Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Max Verstappen believes that the clash involving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Mexico came from a problem bigger than either driver as he looked at Ferrari's approach to racing.
Ferrari looked strong for a 1-2 finish as they came out of the first turn with Hamilton leading from Leclerc on a track that is very difficult to overtake. However, their battle at Turn 4 allowed Verstappen to capitalise and take the race victory.
Verstappen started fifth at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and was in the right place when Hamilton, on pole, and Leclerc both ran wide while fighting for the lead on the opening lap. Leclerc got a five-second penalty, and Red Bull pitted Verstappen on the same lap as the Ferrari so he came out ahead. He then held off Hamilton after a late red flag and won by 0.799 seconds.
Ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen said that the equal status at Ferrari cost them victory.
Verstappen says Ferrari's equal status cost them the win
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Speaking after the Mexican Grand Prix, he told Sky Sports F1 that the equal status between the Ferrari drivers cost them victory.
“It was a very tough race,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1, looking back at the Mexico City GP. “We did everything well as a team. They made all the right calls, to pit with Charles, and we jumped ahead of them.
“I think we also capitalised on Ferrari’s battles with each other. They are two number one drivers, so they always go for it, but I think it cost them the win.”
The win was his third in four races. It moved him up to second in the drivers' standings, two points ahead of Hamilton, on the same afternoon Kimi Antonelli sealed the title.
Red Bull's hierarchy shows the other way of doing it
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Verstappen and Red Bull have taken a different approach to Ferrari in recent years. Verstappen has not been seriously challenged at Red Bull since Daniel Ricciardo left at the end of the 2018 season.
Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson all struggled against the Dutchman. Isack Hadjar has had a solid first season with Red Bull but has still remained a long way behind Verstappen in the championship.
There is unlikely to be a change at Ferrari any time soon, with Leclerc's contract running beyond 2027 and Hamilton signed until the end of next season.
Sky F1's Martin Brundle has sounded doubt over whether internal talks can prevent a repeat. He said: "Ferrari will have to manage that somehow and they will sit down, we will go to Brazil, and they will say 'yes we've sat down and we understood it all, move forward, it won't happen again,' but in reality we know that it will."
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