Lando Norris might have left the Mexico City Grand Prix with a smile, but the intense championship rivalry with Max Verstappen is clearly testing both his patience and composure. As the defending champion grapples with the pressure, Norris managed to outpace him, coming in second, while Carlos Sainz took a remarkable victory for Ferrari at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The race featured Verstappen, who suffered a double penalty due to his aggressive driving style — a stark contrast to Sainz’s strong performance and solidified Ferrari’s resurgence. After an intense showdown in Austin, the spotlight was once again on Norris and Verstappen. With Norris finishing second for McLaren and Verstappen trailing in sixth, we’ve seen a crucial shift as Norris aims to close the gap in the title race, reducing the points differential from 57 to 47 with plenty of races still remaining this season.
Verstappen can only hold himself accountable for allowing Norris back into contention. Although it looked like the pair would engage in a lengthy duel, Verstappen’s unwavering tactics in both defense and attack were ultimately detrimental to his title chase. Following an initial safety car phase, Norris was eager to pass, echoing their previous encounter in Texas. Verstappen, however, pushed him wide, prompting an angry outburst from Norris: “This guy’s dangerous, I just have to avoid a crash; I’ll end up in the wall.”
Despite their friendship, the question arises as to how much of Verstappen’s aggressive racing style Norris is willing to tolerate. Tensions escalated when Norris once again refused to back down, leading Verstappen to dive too deep and reclaim his position by forcing Norris off the track. The stewards quickly intervened, handing Verstappen a 10-second penalty for the first incident and another for gaining an advantage after leaving the track.
This time, unlike in Austin, where he had the upper hand, Verstappen found himself in a precarious situation, scrambling to limit the damage of his penalties. After a pit stop that felt like an eternity, he emerged in 15th, and while he fought hard to recover, the damage was already done. Norris ultimately seized second place from Charles Leclerc on lap 63, with Sainz’s victory further establishing Ferrari as a formidable contender in the championship fight.
With both Sainz and Leclerc now standing on the podium, Ferrari has secured back-to-back wins, signaling their resurgence as a top force on the grid. They’ve surpassed Red Bull in the constructors’ standings and could pose a serious threat to McLaren’s title ambitions.
As the championship heads into its final weeks, Norris has narrowed the gap but remains the underdog. With two sprint races ahead and the possibility of more setbacks for Verstappen, we may well see this battle stretch to the very end.
