Mexican Grand Prix 2017 - Race Schedule and Countdown
Mexican Grand Prix
Mexico City • Mexico
Oct 29, 2017 7:00 PM
Race Results
Race Summary
Max Verstappen delivered a dominant victory at the Mexican Grand Prix, claiming his second win of the season after controlling the race from start to finish at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The young Dutchman's commanding performance demonstrated his growing maturity and race-winning credentials, holding off the chasing pack to secure Red Bull's third victory of 2017.
Starting from third on the grid behind pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel, Verstappen made a brilliant getaway to seize the lead into Turn 1, a move that effectively won him the race. The 20-year-old controlled proceedings from that point, managing his pace expertly in the thin Mexican air where engine cooling and tire management were critical. Valtteri Bottas finished second for Mercedes after a strong recovery drive, while Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium in third for Ferrari. Vettel, who had started from pole position, set the fastest lap but could only manage fourth after being passed by both Bottas and Raikkonen.
The victory was Verstappen's second in three races, confirming Red Bull's late-season resurgence and the Dutchman's emergence as a future championship contender. His aggressive but controlled racing showcased why he was regarded as one of F1's brightest young talents. For newly-crowned champion Lewis Hamilton, it was a difficult weekend that ended in retirement after first-lap contact, though with the title already secured he could afford to take no risks. The result highlighted the changing competitive order as the season wound down, with Red Bull finding form at the perfect time.