Lando Norris won a dramatic Mexico Grand Prix that means, despite a late onslaught from McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri who finished in fifth, he now overtakes the Australian in a desperately tight battle for the Drivers' Championship.
The English racer finished a monster 32 seconds in front of second, recording McLaren's first win in Mexico City since 1989.
Charles Leclerc took second while Max Verstappen, who started the afternoon in fifth, making the podium too. Leclerc's second-place saw Ferrari pass the one year anniversary since their last race victory.
It was another frustrating afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, who was slapped with a monster 10-second penalty after clashing with Max Verstappen.
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Ollie Bearman raced terrifically to take a surprise fourth place - agonisingly close to his and Haas' first-ever podium. The young Englishman did take home the Driver of the Day for his efforts.
The race erupted into chaos from the very first lap as four drivers went wheel-to-wheel into Turn One. Lando Norris defended the inside line whilst Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen all fought for position in an extraordinary opening sequence.
Lando Norris won a dramatic Mexico Grand Prix that means, despite a late onslaught from McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri who finished in fifth, he now overtakes the Australian in a desperately tight battle for the Drivers' Championship
|REUTERS
Piastri found himself in trouble immediately, running too deep into the corner and cutting across the track. Leclerc followed suit, slicing through Turn One before returning the position to Norris.
The drama intensified on lap six when Verstappen launched an attack on Hamilton at Turn One. Both drivers exceeded track limits during their fierce battle, with the Red Bull cutting Turn Two whilst running alongside Hamilton, who then went off at Turn Four.
The Mexican Grand Prix began in chaotic fashion, as Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton all left the track during the opening period
| SKY SPORTSIn an astonishing twist, Bearman suddenly found himself right in the middle of the scrap. The young driver seized his opportunity brilliantly, managing to overtake Verstappen during the melee.
Hamilton's race took a devastating turn on lap 15 when stewards handed him a 10-second time penalty. Officials ruled he'd gained an advantage by leaving the track at Turn Four during his battle with Verstappen - something he vehemently denied.
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The penalty sparked immediate fury from Ferrari: "We have a 10-second time penalty for the incident at Turn Four with Verstappen. We don't agree," his engineer Ricardo Adami told him over team radio.
Hamilton didn't hold back in his response: "That's such **** man. The grip is so small there, the grip there is so low."
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen make up the podium
|REUTERS
When Hamilton pitted on lap 24, the team had to wait those agonising 10 seconds before changing his tyres. He rejoined in 14th place.
Piastri's efforts saw him finish in fifth, despite a nightmare start. The Australian fell to as low as ninth.
By lap 69, Verstappen was pushing Leclerc while Piastri was pushing Bearman - only for a virtual safety car to halt proceedings.
Half a lap remained when VSR was removed, but neither racer could get the desperately-needed overtake.
It now leaves Norris just one point ahead of Piastri in the Drivers' Championship, in what promises to be an enthralling final four races of the season.
Verstappen also gained some ground on the Australian this weekend, and sees the gap to the Norris at the top at 36 points.
Its Gabriel Bortoleto's home race next weekend, as they travel to Brazil as the season comes to its climax.