Red Bull's Verstappen dominates F1s Mexico City Grand Prix for season record 16th win

Verstappen started from third and won from the same spot as he did in 2021. Back then, he used the slingshot effect of the draft down the long starting straight to whip to the outside and pass two cars. This time, Verstappen’s quick bolt off the starting line allowed him to squeeze between the two Ferraris and into the lead.

Max Verstappen split the Ferrari front row of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the start to snatch the lead of the Formula One Mexico City Grand Prix by the first corner, then drove off to his record 16th victory of the season.

Red Bull's three-time season champion collected his third consecutive win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday and broke his own season victories record set last year.

Verstappen started from third and won from the same spot as he did in 2021. Back then, he used the slingshot effect of the draft down the long starting straight to whip to the outside and pass two cars. This time, Verstappen's quick bolt off the starting line allowed him to squeeze between the two Ferraris and into the lead.

He still had work to do. A hard crash by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen at the halfway point forced the race into a halt and a restart. Verstappen nailed that one as well and was never threatened for the checkered flag.

The Dutch driver's 51st career win tied Alain Prost for fourth most in F1 history. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads with 103.

Hamilton finished second Sunday. Leclerc was third.

Leclerc had started on pole position for the second consecutive race but again failed to turn it into a win. In 22 career starts from pole, Leclerc has won just four times.