Honda confident: "We are well placed in the battle for both titles"

Honda had a party to celebrate after the Mexican Grand Prix. The engine supplier finished with three cars in the top four and a double podium with Red Bull Racing. Technical director Toyoharu Tanabe has nothing but praise for Max Verstappen's victory and Sergio Perez's podium in his home race.

Tanabe was impressed by the strong start of Verstappen, who outsmarted both Mercedes drivers in the first corner. "A brilliant start saw Max go from the second row on the grid to lead into the first corner and after that, he never lost the lead all the way to the chequered flag," said the Japanese in a press release.

For a while, it looked like it would be a double win, but in the end, Sergio Perez came up a few laps short of attacking Lewis Hamilton. "Checo moved up to third after the chaos of the opening lap and although that place never looked in doubt and for a few laps towards the end it looked as though he might be able to catch Lewis for second place, unfortunately, in the end, it just wasn’t possible," Tanabe continued.

"The result means Max has extended his lead in the Drivers’ standings while Red Bull is now just one point behind the leader in the Constructors," Tanabe concludes.