Max Verstappen won the Mexican Grand Prix with ease, picking up another race win. The Dutchman won his 16th race of 2023 at teammate Sergio Perez’s home race, shattering his own record for race wins in a single season.
However, Perez’s happy occasion was short-lived as the Mexican driver crashed out of his home race on the opening lap. At the first corner, the Red Bull star touched Charles Leclerc.
Mercedes was able to gain some insights from Mexico City. With his second-place finish, Lewis Hamilton completed a sixth podium.
It’s now a short turnaround for the drivers before the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton ‘would bet’ on Verstappen record
According to Lewis Hamilton, he would “put money” on Max Verstappen to win as many as 19 races this year.
At the Mexican Grand Prix in 2023, Verstappen won his 16th race of the year, breaking his own record.
Hamilton also thinks Verstappen can win the championship before the season is out because Red Bull is so much ahead of the competition.
The seven-time World Champion said: “Hopefully, these next couple of races will be close, but I’d probably put money on it that [Max] will get to 18, 19 [wins] with that car.”
Verstappen continues Perez feud
In his home race, Max Verstappen claims Sergio Perez was overcome by his excitement.
When Perez collided with Charles Leclerc at the first corner, he crashed out, having a terrible time in Mexico.
Verstappen’s frustration with the 33-year-old’sstrategycaused him to make yet another jab at Perez.
Verstappen sighed afterward, “I understand because it’s his home Grand Prix and you want to be on the podium, I fully understand that.”
“He went around the outside, and he tried. Looking at the footage, I think he could have left a little bit more space, but at the other end if it would have worked, you know, you look amazing.
“Of course, I think it’s just more like that excitement of wanting to be on the podium and this time it didn’t work out, unfortunately.”
Hamilton warned by Mercedes chief
Toto Wolff has warned Lewis Hamilton that he must be better in qualifying if Mercedes are to match Max Verstappen.
Hamilton came second in the Mexican Grand Prix, trailing Red Bull’s Verstappen.
The Silver Arrows had a generally successful weekend, but Wolff thinks their qualifying efforts may have made a difference.
George Russell, a teammate, qualified in P8, while Hamilton was in P6.
Wolff said to Sky Sports F1 that “we say we ‘could have’ but didn’t” on a few previous weekends.
“I believe we should qualify more strongly. We probably wouldn’t have been as competitive against Max if we had the straight-line speed, but who knows. There is a pace.”
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