Lando Norris delivered a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix to seize the championship lead for the first time in 2025, converting pole position into a dominant win by over 30 seconds in one of the most emphatic performances of the season. The McLaren driver expertly navigated a chaotic opening lap before building an insurmountable advantage at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Here at Supercars.com.GH, we witnessed a potentially decisive moment in the championship battle as Norris’s tenth career victory, combined with Oscar Piastri’s fifth place, creates a dramatic one-point swing that transforms the title fight heading into the final races of the season.
A Chaotic Start
The Mexico City Grand Prix exploded into life with a frenetic opening lap that saw four cars vying for the lead through Turn 1, with Max Verstappen forced onto the grass after running alongside the Ferrari duo. Charles Leclerc briefly emerged as leader but had to cede position to Norris after also cutting the corner, while Lewis Hamilton’s aggressive defense against Verstappen resulted in both drivers running wide and the Ferrari receiving a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The chaos continued with Ollie Bearman making a stunning move on Verstappen to claim fourth place, showcasing the young Briton’s racecraft on Haas’s strongest weekend of the season. Once the opening lap mayhem had settled, Norris immediately set about building his advantage, extending his lead to nearly three seconds by Lap 11 and demonstrating the superior pace that would define his afternoon. The McLaren driver’s ability to remain focused amid the drama highlighted his growing maturity as a championship contender.
Norris’s Strategic Master Class
Norris’s victory was built on more than just raw pace, with the Briton executing a flawless strategic performance that showcased McLaren’s operational excellence. By Lap 18, Norris had stretched his advantage to 7.4 seconds over Leclerc, expertly managing his soft tires in the challenging high-altitude conditions where brake and tire management become critical factors. His pit stop on Lap 35 was perfectly timed, with the extensive lead he had built ensuring he rejoined comfortably in first place despite others attempting undercut strategies. The final margin of 30.324 seconds represented one of the most dominant victories of the 2025 season, demonstrating that when Norris has clean air and an optimal strategy, he is virtually unbeatable. The result transforms the championship dynamics completely, with Norris now leading Piastri by a single point after trailing by 14 points just two races earlier, setting up a tantalizing finale to the season.
Bearman’s Breakthrough
Ollie Bearman claimed a career-best fourth place for Haas, holding off intense late-race pressure from Piastri to secure his best result in Formula 1. The young Briton’s impressive defense, particularly after overtaking Verstappen in the opening lap chaos, highlighted why he is regarded as one of the sport’s brightest prospects. The race’s thrilling finale saw Verstappen mount a desperate charge to overhaul Leclerc for second place, closing a six-second gap to just 0.725 seconds at the line after a late Virtual Safety Car period disrupted his momentum. Hamilton’s penalty-affected eighth place showed the fine margins at play, while Mercedes’ internal team orders controversy, swapping Russell and Antonelli multiple times, added another layer of drama to an already action-packed afternoon in Mexico City.
Join Supercars.com.GH next week as we head to Brazil to see if Norris can extend his championship lead or if Piastri can strike back!