Lando Norris’ victory at the Mexican Grand Prix on Oct. 26 marked his sixth win of the season, propelling him into first place in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship standings. Driving for McLaren, Norris overtook his teammate Oscar Piastri in total points on the season, putting him in a prime position with just four races to go. Piastri has been in control of the top spot for much of the season, but recent disappointing results have seen him lose his lead as his teammate takes over.
Norris finished first with an impressive 30-second margin, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished in second. Piastri finished in fifth, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishing in third. Leclerc had a brief lead after turn one, however, he cut the track to do so and had to give the position back. Norris then reclaimed his position as the race leader and never looked back.
“It’s been a very good weekend from start to finish,” Norris told Sky Sports. “I kept my head down and kept to myself — it’s working at the minute. This weekend has probably been one of my best weekends that I’ve had this season, so it’s a good load of points, but that’s it for now. It’s a reset and then it’s a focus on Brazil.”
Elsewhere on the track, three cars were forced to retire prior to reaching the finish line: Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) all saw their days end prematurely for different reasons. Lawson collided with Carlos Sainz Jr. (Williams) on lap five, causing an early exit. Hülkenberg and Alonso faced mechanical issues with their handling and brakes, respectively, and were out of the race less than halfway through the 71 total laps.
Though the big story of the race is Norris’s continued success and momentum, Haas’s Ollie Bearman is also attracting attention. At just 20 years old, this is Bearman’s first complete season on the Formula 1 circuit, and although he currently sits 13th out of 20 drivers, he finished fourth in Mexico. Since Haas debuted in Formula 1 in 2016, none of their drivers have finished higher in a race. Bearman’s heroics have caused some journalists to speculate about his future as a member of Ferrari’s team, which he drove for last year on a fill-in basis before signing with Haas as a full time driver this year.
With four races left to go in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the title is still up for grabs. Norris’s victory pushed him to 357 points this season, but Piastri sits right behind him at 356. However, Verstappen will try to stay in the mix as long as possible to keep it a three-horse race, as he has 321 points and is the only other driver with a chance at the title. With Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi still left before a champion is crowned, all eyes will be on Norris, Piastri and Verstappen to see who will come out on top. If Norris can maintain his slim advantage, the Mexican Grand Prix may be remembered as the turning point that defined the 2025 Formula 1 season.
