GOOD EVENING! Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live text updates of the Mexican Grand Prix from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. We are all set for a fascinating battle out at the front, as Mercedes' pace in qualifying yesterday showcased their speed around this high-altitude circuit. Lewis Hamilton starts 3rd, and George Russell starts from 2nd. Max Verstappen, who is looking for his 14th win of the season, starts from pole position, with his team-mate and home favourite Sergio Perez in 4th. The Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc start in 5th and 7th respectively.

Formula 1 | Mexican Grand Prix

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | 30.10.2022

Completed

Race

Live

Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 30/10/2022 at 21:49 GMT

All
Highlights

CLASSFICATION:

VER, HAM, PER, RUS, SAI, LEC, RIC, OCO, NOR, BOT.

Ricciardo will hold on to his P7 despite his 10 second penalty.

71/71

LAP 71/71 - VERSTAPPEN WINS THE MEXICAN GRAND PRIX

A stunning victory for Verstappen, who drove with ease during this second stint to secure another win. His 14th of the season - which is a new record! Hamilton is 15s down the road in P2, and Perez also finishes on the podium in P3.

70/71

LAP 70/71 - RUSSELL PITS FOR SOFTS

Russell, who was over 20 seconds ahead of Sainz, has accepted that he will not catch Perez ahead of him, and has convinced the team to pit for a set of scrub softs to go for the fastest lap of the race for that extra championship point.

68/71

LAP 68/71 - VERSTAPPEN HAS EXTENDED GAP FURTHER

The VSC is over, and it seems that the Red Bull strategists deserve a raise for how they have executed this perfect second stint for both drivers. They seem set to secure 1st and 3rd in this race, and Hamilton is now 14s behind Verstappen with three laps remaining.

Russell, who claims he was close to a puncture, demands to box for a set of softs, but his engineer tells him to stay out.

65/71

LAP 65/71 - ALONSO RETIRES THE CAR

Alonso pulls off into the run off area into Turn 1 with an engine issue, and the Virtual Safety Car is deployed. This will mean drivers will have to stick to a set delta time. The period of the VSC may not last long as Alonso was well clear of the track.

62/71

LAP 62/71 - TEN LAPS TO GO

Ricciardo is really pushing on his soft tyres after being handed the penalty. He is up to P7 on the track after getting past both Alpines. He now has some clear air and let's see if he can pull put a gap.

Meanwhile, at the front, it is as you were and the longer the race goes on, the more you feel that the Red Bull cars will get to the end of the race on this set of tyres.

58/71

LAP 58/71 - VERSTAPPEN STILL AHEAD BY 12s

Verstappen still leads, and has had a fairly comfortable race so far but Mercedes are still playing the waiting game to see when or if the Red Bull cars will pit for a new set of soft tyres.

55/71

LAP 55/71 - RICCIARDO IS PUNISHED

For that crash with Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo has been slapped with a ten second penalty. That will signal the end of his attempt to salvage some points from this race.

54/71

LAP 54/71

51/71

LAP 51/71 - CONTACT!

Ricciardo spots the smallest of gaps on the inside of Turn 6 trying to get past Tsunoda, and there isn't enough space and he hits the AlphaTauri! Tsunoda's car is airborne for a few seconds, and there is damage on the sidepod and the right-rear suspension. Unfortunately, he will have to retire the car.

48/71

LAP 48/71 - VERSTAPPEN HAS EXTENDED GAP

It seems that the medium tyres are working well for the Red Bull team as Verstappen has extended the gap over Hamilton to 10 seconds. However, give it ten or so more laps and the situation will become race defining. Russell's engineer has just come on the radio to notify him that Perez will need to stop again.

43/71

LAP 43/71 - BOTH MERCEDES DRIVERS COMPLAINING!

Both Russell and Hamilton have come onto the radio to report lack of grip with their harder compound tyres. This raises the question whether the pair of them will opt to ditch the current strategy and box for a set of softs until the end of the race. For Hamilton, doing that may completely rule out any chances of fighting for the victory.

42/71

LAP 42/71 - GREAT OVERTAKE!

That is the best overtake of the race so far! Ocon, who has DRS down the main straight, gets past Bottas into Turn 1 around the outside of the corner! That is a brilliant move and he is up to P10.

39/71

LAP 39/71 - VERSTAPPEN LEADS BY 8s

Verstappen, who remains out in front, is now eight seconds ahead of Hamilton. Both himself and his team-mate, Perez, are still on the mediums. The question is how long can they make the tyre last, as if not, they will have to stop again. That will play into Mercedes' hands.

34/71

LAP 34/71 - RUSSELL PITS

Russell comes in from the lead after extending his first stint. He fits a set of hards, and he should be able to get to the end of the race, and if Perez is two-stopping, it might work in his favour. He emerges back out in P4, seven seconds behind Perez.

33/71

LAP 33/71 - RUSSELL STAYING OUT ON HIS MEDIUMS

30/71

LAP 30/71 - HAMILTON PITS FOR HARDS!

Hamilton has opted to come in from the lead and ditch his mediums for a fresh set of hards, which suggests that he is going for the one-stop strategy. He comes back out in P3, and crucially, ahead of Perez in the sister Red Bull. Let's see just how long it takes for the harder compound to get up to temperature.

29/71

LAP 29/71 - LECLERC PITS

The Ferrari has come in for a set of medium tyres and rejoins in P11.

25/71

LAP 25/71 - VERSTAPPEN PITS!

The race leader is finally in for his stop as the Red Bull mechanics fit a set of medium tyres. He emerges back out in front of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, and now he is a whole pit stop ahead of the Prancing Horses. The Dutchman is in P3.

23/71

LAP 23/71 - PEREZ BLINKS FIRST AND COMES INTO THE PITS

After reporting of issues with his front left, it was expected that Verstappen would come in at the end of this lap, but instead the Red Bull mechanics are out for his team-mate as Perez pits for a set of mediums from P3. He is back out in 6th.

However, it is a slow stop for the Mexican, as he was stationery for a good five seconds!