Sainz ceded the lead from pole to Max Verstappen but reclaimed his position at the front on lap nine with a DRS pass on the championship leader into Turn 1.

This was a lead that Sainz continued to build, ensuring that he had plenty of margin to absorb any brief moments of pressure from team-mate Charles Leclerc, or Lando Norris’ late-race push.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spaniard said that he had been incredibly keen to finish his time at Ferrari on a high with at least one more race win before he moves to Williams for 2025.

“It’s just a matter of that I think everyone knew I wanted one more race win with Ferrari. I felt like I also deserved it,” Sainz said.

“I’ve been driving well all year and I’ve been pushing flat out, keeping my motivation high even in a difficult circumstance, and wanting to give everything for this team. 

“I felt like I drove some really good races and one more I had to win. Eventually, it happened and it had to be in Mexico, in front of my family, which is great.

“It doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try and win more. But it had to be here.”

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

Sainz reckoned that the presence of his family at the race and his confidence with the car led him to feel “something was definitely cooking” in the Mexico weekend.

He admitted that he made his day more difficult by losing position to Verstappen at the start, but crucially had the confidence — and pace — to return the favour on his former team-mate.

“Honestly, it’s one of the best feelings in the world for sure. I felt like after Checo probably they were supporting me,” he added.

“Since I arrived in Mexico, I had a feeling that the win was possible. I knew my family was coming to see me here this weekend. My mum was going to be present. I knew I hadn’t won a race with my mum in front of me. 

“My best friends are here, my dad, and I was like ‘there might be something cooking this weekend, and I need to make sure I do everything I can to win this race’. 

“Even though I made it a bit difficult with the start, then I made it stick with Max and I enjoyed that race from then onwards.”

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Max Verstappen says the lack of race pace in his Red Bull Formula 1 car was the main factor in his incidents with Lando Norris at the Mexican Grand Prix, which led him to serve 20 seconds’ worth of penalties.

Verstappen ran Norris off the road twice on lap 10 at Turn 4 and Turn 7, repassing the McLaren driver off-track in the meantime and earning a 10-second penalty for each incident.

These were served in Verstappen’s pitstop, which put him back on track in 15th; although he recovered to sixth, he could make no inroads into the two Mercedes ahead and was being closed down by Kevin Magnussen and Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen was more bothered by the lack of pace he had in the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, suggesting that this led him to being ‘put in those positions’ for a penalty.

“You know, honestly, 20 seconds is a lot, but I’m not going to cry about it and I’m also not going to share my opinion,” Verstappen explained.

“The biggest problem that I have is that today was a bad day in terms of race pace. That was quite clear again on the mediums and on the hard tyres. 

“I just felt that the Turn 4 [penalty] was a bit more of, like, a question mark. Turn 7 is what it is.

“Honestly, those two things are also not my problem. The problem is that we are too slow, and that’s why I’m being put in those kind of positions. That is my problem.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Reflecting on his race, Verstappen felt that he had very little grip on the hard tyre and suffered further struggles with getting his brakes to bite – thus costing time to the Mercedes duo.

He remained curt when discussing the implications of the racing guidelines, feeling that it was simply hard racing and that it was up to him to drive as he saw fit.

“I mean, to get back to sixth was alright, but then I couldn’t even fight the Mercedes cars in front. I just had no grip, I was just sliding a lot, I couldn’t brake. So yeah, it was a very tough one. 

“We’re trying [to improve], but I mean, also it was more promising. Here again, it was a bit more tough, so it’s a bit odd. But a few things to look at, and hopefully, of course, Brazil, we can be more competitive. 

“[Lando and I] didn’t touch. So, just racing hard. But at the end of the day, everyone speaks for themselves [in the drivers’ briefing]. 

“Of course, can the rules be better? Maybe yes, maybe not. It’s always the same thing. I mean, I just drive how I think I have to drive. Last week that was all right, this week, 20-second penalty. That’s what it is. Life goes on, you know.”

“[The lead is] still 47 points. Hopefully we can just be a little bit more competitive.”

Carlos Sainz claimed his second victory of 2024 at the Mexican Grand Prix with a commanding drive, as Lando Norris finished second and Max Verstappen sixth after a 20-second penalty.

The Spaniard reclaimed the lead he’d lost into the opening corner and never conceded it thereafter; he built an unassailable lead which soaked up the potential of any threat from Norris in the closing stages once the McLaren driver cleared Charles Leclerc.

Sainz kept the lead through the pitstop phases and, despite occasional attempts from Leclerc to eat into an ever-growing lead, the Williams-bound driver returned the favour to continue his break-building efforts out in front.

