This was Lando Norris' sixth win of the season, however extra importantly it was one he actually wanted; a primary win since Hungary in the summertime. Taking the weekend as a complete, it was certainly one of his most dominant performances as a grand prix driver. Is he coming into kind at simply the correct time?
We've talked fairly just a few instances this season in regards to the energy of an athlete having that high quality of ‘inevitability' after they exit to compete. Oscar Piastri had it for some time as he constructed his championship lead in commanding style from April onwards. Norris had it in the summertime with three wins and a second in July and early August.
Extra just lately, Max Verstappen had it as he tightened up the factors race in a superb four-race streak. And now, Norris has re-discovered it simply when he wanted it essentially the most.
He now leads the championship for the primary time since Bahrain. That looks as if a distinct lifetime, such has been the size of the season and the management of Piastri. However within the final six weeks, that management has deserted the Australian.
America Grand Prix modified the sport as a result of it made Verstappen a real title contender, having been greater than 100 factors adrift after the Dutch GP in August. This weekend has set us up for a quartet of races with an exhilarating three-way title battle in prospect. If any of these drivers can put collectively a four-race sequence comparable to they've already managed this season, they are going to be world champion. I don't suppose it is going to go like that. I feel the pendulum will swing between them. And that can make it very thrilling to observe.
Piastri's poor run continues
Lots of people are specializing in the best way Norris was booed by the group, with some speculating that it's due to the best way McLaren is dealing with its two drivers, the notion being that they're giving preferential remedy to Norris. I feel the extra attention-grabbing storyline is the drop off in efficiency of Piastri, who has not appeared himself in or out of the automobile since Monza.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
The subsequent 4 races, in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are going to be appointment viewing and we even have a few dash races blended in there as effectively – Brazil and Qatar, the importance of which can't be underestimated. That's as a result of the factors might be invaluable within the closing reckoning. It's all to play for and it's inconceivable to name a winner, given the momentum shifts between the highest three drivers.
Bearman delivers a giant outcome
One other spotlight from Mexico was the efficiency of Oliver Bearman within the Haas, who completed fourth. He's been fairly sturdy in qualifying this 12 months, however hadn't managed to ship the massive race outcome.
This isn't unusual with rookies; a gifted teen will often discover the one-lap tempo, however it takes time to study race day consistency. In Bearman's case, we had obtained used to the concept he was able to ship due to his breakthrough drives final 12 months as a super-sub for Ferrari in Jeddah and Haas in Baku.
What I discover thrilling in regards to the Bearman story is his efficiency subsequent to Esteban Ocon, who's a longtime benchmark driver. He's 12-8 up towards the Frenchman in qualifying and is now forward within the drivers' standings – 32 factors to 30. That is the sort of efficiency that places him on the radar and is precisely what a workforce like Haas can have been on the lookout for in pairing the Ferrari junior with a extra skilled race profitable driver.
The workforce seems to be balanced, it retains Ocon on his toes and it confirms the impression from his substitute runs in 2024 that Bearman has a excessive ceiling.
A race for pleasure
One other narrative I'm having fun with is the tightening battle within the constructors' championship between Ferrari, Mercedes and Crimson Bull Racing. Any certainly one of them may end second or fourth.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Other than the differential in prize cash that might entail, there is a component of pleasure at stake, but additionally momentum going into subsequent season. For any of them to complete fourth can be an actual downer forward of an vital winter. To complete second would show a constructive pattern going into an vital winter interval.
This stuff actually do matter to groups. It seems to be like McLaren and Ferrari eased off on the event of this 12 months's automobile sooner than the opposite two, who've continued so as to add efficiency, notably Crimson Bull. This can be a issue, however it's additionally about teamwork and having that mindset for optimising every little thing, from automobile preparation and pitstops to qualifying laps and lengthy runs.
And this brings us again to Piastri. He's not been executing to the identical requirements because the begin of September. He's nonetheless obtained a fantastic likelihood of being world champion, however he must borrow a phrase from the good Ayrton Senna; the Brazil GP ‘needs to be my approach'.
We need to hear from you!
Tell us what you wish to see from us sooner or later.
– The Autosport.com Crew
