Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took an emotional win in the Mexico City Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Formula One leader Max Verstappen was twice penalized for clashes with title rival Lando Norris and finished sixth.
McLaren’s Norris, who called Verstappen ‘dangerous’ during Sunday’s race, finished second to slash the triple world champion’s overall advantage from 57 points to 47 with four rounds remaining.
Charles Leclerc caught and passed by Norris with nine laps to go to deny Ferrari a second successive one-two, was third and took a bonus point for the fastest lap.
The win was a first for Ferrari in Mexico since 1990 and fourth of Sainz’s career.
Verstappen, who pitted from third place to serve two 10-second penalties on lap 27, had to fight back from 15th after starting on the front row with Sainz in pole position.
The Dutch driver had won five of the last six races in Mexico, including the last three editions, but has now not won for 10 races in a row.
Behind the leaders two-time former champion Fernando Alonso, in his record 400th Grand Prix weekend, pitted his Aston Martin and retired after 17 laps before a second stewards’ penalty for Verstappen – a further 10 seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
After a flurry of pit stops Verstappen climbed to sixth as Norris chased Leclerc, passing him for second on lap 63 when the Monegasque slid wide at the final corner.
With five laps to go, Norris was seven seconds behind Sainz as Hamilton finally passed Russell for fourth, setting up a frantic finale.
