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Ferrari experienced a remarkable weekend at the Mexican Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz showcased an impressive performance to secure victory, while his teammate Charles Leclerc clinched third place. This strong showing allowed Ferrari to move ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Nevertheless, team principal Frédéric Vasseur remains realistic about their prospects of winning the championship.
Sainz Exhibits Dominance Throughout the Weekend
From the outset, Sainz displayed exceptional speed, continuing from the practice sessions through to a stunning qualifying performance that earned him pole position. His first lap in Q3 was already enough for pole, but he raised the bar even higher in his second lap, finishing two-tenths of a second ahead of his competitors.
During the race, Sainz maintained his composure despite initially surrendering the lead to Max Verstappen at the start. The Spaniard bided his time and reclaimed his position, executing a late braking maneuver after a Safety Car incident. Vasseur praised Sainz’s outstanding performance post-race, stating, “Carlos had a flawless weekend. He was consistently fast from the first practice session to the race itself. He mastered both qualifying laps and raced intelligently. Even though he yielded position in turn one due to a bit of congestion, he knew he had the pace to recover. It was an extraordinary performance.”
Leclerc Faces Challenges with Backmarkers
Leclerc delivered a solid race performance, strategically overtaking both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to position himself in P2 behind Sainz. However, he encountered difficulties with traffic on the track, coupled with several slower drivers who disregarded blue flags, causing him to lose the opportunity to secure second place.
Vasseur expressed his frustrations regarding this issue: “Leclerc lost three to four seconds due to backmarkers and drivers who simply ignored the blue flags. It is absurd that the FIA has not penalized these drivers.” Despite these setbacks, Ferrari secured a podium finish, further solidifying their standing in the Constructors’ Championship.
Vasseur Maintains Pragmatic View of Championship Race
Currently, Ferrari trails McLaren by 29 points in the Constructors’ Championship. However, Vasseur opts to concentrate on the team’s performance rather than the points table. He expressed pride in the advancements the team has made regarding speed, strategy, and pit stops, yet stressed the unpredictability of the remaining races. “The competition among the top teams is incredibly tight; even a minor upgrade of a tenth or two could shift the entire standings. This championship is beneficial for the sport as every team has a shot. Heading into the São Paulo race next weekend, it feels like a fresh slate, and I expect all top eight teams to contend for pole position,” Vasseur remarked.
The upcoming races promise to be exciting, with every team vying for supremacy in this highly competitive season.
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