The 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix took place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday, 27th October. The race saw McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri give it their all, along with Team Principal Andrea Stella. Here’s a recap of the race and their performances.
The race started with a collision on Lap 1, leading to the deployment of the Safety Car. Lando Norris held onto P3, while Oscar Piastri was in P17 initially. As the race progressed, Lando found himself battling with Verstappen and was forced off track, allowing both drivers to be overtaken by Leclerc. On the other hand, Oscar managed to pass Zhou and Bottas quickly to move up to P15.
Oscar continued his impressive progress by overtaking Colapinto and moving up to P12. He then passed Stroll for P11 and eventually found himself in the points positions as other drivers made stops. Lando made a pit stop and swapped to a set of Hards, rejoining the race in P4. Oscar also pitted for Hard tyres, emerging in P13 behind Ocon but quickly overtaking him.
Throughout the race, Oscar made several overtakes, including passing Gasly to get back into the points. He also managed to get ahead of Hulkenberg at T1 for P8. Meanwhile, Lando closed the gap to Leclerc in P2 and successfully overtook him at the last corner to finish in second place. Oscar crossed the finish line in P8 after starting in 17th position.
Lando expressed that it was a tough race, but he felt they were the quickest car on the track that day. He commended the team for their efforts and thanked the fans for making the race enjoyable. On the other hand, Oscar acknowledged that it was a difficult afternoon but was satisfied with the progress he made throughout the race.
Team Principal Andrea Stella praised the team’s performance, highlighting the good pace they had during the race. He mentioned that without the time lost behind Verstappen at the beginning, Lando could have had a shot at victory. Stella also mentioned that Oscar would have the upgrade in Brazil and praised his patience and ability to secure useful points.
Looking ahead, Stella mentioned that the focus is now on the upcoming race in São Paulo. He expressed excitement for another thrilling race with Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, emphasizing that the championship is going down to the wire. The team is looking forward to the challenge and the competitiveness in Formula One.
Overall, the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix was an eventful race for McLaren, with both drivers showcasing their skills and determination on the track. The team now sets its sights on the next race in Brazil, aiming to continue their strong performance and fight for valuable points in the championship.