Max Verstappen Hit with 20-Second Penalty in Mexico City GP, Carlos Sainz Secures Pole Position

In a dramatic turn of events at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has been handed a 20-second penalty following two separate incidents with title rival Lando Norris. During the race, Norris was forced off the circuit twice by Verstappen’s aggressive maneuvers, first at Turn 4 and then at Turn 8. The stewards investigated both incidents and imposed two 10-second penalties on Verstappen, which he served at his first pit stop.

Despite these penalties, Verstappen had qualified in second place for the race, just behind Ferrari‘s Carlos Sainz, who secured his first pole position of the season. Sainz’s performance was notable, given the challenging conditions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where he managed nearly flawless laps to take the top spot.

The qualifying session also saw significant challenges for Sergio Pérez, who failed to progress beyond the initial qualifying round and will start from 18th position. Pérez’s disappointing season has raised concerns about his future with Red Bull, despite team principal Christian Horner‘s assurances that Pérez is contracted through 2025.

The race is set to be highly competitive, with Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in strong positions and Verstappen and Norris battling for championship points. The incident between Verstappen and Norris could have significant implications for the title race, with Verstappen currently 57 points ahead of Norris).