F1 Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: Lando Norris up to second as Carlos Sainz leads
F1 live updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the world title battle continues with Max Verstappen on front row and Carlos Sainz on pole
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The F1 weekend reaches its climax in Mexico City tonight with Lando Norris set to continue his rivalry with Max Verstappen following the highly contentious battle in Austin.
Verstappen has won five of the last six races at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and will be aiming to edge one step closer to a fourth world championship title.
Charles Leclerc produced a sensational drive to claim victory at the US Grand Prix with Ferrari impressing with a one-two thanks to Carlos Sainz. The Scuderia are contending a fierce battle with McLaren and Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, with qualifying set to be vital here. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will bid to banish a nightmare weekend last time out in Texas.
Follow live updates from the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent:
Mexico Grand Prix: Hamilton vs Russell
Lap 51/71
20 laps to go and Oscar Piastri is up to ninth. He’ll be hoping to attack the two Haas cars and perhaps put some pressure on Max Verstappen. Piastri’s tyres are 16 laps fresher than the Red Bull’s.
Lewis Hamilton has been given the okay to race against George Russell for fourth place. He’s just a second behind his teammate.
Mexico Grand Prix: Russell warns of rain
George Russell radios to Mercedes saying he can feel a small bit of rain. The weather could interrupt this race but there still isn’t any on the forecasts.
Lando Norris has just set a new fastest lap of the race. He’s edging closer to Charles Leclerc in second place.
Max Verstappen is complaining that he has ‘no grip’. He’s currently 10 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton and isn’t closing.
Mexico Grand Prix: ‘It’s getting dark'
Lap 42/71
“It’s getting really dark.” claims Max Verstappen. He’s assured that there is no rain due to hit the track before the end of this race.
Mexico Grand Prix: Verstappen gaining ground
Oscar Piastri goes into the pits and is out again within two seconds. That manoeuvre allows Max Verstappen to get up to sixth with just the Mercedes separating him from Lando Norris.
Norris may need to start putting pressure on the Ferraris.
Mexico Grand Prix: Sainz cruising, Norris struggling to gain
Lap 39/71
Lando Norris isn’t pushing too much in third place to close the gap on Charles Leclerc. He’s five seconds or so behind and seems to want to maintain his tyres for now.
Carlos Sainz is around eight seconds ahead of his Ferrari teammate. He seems to have the race well in hand at this stage.
Mexico Grand Prix: Hamilton goes past Piastri
Lewis Hamilton is up to fifth. He’s got the better tyres than Oscar Piastri and manages to get past the McLaren. His next target is Mercedes team mate George Russell.
Russell looks to have a damaged front wing. Can he stay ahead of Hamilton?
Mexico Grand Prix: Alonso out!
Fernando Alonso has pulled out of the race with a brake issue. Not what he would have wanted on his 400th F1 outing.
Mexico Grand Prix: Piastri under pressure
Lewis Hamilton is hunting down Oscar Piastri so the McLaren attempts to evade the danger. He sweeps around Liam Lawson but Hamilton overtakes the RB on the very next turn.
This is a good battle developing for fifth place.
Mexico Grand Prix: Sainz onto hard tyres
Lap 33/71
With the race not even halfway through yet, Carlos Sainz heads into pit lane to switch his tyres. George Russell is making moves and goes around Lawson into fourth.
Max Verstappen has been flying through the field and is back up to ninth place. He’s now focused on limiting this damage and closing the gap to Lando Norris.
Mexico Grand Prix: Norris boxes
Lando Norris heads into the pits and comes out on the hard tyres which should take him to the end of the race. He rejoins ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Liam Lawson.
Charles Leclerc is the first of the two Ferrari’s to head into the pitc lane, closer followed George Russell.
Sainz has the race lead comfortably and is now over 30 seconds ahead of his teammate.
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