2019 Mexican Grand Prix
Hamilton wins in Mexico but misses title; Verstappen penalized from pole to fourth.
The 2019 Mexican Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Gran Premio de México 2019) was a Formula One motor race held on 27 October 2019 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The race was the 18th round of the 2019 Formula One World Championship and marked the 21st running of the Mexican Grand Prix, and the 20th time that the race had been run as a World Championship event since the inaugural season in 1950. Lewis Hamilton won the race, his 10th victory of the season and Mercedes' 100th race win in Formula One. This was Vettel's last podium until the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix.
- Date
- October 27, 2019
- Circuit
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
- Winner
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Red Bull Best Finish
- 3rd Place (Max Verstappen)
- Teammate Status
- Pierre Gasly (Retired)
- Championship Context
- Hamilton Secured 6th Title
Lore & Background
Lewis Hamilton had a chance to win the World Drivers' Championship at this Grand Prix for the third straight year if he outscored his only remaining title contender, Valtteri Bottas, by 14 points or more. However, Hamilton outscored Bottas by only 10 points, so he did not secure the championship at this race. Max Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying but received a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags, meaning he started from fourth place. On the opening lap, Verstappen and Hamilton made light contact at turn 2. Verstappen later suffered a puncture after contact with Bottas and fell to last place, but fought back to finish sixth.
In Their Own Story
The thin air of Mexico City hummed with anticipation as the sun dipped below the stadium roofs. Inside the garage, engineers wiped grease from their hands, knowing the RB15 would be tested to its limit on every long straight. Max Verstappen sat in his cockpit, feeling the vibration of the Renault V6 through the steering wheel. He knew Mercedes had the speed, but he also knew he could make them work for it. As the grid formed, the roar was deafening, a symphony of combustion echoing off the concrete barriers. It wasn't about winning today; it was about proving that Red Bull still belonged at the front.
Reader's Guide
The race featured a third DRS zone between turns 11 and 12, with the detection point after turn 9. Qualifying saw Valtteri Bottas crash at turn 17, bringing out yellow flags. Verstappen failed to slow and was penalized three grid places, promoting Charles Leclerc to pole and Sebastian Vettel to second. During the race, McLaren's Lando Norris had a slow pit stop due to a loose wheel, and Antonio Giovinazzi also had a lengthy stop. Daniil Kvyat received a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Nico Hülkenberg on the final lap, demoting him from 9th to 11th.
Did You Know?
- Lewis Hamilton won his 10th race of the season and Mercedes' 100th Formula One race win.
- Sebastian Vettel's podium here was his last until the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix.
- Max Verstappen started fourth despite setting the fastest qualifying time, due to a penalty for not slowing under yellow flags.
- Daniil Kvyat was penalized after the race for a collision with Nico Hülkenberg on the final lap.
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