Sainz wins Mexico City Grand Prix as Norris tightens championship fight

MEXICO CITY -- Carlos Sainz Jr. won nan Mexico City Grand Prix connected Sunday and Lando Norris closed nan spread successful nan Formula 1 title championship aft different contentious conflict pinch Max Verstappen.

Sianz not only won but vanished connected nan podium for nan first clip successful Mexico City. It was nan 4th triumph of his career, and 2nd of nan play for nan driver who is being replaced by Hamilton adjacent twelvemonth astatine Ferrari. The Spaniard had ne'er earlier won 2 races successful a season.

“Honestly, I really wanted this one,” said Sainz, who sounded affectional connected his power connected nan cool-down lap. "I really needed it for myself, I wanted to get it done. I've been saying for a while I wanted to get 1 much triumph earlier leaving Ferrari, and to do it present successful beforehand of this mega crowd, it is incredible.

“Now, 4 races left, I want to bask arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable and if different 1 comes, I will spell for it.”

Verstappen started 2nd and took nan lead from pole-sitter Sainz connected nan start, but nan first thigh quickly drew a be aware erstwhile interaction betwixt Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon caused Tsundona to clang and Albon to discontinue pinch harm to his car.

The restart was spicy pinch nan Ferraris racing Verstappen and Norris for position. And for a 2nd consecutive week, nan title contenders clashed.

Norris was penalized past week. This clip it costs Verstappen 2 penalties totaling 20 seconds. After nan race, nan FIA besides penalized Verstappen 2 points to springiness him six for nan 12-month period.

“I knew what to expect. I don't want to expect specified a thing, because I respect Max a batch arsenic a driver, but I was waiting to expect thing for illustration this,” Norris said of Verstappen's driving. “Not very cleanable driving successful my opinion, but I avoided it.”

Norris was penalized a week ago astatine nan United States Grand Prix for forcing Verstappen disconnected way — a reward that gave nan last spot connected nan podium to nan three-time reigning world champion. It besides allowed Verstappen to widen his lead successful nan driver standings to 57 points earlier nan title Sunday.

The tables were turned astatine Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez erstwhile Verstappen was fixed a 10-second punishment for banging wheels pinch Norris and forcing Norris disconnected nan track.

“Ten? That’s aggressive,” Verstappen said.

He past was slapped pinch a 2nd 10-second punishment for gaining position erstwhile he near nan way for a mixed 20-second punishment to beryllium served connected his first pit stop.

“That’s good then. That’s silly, man,” Verstappen radioed.

He pitted from 3rd connected Lap 27 and his mechanics could not statesman his work until nan 20-second punishment was served. He dropped to 15th erstwhile he rejoined nan race.

Although Verstappen recovered to decorativeness sixth, Norris spoiled what looked to beryllium a Ferrari expanse erstwhile he snatched 2nd spot from Charles Leclerc pinch 8 laps remaining. The finishes were a 10-point plaything for Norris, who now trails Verstappen by 47 points pinch 4 races remaining.

“I conscionable support my caput down,” Norris said. “I'm doing my best. We're doing a very bully occupation arsenic a team. I will support my caput down, that's each I tin do for now, attraction connected ourselves and we support pushing.”

Leclerc vanished 3rd and group nan fastest thigh of nan title for Ferrari, which for illustration McLaren is trying to dethrone Red Bull for nan lucrative constructors' championship. Ferrari jumped up of Red Bull for 2nd successful nan standings and trails McLaren by 27 points. Red Bull, which won nan past 2 constructors' titles, is now 3rd successful nan standings.

“Obviously, nan constructors is still our target and we are getting person to it,” Leclerc said. “I dream we tin proceed successful that guidance and get that constructors' title, which is very important.”

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell vanished 4th and 5th and Verstappen was sixth. Kevin Magnussen was seventh for Haas and followed by Oscar Piastri of McLaren, Nico Hülkenberg of Haas and Pierre Gasly of Alpine.

Embattled driver Sergio Perez had a agelong time astatine his location title from nan very start.

The Mexican, who was eliminated successful nan first information of qualifying to gain an 18th-place starting spot, gained 5 positions astatine nan start. But was instantly handed a five-second punishment for being extracurricular his container astatine nan start.

It dropped him to 16th and he vanished 17th.

Perez besides sewage into a wheel-to-wheel conflict pinch Liam Lawson that turned contentious connected squad power arsenic nan 2 battled for position connected nan 19th lap.

“What nan (expective) is this idiot doing? Is he OK?” Perez asked connected his power arsenic nan drivers went wheel-to-wheel and made contact. Perez was tally wide of nan way successful nan battle.

Lawson was conscionable arsenic irate and flashed his mediate digit astatine Perez.

“Is he (expletive) serious?” Lawson asked connected his radio.

"Loud and clear, we'll reappraisal it, caput down," Lawson was told by his RB team.

Perez is eighth successful nan driver standings and a immense logic why Red Bull has slipped successful nan constructor championship.

Fernando Alonso's 400th profession Formula 1 commencement was a short one: he drove his Aston Martin backmost nan car shed connected nan 16th lap.

He vanished 18th and nan squad said nan brakes connected his Aston Martin were overheating.

Alonso began nan title play ill and skipped Thursday events but returned by Friday's 2nd practice. The two-time F1 champion already held nan grounds for astir starts successful bid history, mounting nan grounds erstwhile he passed Kimi Räikkönen, who retired pinch 353 starts.

The 43-year-old Alonso started nan title ninth successful nan driver standings. He has 32 profession victories and 106 podium finishes.

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AP car racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing