right behind Carlos Sainz before he boxed on lap 25 for a set of fresh hard tyres.

Ferrari elected not to respond and are keeping Sainz out for a longer first stint in the hopes of having fresher tyres late in the race.

Verstappen pitted earlier than anybody but has picked his way back up into third spot.

7.30am - Guess who is miles out in front

Stop us if you’ve heard this before ... Max Verstappen is way out in front. Like almost every race this season we’ve barely seen the Red Bull star on the broadcast as it’s again turned into a battle for second.

Charles Leclerc is holding a decent advantage over teammate Carlos Sainz who is being hunted down by Lewis Hamilton.

7.20am - Ricciardo drops down a place

Daniel Ricciardo avoided the first corner chaos but has been fighting to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him through the opening 10 laps.

On lap 11 the Mercedes star made the overtake stick as he got the Aussie down the main straight with DRS wide open.

Ricciardo now sits in fifth, one spot ahead of Oscar Piastri who is fighting to keep George Russell behind.

7.10am - Opening corner carnage

Max Verstappen pounced off the line with a lightning quick start that saw him split the middle of the Ferrari’s.

But it was at turn one when the chaos unfolded as Sergio Perez looked to swoop around the outside of Charles Leclerc.

With Verstappen on the inside line, Leclerc got pinched in between the two Red Bull’s with his front left tyre and Perez’s rear right coming together sending the Mexican driver into the air and off the track.

He managed to rejoin and make it to the pits, but the team had no option but to retire him from his home race.

“Poor Sergio Perez you really have to feel for him,” Ted Kravitz said on Sky Sports.

DRAMA AT TURN 1!!!

Perez and Leclerc make contact 💥

Perez limps on but he is out of the race ❌#F1#MexicoGPpic.twitter.com/CrkPKusLG7

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 29, 2023

6.20am - Piastri’s bizarre return to the pits

The drivers have left the garage and are making their way around the Mexican track towards the starting straight.

Unfortunately for Aussie McLaren driver Oscar Piastri he was forced to head back into the pits after a piece of paper became lodged underneath his car.

6am - Is the real Ricciardo back in town?

From the heights of contending for regular race wins with Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo had experienced a rapid decline in recent years.

Mostly ill-fated stints with Renault and McLaren transitioned to a back-up role with Red Bull before a surprise mid-year call-up to AlphaTauri.

Brief signs of life were interrupted by a broken wrist and he returned to finish 15th - last of the field that completed the race - last week’s Texas GP.

But there has been a turnaround in Mexico City.

Ricciardo’s sixth-placing in the second practice session was a pleasant surprise, but he showed that was no fluke by improving to a lofty P4 in final qualifying.

With Verstappen alongside him and the likes of Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton and compatriot Oscar Piastri in his rearview mirrors to start - and teammate Yuki Tsunoda lagging in 15th - there is optimism the 34-year-old Ricciardo has recaptured something.

While he has been contracted with AlphaTauri for next season, there is a strong feeling Ricciardo is auditioning to potentially replace Perez alongside Verstappen in 2024.

What an utter joy it is to be reminded of the fact that the ‘real’ Daniel Ricciardo is a total monster of a racing driver#F1#MexicoGPhttps://t.co/yajn1aBFE6

— William Brierty (@WBrierty) October 29, 2023

10.30pm AEDT - Calm before the Mexican storm

There is so much to watch for in this Grand Prix, with storylines all over the place.

For the second straight race, Charles Leclerc is on pole in his Ferrari, but he will be aiming for much better than sixth at the checkered flag and then a DQ as the floor of his and Lewis Hamilton’s machines failed an inspection in Texas.

Max Verstappen can break his own record from last year with a 16th race win when he starts from third, behind Carlos Sainz.

And plenty of eyes will be on Daniel Ricciardo as he starts a remarkable fourth on the grid in his AlphaTauri.

Also, will Martin Brundle have yet another awkward pre-race interview attempt? We sure hope so.