MEXICO CITY GP: MARANELLO DREAMS, VERSTAPPEN NIGHTMARE

Carlos Sainz had a flawless weekend in Mexico City, claiming a stunning pole position and a well-deserved victory. After being overtaken at the start by Verstappen, he immediately responded with a clean, precise move in turn 1, confidently maintaining his lead until the checkered flag. Norris finished in second place after a close battle with Max, who, as usual, displayed his aggressive side, attempting to force Lando off track twice in a row—a questionable move that, if repeated, goes against the spirit of motorsport.

Leclerc took third place but had a challenging race compared to his teammate. In the final moments, he lost second place due to a mistake at the last corner that nearly cost him even more. Overall, he appeared consistently less competitive than Sainz.

Hamilton and Russell finished in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with their Mercedes cars trailing considerably behind the leaders. Verstappen came in sixth after receiving a 20-second penalty for his contact with Norris. Thanks to the double podium, Ferrari closed the points gap with McLaren, and given the recent performance of the SF-24, the constructors’ title no longer seems out of reach.

Verstappen’s conduct on the track continues to be a hot topic. While his undisputed talent and place among the greatest drivers are acknowledged, his driving style is sometimes unacceptable. His recent title-dominating seasons led to hopes of increased maturity, but this apparent change seems to have stemmed from a lack of rivals. When challenged, the “old” Max resurfaces—the same one who replicates in real life the aggressive moves seen in sim racing. Just a few days ago, he deliberately forced another sim racer off track in a viral incident. His move on Norris seemed more like an emotional response to the pass he’d just endured, and there was little sportsmanship in it.

This kind of attitude dishonors motorsport and brings to mind incidents from 2021, when frequent infractions transformed what should have been an iconic rivalry into a source of endless debate. It’s good to see that the FIA has finally imposed a penalty, though it’s surprising how the media often downplays such actions instead of calling them out.

Champions like Schumacher and Senna certainly had fierce determination, but unsportsmanlike incidents in their careers were few. With Verstappen, there are already numerous examples just in his duels with drivers like Hamilton and Norris. If one appreciates this type of conduct, they’re not a true motorsport fan. Motorsport is indeed about competition, but it’s also about respect and sportsmanship. In other words, Max would be better off raising the bar—but in a smarter way.

© Simone Marchetti