Sainz Crowned as ‘New King’ of Mexico
Round 20 of F1 2024 in Mexico GP: What Happened?
A personal and ironic summary of the race
We are at the end, there is not much left now. The most incredible season in years is about to end. And yet it still seems all hazy, undecided. There are exactly 4 races left and the two battles, constructors’ and drivers’, are wide open: the first more than the second.
I apologize in advance for not having written anything about the US GP but I had a very busy week. I will only say that I liked it a lot and that I had quite fun (I look like a clown with these silly euphemisms, I know). But you already know how it went.
As for Mexico, my expectations before the free practice were very low because, in recent years, I have often been bored during this GP. Instead, exactly in line with the pleasant unpredictability of this season, the 2024 GP was nothing short of exciting.
There was none of the chaos or shock that characterized other races such as Austria, Canada or Silverstone. It was the bigger picture that struck us the most: the invisible plot of events, the meaning we attribute to them — the unsaid was more evident than the obvious.
In what sense? For example, Carlos Sainz proved to be a top driver with a masterful race and he has been shamefully snubbed by the top teams. How? Having a fantastic weekend, between ambitious declarations and facts, numbers, and telemetry — that’s what counts in this sport, as in any other sport with figures.
Another unsaid fact: if Max Verstappen were to win this championship, it would be the redundant confirmation of his solidity as a three-time world champion. Because his main rival, who has the best car at the moment, is simply not able to grasp what is needed race by race.
And let’s repeat it: the tension is not even helping Lando to enjoy the moment. On the one hand, he is under so much pressure, without having Max’s mental resistance, because he has to win every remaining race at all costs — however, he managed to lose a very precious pole in America.
On the other, not trying too hard, the surrender attitude that unfortunately he often has in the race — do we want to talk about his vain attempts to rectify his mistake in Austin? Let’s also add the very unfair penalty –, could make him think “I can’t be like him, so I might as well give up”.
But of course, this causes the regret of having given up despite simply being the one who has the best means.
I think this could be the worst regret for a driver: I have the means to win but I just can’t. Having said that, I don’t want to spy on someone’s mind because we will never know what that person really thinks except in hindsight, after many years. It’s just my big guess.
What I can say is: Lando, I’m not crazy about your driving because the times you’ve disappointed me are more than the times you’ve thrilled me. But, damn it, don’t give up now, please!
That said, I’ve gone on too long. I’ll try to speed up summarizing the race.
Sainz starts from P1 after having done two exceptional laps in qualifying on Saturday, but Max passes him immediately and forces Carlos to go out. The Spaniard immediately gives him the position. In the back, Yuki Tsunoda is hit by Albon and gently crashes into the barriers.
Safety Car on the grid. The gaps are neutralized. Home hero Checo Perez gets a 5-second penalty for a false start, but he doesn’t agree. He really thinks it was a “great start” instead. What a good-time Charlie…
On lap 7, the race restarts regularly. Max tries to open up a safe gap of 1-second with Sainz, but Carlos passes him excellently at the first corner a couple of laps later. It looked like there could be the fateful contact but the manoeuvre is of surgical precision.
Shortly after, Lando also comes after Max. He lines him up and in turn 3 he attacks but Max pushes him out. Lando then goes into the grass and overtakes him: normally he should give him the position but he doesn’t do it right away.
Then Max gets angry and takes back P2 sending the Englishman out again. Leclerc can’t help but take advantage of it — almost a carbon copy of Austin — and overtakes both of them. I imagine him, Chef Vasseur and the whole Ferrari laughing and rubbing their hands together.
For all this mess (I don’t want to go into too much detail about the positions of the wheels during braking and entering the curve), Max receives a penalty so outstanding that it is also remembered by the graphics, to complete the meme: 20 seconds.
Then we have Russell who takes back the position he had lost at the start to the advantage of his teammate.
And then we have another funny moment: a nice duel between Perez and Lawson — both trying to look good in the eyes of mother Red Bull — with the Australian defending himself very fiercely. The Mexican however goes out, gets some damage on the bottom and also a middle finger from Liam. Simply fantastic…
However, the race proceeds calmly. Sainz gradually increases his gap over Charles who is also forced to do the lift and coast manoeuvre — you do this in order to save fuel, but also to better manage energy and temperatures.
In practice, the driver has to lift his foot off the throttle a bit earlier before braking at the end of a straight.
What’s the reason for this problem in Charles’ car? Some have even thought of a team plot to let Carlos win and give him the long-awaited last victory in Ferrari. I can’t believe it – it seems too much to me, frankly.
The most rational explanation is that the Mexican circuit is 2238 m above sea level — definitely not on the plain — so the air is much thinner and managing the temperatures gets much more complicated. So if you rev the engine too much, with a tired power unit and “fried” brakes after many races, you could have made a real mess to Charles.
That said, given his declining pace, he becomes exquisite prey for Lando, who also gains pace on Max — who goes to serve the eternal 20-second penalty on lap 27.
The Dutchman gets back on track behind Ocon in P15. Slowly he climbs back up to sixth position.
Lando pits on lap 30 to put on hard tyres, and Charles and George follow him the next lap. Sainz also pits on lap 33 but remains firmly in the lead.
It is the second half of the race but there is no big news. Noteworthy is certainly a one-two in points by Haas with Piastri sandwiching between them in P8. Oscar was forced to race up the order after a terrible qualifying that made him start from P17.
In his defence, we can say that in qualifying they were all very close in timings.
In any case, while the Sunday evening numbness was swooping down in all its heaviness — I was yawning very hard — here is a twist. Lando comes extremely close to Charles, it’s lap 63. They arrive at the final corner before the straight and Charles goes off the track due to a mistake.
I was so scared that I stopped yawning and I stood wide-eyed. Luckily Charles controls the car and avoids the impact. However, this exit helped Lando to overtake him, so the Brit takes an important second position.
Recipe for the final podium: a sandwich with tomato and chilli dough and papaya filling (what a bad joke, I know, sorry).
Ferrari USA-Mexico Double Victory. Boss, amazing, great, fantastic. What else do you want me to say?
Last notable mentions: Hamilton overtakes Russell for P4 (most ambiguous car of the year award) and Perez finishes the home GP in the last position (Alonso had already retired at the start of the race).
Having said that: thanks for coming this far! Let’s move to the mountains and skyscrapers of Sao Paulo and we’ll talk after the Brazilian GP, another crucial and beautiful race that I can’t wait to enjoy. A hug!
