No 'fun ending' in Mexico, but Verstappen 'not frustrated' by late VSC

10:30, 28 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

A late Virtual Safety Car prevented what "would have been a fun ending" to the battle between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in Mexico.

"I mean, sometimes the safety car has been very nice to me as well in my career. So sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

- Max Verstappen

The defending world champion was chasing the Ferrari driver on soft tyres. However, a VSC on the penultimate lap meant the Dutchman was unable to attack Leclerc on the two long straights.

Verstappen was not frustrated with the decision. He shared after the race: "No, not really. I mean, sometimes the safety car has been very nice to me as well in my career.

"So sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's how it goes in racing.

"Would have been fun, I think, to the end. Well, maybe a bit more fun for me than for Charles defending, but it would have been a fun ending, I think, for everyone to watch," he explained.

With this result, Verstappen closed the gap to championship leader Lando Norris to 36 points in the standings.

Verstappen talking with Leclerc after the Mexico City GP - Photo: Race Pictures

Leclerc ‘proud’ to have just stayed ahead until the VSC

Being chased, Leclerc was "happy" to see the Safety Car. He commented: "I think without it, there was more chance of Max getting past than me staying in front.

"Especially with those Medium tyres, the feeling was just not there from the beginning to the end. I was definitely tempted by the two stops, but I don't know.

"At the end, I just stuck to what I was on, which was the Medium tyre, and tried to make it work—and we did. It was close. We got a little bit lucky, but I'm proud we made it stick."

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