Sainz had lost the lead to Verstappen off the line as the Red Bull driver arrived at Turn 1 first, and forced the Ferrari driver to take to the grass with his preservation of the racing line.

But the racing action was soon nullified after a first-corner clash between Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda brought out the safety car; Albon was pinched between Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, and the former two ended up coalescing in the braking zone for Turn 1.

Tsunoda ended up going straight into the wall, while Albon also pulled over to retire with front-left tyre damage.

On the restart, Sainz spent two laps sat in Verstappen’s wheel-tracks before gathering enough pace to mount an overtake into Turn 1 with DRS and then covered off a potential switchback into the following corners.

This put Verstappen in Norris’ clutches, and the McLaren’s bid to pass around the outside into Turn 4 was once again met with Verstappen taking him off the road.

Like Austin, Norris had laid claim to the position, but Verstappen then lunged down the inside at Turn 7 and took both drivers off once more – and got ahead of Norris off the road. Both incidents resulted in 10-second penalties for Verstappen, which sent him further down the order and took him out of the lead fight. Leclerc capitalised on the skirmish between the two championship leaders, bursting into second place.

The Monegasque couldn’t challenge his team-mate, however, and after the pit phase Sainz’s lead had grown to over eight seconds. Leclerc attempted to cut this down, although both Ferraris were employing lift and coast tactics to gather the requisite cooling.

Sainz stabilised at over five seconds, but Leclerc’s tyres then started to run out of life and he started to fall into Norris’ orbit – when the Briton closed into DRS range at the end of lap 62, Leclerc subsequently drifted wide out of the Peraltada and almost hit the wall.

Leclerc saved the snap of oversteer, but couldn’t stop Norris from breaking past. Norris subsequently started to catch Sainz, but could only get to within 4.7 seconds at the flag.

2024 Mexico City Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will start the race from pole position ahead of title rivals Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren).

Event	Date
	14:00
Mexican GP Race

What time does the Mexico Grand Prix start?

The Mexico GP will begin at 2pm local time (-6 GMT) at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez

• Date: Sunday, 27 October, 2024
• Start time: 20:00 GMT  / 21:00 CET  / 22:00 SAT / 23:00 EAT  / 16:00 ET / 13:00 PT / 07:00 AEDT (Monday) / 05:00 JST (Monday) / 01:30 IST (Monday)

2024 Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

How can I watch the Mexico Grand Prix?

Formula 1 is broadcast live in nearly every country around the world. 

Europe: 

• Austria – Servus TV / ORF
• Belgium – RTBF / Telenet / Play Sports
• Croatia – Sport Klub
• Czech Republic – AMC
• Denmark – TV3+ / TV3 Sport / Viaplay
• Estonia: Viaplay
• Finland – Viaplay 
• France – Canal+
• Germany – Sky 
• Greece – ANT1 / ANT1+
• Hungary – M4
• Italy – Sky
• Netherlands – Viaplay / Viaplay Xtra
• Norway – V sport 1 / V sport + / Viaplay
• Poland – Viaplay
• Portugal – Sport TV
• Spain – F1 DAZN
• Sweden – Viaplay / V sport motor / TV 10
• Switzerland – SRF / RSI / RTS
• UK – Sky Sports F1

Americas: 

• USA – ABC
• Canada – RDS / RDS2 / TSN / Noovo
• Latin America – ESPN

Asia: 

• China – CCTV / Shanghai TV / Guangdong Television Channel / Tencent
• India – FanCode
• Japan – Fuji TV / DAZN
• Malaysia – beIN SPORTS
• Indonesia- beIN SPORTS
• Singapore – beIN SPORTS
• Thailand – beIN SPORTS
• Vietnam – K+

Oceania: 

• Australia – Fox Sports / Foxtel / Kayo / Network Ten
• New Zealand – Sky

Africa: 

Can I stream the F1 Mexico Grand Prix?

Viewers can subscribe to F1 TV in selected countries to stream the race on a device of their choice.

Sky Sports and Movistar also offer their own live streaming service in the UK and Spain respectively.

F1 Mexico Grand Prix – Starting grid:

F1 returns to Mexico at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, where fans will gather to celebrate the modern heroes of the sport. But in the roar of engines and the cheers of the crowd, the legacy of two renowned Mexican drivers — Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez — will echo loudest. 

Even the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was originally named the Autódromo Magdalena-Mixiuhca. Built in 1959, it quickly became the heart of Mexican motorsport. It was on this track that Pedro and Ricardo first showcased their talent, and why it was renamed in their honor in 1972. The circuit stands today as a monument to their memory — the brothers who were on the brink of Formula 1 stardom, showcasing early brilliance that hinted at the potential they could have unleashed on the sport, had things not ended for them so prematurely.

