Ferrari enjoyed a triumphant weekend at the Mexico Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz shone in Mexico City with a convincing victory, while teammate Charles Leclerc secured third place. This puts Ferrari ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, but team boss Frédéric Vasseur remains level-headed about the chances of clinching the championship.
Sainz Dominates from Start to Finish
Sainz was fast throughout the weekend, from the free practice sessions to an impressive time in the qualifiers that secured him pole position. His first lap in Q3 was already good enough for pole, but in his second lap, he raised the bar even higher with a margin of two-tenths ahead of the rest of the field.
During the race, the Spaniard did not lose his composure when he had to concede the lead to Max Verstappen at the start. Sainz patiently waited for his opportunity and reclaimed his position by braking late after the Safety Car situation. Vasseur praised Sainz’s performance after the race. “Carlos had a perfect weekend. From the first free practice through to the race, he was consistently fast. He secured the pole with both laps and drove a smart race. He gave up the position in turn 1 because it was a bit tight, but he knew he had the speed to make up for it. Truly a great performance.”
Leclerc Hindered by Backmarkers
Charles Leclerc drove a solid race, strategically maneuvering past Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to ultimately position himself behind Sainz in P2. However, due to traffic on the track and several slow drivers ignoring blue flags, Leclerc had to let the second position pass him by.
Vasseur expressed his frustrations about this situation: “Leclerc lost three to four seconds due to traffic and drivers who simply ignored the blue flag. It’s ridiculous that the FIA did not penalize these drivers.” Despite this annoyance, Ferrari secured a podium finish and strengthened their position in the constructors’ championship.
Vasseur Remains Grounded About the Battle for the Constructors’ Title
Ferrari is now 29 points behind McLaren in the battle for the constructors’ championship, but Vasseur chooses to focus on the team’s performance rather than the championship. He is proud of the progress the team is making in terms of speed, strategy, and pit stops, but emphasizes the unpredictability of the remaining races. “The battle among the top teams is so close that a single upgrade of a tenth or two tenths can shake up the entire standings. This championship is good for the sport because everyone has a chance. Next weekend in São Paulo, it starts all over again, and I expect the top eight can all fight for pole,” says Vasseur.
