Fierce F1 showdown: Ferrari takes advantage as tensions rise

The Mexican GP delivered a lot of excitement. The team from Maranello confirmed that their one-two finish in Austin was not just a one-time surge in performance. They stand before a great opportunity to secure their first Constructors' Championship in 16 years. McLaren still poses a challenge, but the direct battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen for the drivers' championship effectively diminishes the chances for the team from Woking.

The most crucial moment of Sunday's action was the clash between Red Bull and McLaren drivers, which again was not a clean fight. Max attempted to use the same defensive tactics as the previous week. As they approached turn 4, he pushed Norris off the track. Lando cut the corner and moved ahead of Max. To avoid a repeat of the Austin race, he decided to give the position back to Verstappen, and Max deliberately pushed the Brit off the track, ending up on the sidelines himself. The stewards showed no mercy and imposed a 20-second penalty on the Red Bull driver.

After the US GP race, there were discussions in the paddock about unclear guidelines regarding attacking and defending positions on the track. Some suggested that the regulations needed revision, while Max openly stated that his driving did not break the rules but rather took full advantage of the current regulations. The discussion about officiating influenced the referees in Mexico. While there seems to be no doubt about the penalty for deliberately pushing Lando in turn 8, the assessment of the situation in turn 4 remains unclear to me. It's worth recalling the clash between these two in Austin, which was strikingly similar. Then, Max, as the defensive driver, delayed braking and pushed Norris off the track, also finding himself off track, yet was not penalized. In Mexico, Verstappen behaved similarly, staying within the track limits and receiving a 10-second penalty.

After the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez race, drivers and fans have more questions than answers. I believe the stewards delivered a more just verdict this time (although I think the penalty for the turn four incident should have been a maximum of 5 seconds). Unfortunately, there is a clear lack of consistency in assessing such situations, which needs to change. It's hard for me to believe this will happen before the season ends, but by 2025, the guidelines must become clearer. In the meantime, I am nearly certain the remainder of this season won't be without controversies. The tension is rising between Norris and Verstappen, and we've seen how Max can behave in such situations, especially in the 2021 season.

The Ferrari team flawlessly leveraged the clash of title contenders in Mexico. Sainz and Leclerc found themselves in the lead, creating a chance for a second consecutive one-two finish. When Max headed to the pit lane on the 17th lap, Lando finally had a clear track ahead and could start making up for lost time. Once again, the Brit utilized the strongest asset of his car, the exceptional performance on hard tires, and in the second phase of the race, he set an incredible pace. The first driver he had to overtake was Charles Leclerc, who was in second place. The Monegasque tried to maintain similar lap times for a long time, but in the end, his tires started to give way. With eight laps remaining, having Norris on his heels, he made a mistake exiting Peraltada, miraculously saving the car from crashing into the barrier. Lando gained the position but could only dream of victory. Sainz's advantage was too significant, and the Spaniard crossed the finish line first.

Despite Ferrari drivers not securing a second one-two, Fred Vasseur has reasons to smile. Ferrari finds itself ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors' standings, and their gap to McLaren is only 29 points. As a long-time Formula 1 enthusiast, I know well what most Tifosi are thinking. Despite the team's great position, they try not to get their hopes too high, recalling how their beloved team has historically squandered championship chances. However, in my opinion, Ferrari has had the best chance of getting the constructors' title since 2008. In the final phase of the season, they have a great car. If Leclerc and Sainz maintain their current form, and Max and Lando continue to battle each other, they could have the championship handed to them.

Special thanks from Ferrari this weekend go to Piastri and Perez. Both drivers were eliminated in Q1 during Saturday's qualifying, significantly weakening their teams for Sunday's race. While Oscar can be forgiven, as it was only his second mishap this year, words fail for Checo. He compromised himself once again, this time in front of his home crowd. Starting from the back of the grid, he misplaced himself on the starting grid, received a penalty for it, damaged his car in a clash with Lawson, and finished in 17th place. I am convinced that Tsunoda and Lawson wouldn't perform worse, even if they were to replace Perez in Brazil. Red Bull's management lacks boldness, and the situation is evident – the Mexican driving is the main reason for Red Bull's disappointing position in the standings. It's worth noting that Max has scored 212 more points than Sergio this year.

While the Red Bulls may be disappointed with losing their position to Ferrari, Verstappen significantly benefits from the current balance of power. Leclerc is trailing him by as many as 71 points. Even if the Monegasque won all the remaining races, Max would have to consistently finish outside the top five, a scenario hard to imagine. The Dutchman's only task is to fend off Norris's attacks and ensure that the solid 47-point lead does not vanish due to collisions, dropping out of a race, or penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior. However, we know that Max has faced bigger challenges in his career. Lando is not as demanding an opponent as Lewis Hamilton was, so winning a fourth title this year seems to be a relatively easy task.