Red Bull’s Max Verstappen may have crushed Formula 1’s 2021 Mexican Grand Prix to take first place but perhaps the real winner was his teammate Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez who proudly made history in third.
It was the first time ever at the Mexican Grand Prix that a national had stood on the podium.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ended the race in second place, bringing Verstappen a significant step closer in his quest to end the Briton’s reign as world champion and opening his title lead to 19 points with four races left.
“It was an incredible day for the team and also for the fans,” said Verstappen, known as the Flying Dutchman. “To have Checo on the podium here in Mexico at his home grand prix was great so it couldn’t have been better. I knew the start was very important today, we were three wide at one point and I was on the more ideal race line so I could brake later and get into the lead.
“After that I could do my own thing, the pace was very good today so I could just keep building and creating a gap. The pit stops were seamless and the car was good throughout the race which was crucial.
“Checo, for the last few races, has really picked it up. He has been up there and he was really pressuring Lewis towards the end. I’m still not thinking about that trophy, we’ll try again in Brazil and just keep pushing.”
Pérez was carried by team members to mark the momentous achievement while a crowd of more than 372,000 spectators chanted ‘Checo’.
“This is a great result for my country,” said a near-speechless Pérez, as his family celebrated beneath the podium. “It’s an unbelievable day. Obviously, I wanted more, I wanted to get the 1-2 for the team, but I didn’t have a single chance to get through. Still, I gave my full heart for these people. I could actually hear them – it was pretty enjoyable.
“I also think we were the fastest car, so we have to keep our heads down and keep pushing.”
With the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez having the longest distance from the start to the first corner of any track this season, action straight from the start was likely and Verstappen was at the centre of it all.
He braked late around the outside of the first corner, got into Turn 2 in the lead and simply disappeared as chaos ensued behind him. Meanwhile, pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes was clipped by McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo. After that, the Finnish driver spun 180 degrees and Verstappen didn’t need a second invitation to take advantage.
Once Verstappen got to the front, it seemed only a matter of what the final margin over the rest would be – and by the chequered flag, he had more than 16 seconds in his pocket over his pursuers.
Verstappen increased his championship lead for the third race in a row, which left Red Bull Racing Honda team principal Christian Horner in a far better frame of mind than he was 24 hours earlier.
The final four races come in just five weeks with the next race being the São Paulo Grand Prix taking place on Sunday at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil.
