Norris Dominates Mexico GP as Penalties and Retirements Shake Up the Field
Lando Norris delivered a masterful performance at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, converting his pole position into a commanding victory and seizing the lead in the Formula 1 World Championship. The McLaren driver finished a remarkable 30 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completing the podium in third.
While Norris enjoyed a straightforward race at the front, the battle behind him was defined by numerous penalties and a high rate of attrition at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
The race saw four drivers fail to reach the chequered flag. The retirements began early when Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls was forced to stop on lap six. Lawson had sustained critical damage following a first-lap collision with Carlos Sainz, ending his weekend prematurely.
Later in the race, Nico Hulkenberg was instructed to retire his Kick Sauber in the pits due to a power unit issue. Fernando Alonso’s race also ended in the garage after his Aston Martin suffered from rising brake temperatures, making the car unsafe to continue.
The final retirement was that of Carlos Sainz, which had a direct impact on the podium fight. The Williams driver, already enduring a difficult race, stopped his car in the stadium section in the closing laps, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. This VSC effectively neutralized the battle for second, preventing Max Verstappen from launching a final attack on Charles Leclerc.
Penalties played a significant role in shaping the final order. Lewis Hamilton’s hopes for a strong result in his Ferrari were dashed early on. The seven-time champion was handed a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a three-wide battle on lap six. He ultimately recovered to finish in eighth place.
However, the most severe penalties were reserved for Carlos Sainz, capping a weekend to forget for the Williams driver. Already starting from 12th after a five-place grid penalty carried over from the US Grand Prix, Sainz was then hit with a five-second penalty during the race for speeding in the pit lane, which he attributed to a faulty limiter. This was later upgraded to a more severe drive-through penalty for the same offense, compounding his woes before his eventual DNF.
Sources:
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/norris-seals-commanding-win-in-action-packed-mexico-city-gp-to-take-world.5ztiajHhdtqagu0qQLx0vS
- https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-2025-mexican-grand-prix-race-results/
- https://racingnews365.com/carlos-sainz-hit-with-another-penalty-as-chaos-reigns-in-messy-mexican-gp
- https://apnews.com/article/f1-mexico-city-norris-8ca4b40da2e077d3dd84e5ce9352bb9f
- https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/27/f1-lawson-retires-from-mexican-gp-as-norris-cruises-to-victory/