Max Verstappen left the Mexican Grand Prix frustrated after a late Virtual Safety Car denied him a chance to fight for second place on the final lap.
The VSC, brought out to recover Carlos Sainz’s stricken Williams, neutralised the closing laps and halted battles for both second and fourth. The timing of the stoppage had knock-on effects in the drivers’ championship race, impacting Red Bull and McLaren in particular.
Verstappen missed an opportunity to close within three points of Lando Norris, a gap that could be crucial later in the season. Instead, he now heads into Brazil and Las Vegas under even more pressure to close ground.
Following the race, the Dutchman conceded he could not match Norris’ pace, with the Briton securing a dominant 30-second victory.
Norris delivered a commanding performance at a critical juncture, while Verstappen faced a frustrating and unprecedented challenge with Red Bull, which could linger for some time.
Max Verstappen holds Charles Leclerc in higher regard than Lewis Hamilton after Mexico
Verstappen did not get the chance to challenge for second, which James Hinchcliffe pointed out as a missed opportunity. He believed the battle with Charles Leclerc could have been a real highlight for fans. Earlier in the race, the four-time champion had already come across Leclerc’s teammate.
Lewis Hamilton picked up a 10-second penalty following his clash with Verstappen, taking away his shot at a first podium with Ferrari. Some supporters felt the Dutchman also should have faced consequences for his actions earlier in the race.
It was Verstappen’s ambitious move on Hamilton that set off the series of incidents, with both drivers running off track more than once. It served as another reminder that tensions between them have not completely faded since their heated 2021 title fight.
This time though, when presented with a similar scenario against Leclerc late in the race, Verstappen chose not to go for it. That decision might speak to a greater respect he holds for one Ferrari driver over another.
Hamilton believed Verstappen forced him wide, but stewards reviewed it and decided no further action was necessary against Verstappen.
Does Max Verstappen have the edge in the 2025 F1 title race?
Before the Mexican Grand Prix, there were growing claims that Verstappen might be emerging as the central figure in this year’s championship battle.
But Norris’s performance last weekend suggested that when McLaren hits the right set-up, they still hold a clear edge over Red Bull.
Verstappen needs to be flawless through the rest of 2025 if he is going to challenge for the title, and that makes it difficult to call him the favourite right now.
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If things do not fall his way over the next two rounds, especially with reliability and luck playing their part, Verstappen could find himself falling out of contention by Qatar. He will need to stay sharp and disciplined on track to avoid slipping further behind.
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