Lando Norris leads Formula 1 standings after Mexico GP, Verstappen third

Max Verstappen acknowledged that his chances of retaining the Formula 1 championship title became more difficult after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he was hampered by a lack of pace and a late Virtual Safety Car that cost him a potential second place. Despite topping second practice, Verstappen struggled with rear grip and qualifying pace, ending up fifth on the grid behind pole-sitter Lando Norris, who now leads the championship standings. Verstappen revealed that the Red Bull RB21 car was not the fastest at the circuit, and even after multiple setup attempts, the team could not find a solution, leading him to say he might need other drivers to retire to improve his race position. He noted that while the soft tire compound helped him recover some ground during the race, overall, Red Bull's pace was weak compared to rivals, particularly McLaren's Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Verstappen remains optimistic but realistic, recognizing that every remaining race would have to be nearly perfect to close the points gap, which stands at 36 behind Norris and 40 behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. This situation highlights Red Bull's challenges and Verstappen's uphill battle in the tightly contested 2025 Formula 1 championship race.