Formula 1’s 2024 Mexican Grand Prix Race Review
Carlos Sainz delivered a masterclass at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, securing a dominant victory for Ferrari amidst a dramatic race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The race featured wheel-to-wheel battles, penalties, and a tense fight for the podium, setting the stage for the season’s final races.
For Tickets and Packages Please Click Here
Mexican Grand Prix Qualifying
Sainz Takes Pole in a Dramatic Session
Carlos Sainz delivered a standout performance in qualifying for the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, capturing pole position for Ferrari amid a dramatic session. The action-packed event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez featured surprising early exits, a red flag, and a tight battle for the top spot.
Q1 & Q2: Early Surprises and Red Flags
The first two segments of qualifying brought unexpected outcomes and intense competition. Lando Norris led the field in both sessions, showcasing impressive speed. However, the biggest surprises came with the eliminations of Oscar Piastri and Sergio Perez in Q1, who placed 17th and 18th, respectively. Perez’s early exit, in particular, was a disappointment for his home crowd. Franco Colapinto, Esteban Ocon, and Zhou Guanyu joined them in elimination.
Q2 was marked by a red-flag incident when Yuki Tsunoda crashed at Turn 12, ending the session prematurely. This incident locked positions for drivers like Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso, who finished 12th and 13th, respectively. The red flag also halted attempts from Stroll and Bottas, leaving them out of the top 10.
Q3: Sainz Beats Verstappen to Pole
In the final shootout, Max Verstappen’s initial pole time was deleted for exceeding track limits, which allowed Carlos Sainz to take advantage. The Ferrari driver put in a stellar lap of 1:15.946, securing pole position and finishing 0.225 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who settled for second. Lando Norris continued his strong run by clinching third place for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc slotted into fourth. The Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton secured fifth and sixth, respectively, while Kevin Magnussen delivered a solid performance for Haas, taking seventh. Pierre Gasly placed eighth for Alpine, followed by Alex Albon’s Williams in ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top ten for Haas.
Mexican Grand Prix Race Day
Early Race Drama: Sainz Regains Control
The race started with Max Verstappen seizing the lead from pole-sitter Sainz, and the Dutchman made a solid launch off the line. However, the action behind them was even more chaotic, as Yuki Tsunoda spun into the barriers after contact with Alex Albon’s Williams, bringing out the Safety Car. Albon had to retire, leaving his Williams stranded on track.
Following the restart on Lap 6, Verstappen maintained his lead, but Sainz managed to claw his way back, making a decisive move on Lap 9 to retake the lead. As the Red Bull driver struggled with battery issues, he soon found himself in a fierce battle with Lando Norris. The fight turned costly for Verstappen, who received two separate 10-second penalties for pushing Norris off the track. This opened the door for Charles Leclerc to move to second place, creating a Ferrari one-two at the front.
The Mid-Race Battles: Verstappen’s Struggles and Norris’s Charge
While Sainz began to build a comfortable lead, the focus shifted to Norris, who was now hunting down Leclerc for second. A mistake from the Monegasque driver allowed Norris to slip by, leaving him to chase after Sainz. Meanwhile, Verstappen, hindered by his penalties, pitted and endured a 20-second wait before rejoining the race in 15th place.
Further back, the Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, engaged in a spirited battle for fourth. Hamilton eventually overtook Russell, setting his sights on catching the leaders, but the gap proved too large. Oscar Piastri, who started from P17, climbed through the field, demonstrating a solid pace to finish in eighth.
A Controlled Finish for Sainz and Ferrari
As the laps wound down, Sainz maintained a steady lead over Norris, who closed the gap to under five seconds but ultimately ran out of time to mount a serious challenge. Sainz crossed the line 4.7 seconds ahead, securing his fourth career win in Formula 1 and a much-needed morale boost for Ferrari. Norris took second, while Leclerc finished third, rounding out a double podium for the Scuderia.
Hamilton and Russell followed in fourth and fifth, with Verstappen recovering to finish sixth despite his earlier penalties. Kevin Magnussen delivered a strong performance for Haas in seventh, while Nico Hulkenberg also added points for the team in ninth. Piastri’s recovery drive saw him finish in eighth, and Pierre Gasly claimed the final point for Alpine in tenth.
2024 MEXICAN GRAND PRIX FINAL STANDINGS
| RANK | DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | FASTEST LAP |
| 1 | CARLOS SAINZ JR | SPAIN | FERRARI | |
| 2 | LANDO NORRIS | BRITAIN | MCLAREN | |
| 3 | CHARLES LECLERC | MONACO | FERRARI | |
| 4 | LEWIS HAMILTON | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 5 | GEORGE RUSSEL | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 6 | MAX VERSTAPPEN | NETHERLANDS | RED BULL | |
| 7 | KEVIN MAGNUSSEN | DENMARK | HAAS | |
| 8 | OSCAR PIASTRI | AUSTRALIA | MCLAREN | |
| 9 | NIKO HULKENBERG | GERMANY | HAAS | |
| 10 | PIERRE GASLY | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 11 | LANCE STROLL | CANADA | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 12 | FRANCO COLAPINTO | ARGENTINA | WILLIAMS | |
| 13 | ESTEBAN OCON | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 14 | VALTERRI BOTTAS | FINLAND | SAUBER | |
| 15 | ZHOU GUANYU | CHINA | SAUBER | |
| 16 | LIAM LAWSON | NEW ZEALAND | RB | |
| 17 | SERGIO PEREZ | MEXICO | RED BULL | |
| RETIRED | FERNANDO ALONSO- LAP 15 | SPAIN | ASTON MARTIN | |
| RETIRED | ALEXANDER ALBON-LAP 0 | THAILAND | WILLIAMS | |
| RETIRED | YUKI TSUNODA-LAP 0 | JAPAN | RB |
Conclusion
Carlos Sainz’s win in Mexico was a triumph for the driver and Ferrari, showcasing their ability to capitalize on opportunities during a challenging season. The next race will take place at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where the fight for the championship and crucial points will continue on the iconic track at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace from November 1-3.
