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Formula 1
Mexico City GP
F1 Mexico GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix
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Charles Leclerc leads an all-Ferrari front row from Carlos Sainz after the Italian squad pulled off a surprise in qualifying.
That pushed world champion Max Verstappen to third place on the grid for Red Bull, while another shock in the shape of AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo took fourth, ahead of home hero Sergio Perez in the sister Red Bull.
The Mexico GP gets under way at 8pm GMT.
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Magnussen did extricate himself from the car, but we understand from the team it had no radio message from the Dane after his hit with the barriers.
Magnussen's car is now being hoisted away by a tractor. That crash did look a strange one as his car suddenly hooked left in a right-hander. The Haas has left a bit of a mess in the run-off area.
But the drivers with the biggest beef with the red flags will be Norris and Albon, whose timely tyre changes have now been negated. They now sit tenth and 12th, when a free tyre change under the red flags could have had both higher up the order.
Verstappen is a little disgruntled that the race has been interrupted.
Cars return to the pits as Magnussen's heavily damaged car will need recovering.
Red flag
The red flags are out.
Crucially, Verstappen's cushion meant he could visit the pits without losing the lead to Leclerc. They are now effectively on equal tyre life.
Norris and Albon have both stopped for medium tyres as the flames on Magnussen's car are tended to by marshals.
Flames are licking from the rear of Magnussen's heavily-damaged Haas.
The pitlane becomes a hive of activity. By stopping now, tyres would almost certainly reach the chequered flag.
The safety car will wipe out Verstappen's 16.2s lead, but he responds by coming in for another set of fresher hard tyres.
Magnussen has gone off at Turn 9 and has punched a hole in the barrier.
Safety car
A heavy crash for Magnussen brings out the safety car.
Hamilton sounds doubtful that he'll be able to make it to the end on this set of tyres. Bonnington is a lot more optimistic though. Leclerc has much fresher tyres than the Mercedes.
Remarkably, Norris passes Albon now for P8. He will need to stop again but with this pace, he can't be discounted from a strong finishing position.
Pit stop
One lap later, Leclerc follows his team-mate in from the lead. He rejoins second, 17s down on Verstappen.
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In P15, Zhou reports: "Something smells really burning in the car."
Alfa Romeo is looking into the potential issue.
Alfa Romeo is looking into the potential issue.
Pit stop
Sainz pits on lap 31. He'll go to the end on hards from here, but unsurprisingly his later stop means he's out behind Hamilton in fourth.
Russell didn't lose much time behind Albon then, as he is back where he was before the last round of stops.
A bold move for Norris on Bottas around the outside of Turn 4 for P9 as Russell also progresses past Albon for P7 with DRS at Turn 1. Williams will be confident that the pace will be there in the latter stages, however.
"For now everything feels good," responds Leclerc when asked how long he can keep up this pace. He reports that everything is under control, but it seems only a matter of time before Verstappen looms in his mirrors.
Ricciardo has pitted from fourth and rejoins behind Hamilton. Gasly then follows him in one lap later, before Verstappen blitzes past Sainz for second with DRS at Turn 1.
Recovering back up the order from his stop, Piastri finds a way past Albon for P7.
Russell is disgruntled at coming out behind Albon, and believes Mercedes should have left him out in a bid to overcut him. But he's informed that there was a risk from behind - in the form of Norris.
Pit stop
Russell becomes the latest pit visitor, also swapping onto hard tyres. He rejoins tenth, right on the tail of Piastri, who has in turn caught the pair ahead on their starting tyres.
Albon is very much the unknown quantity in this race right now, lapping in P9 on hard tyres. He is yet to stop but will attempt to go deep before switching - most likely - to mediums.
Pit stop
Piastri meanwhile has pitted from sixth and rejoins tenth, behind the Albon-Bottas squabble, on hard tyres.
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"Our best bet is to extend and go optimal one-stop," Sainz is informed by the pitwall. The Spaniard agrees.
Meanwhile Verstappen has taken third place via a straightforward DRS pass into Turn 1 on Ricciardo. He's four seconds behind Sainz but gaining all the time.
Pit stop
As Leclerc begins lap 25, Hamilton does peel in for hards. He rejoins ahead of Gasly in seventh.
Pit stop
Both Haas drivers pit - Hulkenberg from P9 and Magnussen from P13 - and they return to the action in P16 and 18. More positions gained for Norris.
Attempting to take the hard tyres to the end from here - lap 25 - is a big ask.
Attempting to take the hard tyres to the end from here - lap 25 - is a big ask.
Mercedes has already brought its pit crew out once with a set of hard tyres - presumably for Hamilton - but Ferrari didn't take the bait. Leclerc continues to lead for now, having yet to stop, by 6.9s over Sainz and Hamilton. Verstappen following his switch to hards is gaining rapidly on Ricciardo in fourth.
And Norris gains another place, flying past Alonso using DRS into Turn 1. P15 and counting.
Zhou has pitted from P11 and has exited 13 seconds behind Norris. The McLaren driver - who has also now passed Ocon - is up to P16.
Sainz is informed over the radio that Ferrari still thinks a one-stop is the best approach. Meanwhile Verstappen has already made light work of Russell and Piastri, moving into fifth.
Norris is now within DRS range of Ocon - the last of the runners yet to stop.
Sainz was seven tenths slower than Leclerc last time around. How much longer can he keep Hamilton back?
How much longer will Leclerc try and go on his starting mediums? He has 5.5s on Sainz, who is getting a real workover from Hamilton.
Pit stop
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 19. He rejoins with a set of hard tyres in seventh, ahead of the ongoing Hulkenberg-Gasly duel.
Verstappen's lead is up to 4.6 seconds as we begin lap 19. A third Mexican win on the trot appears well within his reach, although he reports over the radio that his tyres are giving up.
By: Autosport Staff
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