Max masters Mexico, Sergio smash silences home fans

MEXICO CITY — Two perfect starts made for a record 16th win of the season for Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on a wild Sunday for Red Bull at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

While Verstappen was cruising to another victory in a season of domination, a first-corner crash ruined the home race of his teammate Sergio Perez, who now finds himself barely clinging to second in the drivers' championship ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton with three races left.

Verstappen started from third and won from the same spot as he did in 2021. Back then, he used the slingshot effect of the draft down the long starting straight at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to whip to the outside and pass two cars.