Norris reclaims F1 championship lead with dominant Mexican GP win

Lando Norris delivered a textbook lights-to-flag win in fi Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, seizing the championship lead from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri with four GPs remaining.

- AGENCIES

Starting from pole position after having dominated Saturday's qualifying session, Norris headed off the threat from behind on lap 1 to settle into a commanding lead that he would keep to the flag, crossing the line some 30 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Behind Leclerc came Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who hunted down the Ferrari in the closing laps and might have been set to overtake on the final tour, but a Virtual Safety Car deployment to clear Carlos Sainz's stricken Williams prevented him from attempting a pass, reports Xinhua.

Piastri, meanwhile, could only salvage fifth after a mystifyingly poor qualifying performance saw him lineup seventh on the grid. The Australian's cause was not helped when he dropped to 11th on lap 1 after having lost out in a midfield melee over the first few corners.