Mexico GP: Max Verstappen claims record 14th win of 2022

Max Verstappen claimed a record-breaking 14th win of the season in a processional Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday.

The world champion held off the two Mercedes’ at the start and wouldn’t look back as he delivered a tyre management masterclass to finish 15 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton.

Sergio Perez made it back-to-back podiums at his home race in third.

Race Review

A perfect start from Verstappen saw him retain the lead into Turn 1.

Hamilton pushed Russell wide at Turn 3 to claim second, with Perez capitalising to move ahead of the Mercedes into third on the run to Turn 4.

Behind, a poor start for Valtteri Bottas dropped the Finn two places to eighth, while Fernando Alonso gained two up to seventh behind the two Ferraris.

The first stint was about tyre management as the lead cars were separated by a few seconds apiece.

Instead, the action was further down the field as Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll came together twice, with the Frenchman penalised five seconds for a divebomb into Turn 4.

Despite starting on used softs versus Mercedes’ on new mediums, Red Bull extended the first stint as cloud cover cooled the track.

Perez was the first leader to pit, but a slow stop saw him emerge behind the two Ferraris, whereas Verstappen had a clean stop and continued in third as Mercedes ran one-two.

Hamilton and Russell confirmed their one-stop strategy by pitting for hard tyres, with Verstappen reclaiming the lead, but the question was would Red Bull try to go to the end or pit again?

The answer became clear as the laps ticked by with the mediums holding on nicely, while the Mercedes lacked pace on the hards.

That enabled the Dutchman to open up a comfortable lead over Hamilton, eventually taking the chequered flag 15 seconds clear of the field.

Behind, Perez was not quite able to challenge the Mercedes in third, ahead of Russell, who set the fastest lap on the final lap after pitting for softs.

The two Ferraris had a low-key race in fifth and sixth, with Carlos Sainz leading teammate Charles Leclerc, but there was drama in the battle between McLaren and Alpine.

A long first stint allowed Daniel Ricciardo to pit for soft tyres at his only stop. He would then try a bold move on Yuki Tsunoda into Turn 6, but the pair would collide with the Japanese driver forced to retire.

The stewards gave the Australian a 10-second penalty as a result, but he would show some of his old magic, producing a brilliant charge through the pack to claim seventh for McLaren.

Esteban Ocon was eighth as an engine issue for Fernando Alonso promoted Lando Norris to ninth and Bottas into the points in P10.

Gasly was just six-tenths back in 11th, ahead of Alex Albon in 12th. Zhou Guanyu finished 13th, with Sebastian Vettel and Stroll behind in the Aston Martins.

Mick Schumacher was 16th, 1,5s clear of Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen and Nicholas Latifi brought up the finishers in 18th.

Full results from the Mexican GP can be seen below: