MEXICO Metropolis — Max Verstappen stretched his lead about Lewis Hamilton in the Components A single period championship with a dominant victory Sunday at the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, and Pink Bull teammate Sergio Perez completed 3rd to come to be the to start with Mexican driver to arrive at the podium in the history of the race.
Verstappen, who started 3rd after battling in qualifying, now potential customers Hamilton by 19 points with four races still left in the time. Hamilton concluded second and experienced to battle off Perez at the end to keep on there.
Verstappen acquired his ninth win of the time, second in a row and 3rd career victory in Mexico Metropolis. The 24-calendar year-aged Dutchman is chasing his first job championship.
Hamilton is in search of a record eighth title, such as the past four in a row. The British driver is presently tied with Michael Schumacher for most in F1 heritage.
Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas pulled a big surprise in qualifying when the Mercedes teammates gained their very first front-row lockout of the season. Bottas was on pole, Hamilton next and Verstappen and Perez in third and fourth.
Their benefit failed to final by way of the to start with corner.
Verstappen bolted off his line at the get started and made use of the slip stream behind Bottas to snatch the guide into the first corner. Bottas, meanwhile, obtained tapped by McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and his vehicle spun, dropping him to the back again.
That left Hamilton in a Pink Bull sandwich: Verstappen in front and Perez right driving, with Bottas no more time in engage in to support him protect his position.
And barely a 3rd into the race, Verstappen was zooming off into the distance and Hamilton found himself in a determined race with Perez to keep the vital championship factors required to preserve Verstappen within just sight about the ultimate thirty day period of the period.
The residence group roared when Perez briefly led right after Hamilton and Verstappen pitted for new tires. That created him the initial Mexican driver to direct the Mexico grand prix in race history. Perez earned a 3rd straight podium finish for the initial time in his career.