Ricardo Rodriguez, Ferrari 156

Photo by: Sutton Images

Born in Mexico City, Pedro Rodríguez (1940) and his younger brother Ricardo (1942) began their racing careers on motorcycles, with Pedro winning Mexico’s national championship in 1952 and 1954 on a little 125cc Adler. Their talent behind the wheel of a car, though, quickly outshone their early two-wheeled exploits, and with the financial support of their wealthy father, they shifted to four-wheel racing in their teenage years.

Both were greatly gifted, but Ricardo quickly became the standout driver, turning heads for his prodigious speed. At just 15 years old, he won his first international race, the Riverside Trophy Race in California, driving a Porsche 550 RS.

Ricardo quickly built his reputation as a motorsport prodigy. At 16, he practiced for the 24 Hours of Le Mans but couldn’t race due to his age. He officially debuted at Le Mans in 1959 and competed in events like Sebring and the Targa Florio. In 1961, the dynamic Rodriguez brother duo had a standout year together, finishing 3rd at Sebring and 2nd at the Nürburgring.

Masten Gregory, Lotus 18 Climax, leads Ricardo Rodriguez, Ferrari Dino 156

Photo by: Motorsport Images

That display of skill and maturity far beyond his years earned him a ride with Ferrari at 19, becoming the youngest Formula 1 driver ever at the time, with his debut at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix. Ricardo’s incredible performance — qualifying second in his first-ever F1 race — stunned the motorsport world. The world was his oyster, with many, including motorsport insiders, predicting a future of multiple championships. 

Mexico’s first grand prix, and Ricardo’s last

For Ricardo’s 1962 season, Ferrari was tormented by mechanical problems and bad luck, leading to the team’s decision to not participate in the inaugural Mexican Grand Prix. Eager to race in front of his home crowd at the Magdalena-Mixhuca track, he made a fateful decision to drive a Lotus for the Rob Walker Racing Team in the non-championship event. 

During a practice session, Ricardo lost control of the Lotus at the infamous Peraltada corner — one of the most treacherous turns on the circuit. A violent crash killed Ricardo on impact at the young age of 20.

Ricardo Rodriguez and Phil Hill

Photo by: Sutton Images

Ricardo’s friend and 1984-2001 McLaren team coordinator, Jo Ramirez, believed he could have become one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, possibly another Alain Prost or Ayrton Senna. Ricardo’s death devastated the motorsport world, especially in Mexico, where he had already become a national hero. This was someone who could have become Mexico’s first Formula 1 champion. His untimely passing also had a profound effect on his older brother Pedro, who was at that time preparing to join his brother and make his own F1 debut.

The fearless Pedro’s rise 

Ricardo was regarded as the more naturally gifted of the two, yet Pedro was no less talented. Following his brother’s death, he pulled back from full-time racing and opened a car import business in his homeland. But he couldn’t stay away from the sport for long, eventually returning to build a stellar career of his own. Pedro made his Formula 1 debut in 1963, but it wasn’t until 1967, when he signed with Cooper, that his career truly began to catch speed.

Pedro Rodriguez, BRM P153 leads Chris Amon, March 701

Photo by: Motorsport Images

He won his first Grand Prix in South Africa that year and quickly became known for his mastery of high-speed circuits and his extraordinary abilities in wet conditions. Following that race, Pedro started traveling with a Mexican flag and a recording of the national anthem, as the South African GP organizers had mistakenly played the Mexican hat dance instead of the anthem during his celebration.

In 1968, he secured victory at the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Ford GT40. His peers recognized his skill, and his daring drives at tracks like Spa-Francorchamps, where he won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix. At the 1970 Brands Hatch 1000km, he demonstrated his mastery in the rain with a stunning victory in a Porsche 917, only solidifying his reputation. 

Pedro’s driving style — calm, precise and fearless — earned him the respect of the racing community. Many believed that only bad luck or mechanical failures stood between him and more race victories. 

Yet, Pedro’s continued building success was cut short, when in 1971, a crash while racing a sports car in Germany would end his life. He was 31 years old. 

Pedro Rodriguez

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Inspiring half a century of racers  

The impact of the Rodríguez brothers on Formula 1, and Mexican motorsport in general, is profound. The two talented drivers were trailblazers, paving the way for future generations of Mexican drivers, like Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez, former F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez and IndyCar veteran Adrián Fernández Mier.

As the drivers take to the track this weekend, they do so in the shadow of two of Mexico’s racing legends, who remain, more than five decades later, Mexico’s first Formula 1 superstars.