Lando Norris reshaped the 2025 Formula 1 title fight by taking the World Championship lead from his teammate Oscar Piastri with a commanding victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. This is the first time the 25-year-old Briton has led the standings since April, and he is now the favourite in the closely contested battle with Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Norris’ drive at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was calm, composed and decisive, qualities that proved crucial amid the chaos that unfolded behind him. “What a race,” said Norris after crossing the finish line. “I stayed focused, got off to a good start, and controlled things from there.” This resounding victory has swung the momentum firmly in McLaren’s favour as the season enters its final stretch.
Norris fended off Ferrari and Red Bull
Behind him, Charles Leclerc brought Ferrari home in second place, narrowly ahead of Verstappen in third. The Red Bull driver’s result was more damage limitation than triumph after a race that did not go his way. Although visibly disappointed, Verstappen remained optimistic about his title hopes.
“I’m very pleased with how the weekend went overall,” he said, choosing to focus on salvaging a podium finish.
Verstappen chased Leclerc hard for second place in the closing laps, but a late twist robbed him of a chance to strike. A virtual safety car on the penultimate lap, triggered by Carlos Sainz retiring from the race, froze the field and ended Verstappen’s attack.
“I could see my tyres were deteriorating, so the Safety Car probably saved me,” Leclerc admitted after the race, relieved to have secured Ferrari’s best result in weeks.
Norris achilles heel in Mexican GP
Piastri lost out as Bearman shone
While Norris celebrated a landmark win, his teammate Oscar Piastri endured another frustrating afternoon. The Australian could only manage fifth place after struggling with tyre degradation and balance issues. This result saw him lose the championship lead to Norris, though the pair remain separated by just one point, reflecting how finely poised this title fight remains.
Another surprise name also featured near the front. Haas driver Oliver Bearman stunned the paddock by finishing fourth, his best result in Formula 1 to date, and providing a much-needed boost to the American team.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon unravelled, despite him starting from third place. The seven-time world champion dropped down the order and eventually finished eighth after receiving a ten-second penalty for rejoining the track incorrectly following an error during an early clash. Nico Hülkenberg’s day was cut short when his Haas suffered a mechanical issue, forcing him to retire early.
Furious Verstappen
Verstappen got off to a lightning start, but then made a costly mistake, the Dutchman furious with the situation he found himself in Mexico. Qualifying had set the stage for a McLaren advantage. Norris dominated Saturday’s session to claim pole position, while Verstappen struggled to find the right balance and could manage only fifth place.
“I have little hope for the race,” the Dutchman admitted after qualifying, hinting that setup problems were holding him back.
As the lights went out, Norris was under immediate pressure from the long run to Turn 1, the longest start/finish straight on the calendar. He held his nerve, resisting multiple attacks to maintain the lead. Behind him, Verstappen got off to a flying start, but he took the first corner too fast. Running out of space, he veered onto the grass and rejoined the track in fourth place, a costly error that left him playing catch-up for much of the afternoon.
Mid-race chaos and strategic battles
The race soon evolved into a test of strategy. Eager to regain lost ground, Verstappen became embroiled in several tight duels, including one with Hamilton that resulted in light contact between the two champions. Verstappen fell to fifth place momentarily, while Hamilton’s late braking at the next corner resulted in a penalty that effectively ended Ferrari’s hopes of reaching the podium.
Meanwhile, Norris remained untouchable out front. The McLaren pit wall executed a clean one-stop plan, covering off any potential undercuts and giving their driver the confidence to manage his tyres without pressure. Verstappen, on the other hand, struggled with tyre degradation during his first stint and dropped to eighth after pitting early. However, with a new set of soft tyres, the Red Bull found its rhythm again.
As the laps ticked down, he sliced through the midfield and closed the gap to Leclerc. With five laps remaining, the Dutchman was within striking distance of second place, but then the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, freezing the order of the podium. Norris took the flag ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen, while Bearman’s remarkable fourth-place finish rounded off one of Haas’s strongest weekends in recent memory.
Norris pole in Mexico whilst investigations against F1 team launched
A shift in momentum
The implications of the result were clear: Norris’s consistency and confidence are establishing him as the man to beat. His rise to the top of the standings reflects McLaren’s development and his own maturity as a driver. Piastri’s recent struggles may yet prove to be only temporary, but with Verstappen only 36 points behind, any mistakes from now on could be decisive.
‘This championship is far from over,’ said Norris in the post-race press conference.
“We’re in a great position, but there’s still a long way to go.”
This contrasts sharply with Verstappen’s visible frustration, suggesting that the balance of power in Formula 1 may finally be shifting.
As the series moves to Brazil, the tension in the title fight is set to intensify further. McLaren’s resurgence, Ferrari’s occasional glimpses of competitiveness and Red Bull’s relentless determination have made this one of the most unpredictable championship battles in years. For now, though, it is Lando Norris who is on top of the world — the driver who has firmly turned the 2025 Formula 1 season in his favour.
MORE F1 NEWS – Piastri mystery leads to conspiracy theories
One race after the summer break, Oscar Piastri was on top of the Formula One world. He had broken the resistance of the current world champion and his team mate’s DNF in Zandvoort left him an almost unassailable 34 points clear of Lando Norris.
Given that McLaren had won twelve of the first fifteen Grand Prix, it was expected this form would continue with both drivers trading 1-2’s to the end of the season,. Meaning without a DNF for Piastri it would be the Australian who claimed his maiden F1 drivers’ championship.
Just four races later and the wheels have fallen from Oscar’s racing wagon. Crashes and false starts in Baku began his demise then in Singapore he was dominated by his team mate and failed to make the podium.
Piastri scrapes through to Q3
The US GP which is a low grip circuit proved tough for Piastri, again with him trailing Norris for most of there weekend finishing just fifth. Now in Mexica, where the grip is also low, the young McLaren driver has had a nightmare in qualifying and will start the race in seventh place, due to a one position promotion due to Carlos Sainz grid drop.
His only saving grace is Verstappen who looked the most dangerous in terms of the title challenge – and was the bookies favourite – is having a tough weekend of his own. He and the team failed to nail the ride height of his RB21 and he is set for a long and difficult afternoon trying to keep his tyres alive.
TJ13 predicted this would be a rough weekend for Oscar, although the gap to his team mate is remarkably large. Oscar had an extra practice session over Verstappen and Norris who gave their cars in FP1 to junior drivers. Yet despite the extra time to fine tune his setup, Piastri was 6/10ths behind his team mate in FP2 and roughly the same margin behind in FP3.
Come qualifying, Oscar almost missed out on Q3 such was his lack of performance, but he pipped Yuki Tsunoda by 0.079 seconds to survive although Q3 was to prove little better. His P8 classification (before grid drops) was again 0.6 seconds behind his pole…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
