Lando Norris stormed to a sensational victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, winning by from Charles Leclerc by 30 seconds at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Max Verstappen finished third, to reduce his deficit to the F1 drivers' championship leader, despite that driver changing from Oscar Piastri to his McLaren team-mate, who heads the charge by a single point.
There was considerable intrigue surrounding the Australian's sudden loss of form in recent weeks, whilst Liam Lawson was involved in a terrifying near-miss only three laps into the 71-lap race.
Here is how media from around the world reacted to the 20th round of the F1 season, the Mexico City Grand Prix.
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🇬🇧 The Times - Flawless Lando Norris takes championship lead — and all the momentum
British broadsheet The Times focused on Norris' sublime performance across the weekend, which saw him, crucially, wrestle back control of the F1 drivers' championship race from Oscar Piastri.
The now-10-time grand prix winner tops the standings by a single point over his McLaren team-mate, whilst Red Bull's Max Verstappen is a further 35 points back.
It played on the momentum aspect of Norris' "flawless" weekend in Mexico, which was the best of his F1 career and the largest victory margin, at 30 seconds, in over two years.
🇳🇱 De Telegraaf - Liam Lawson prevents Formula 1 tragedy in Mexico as marshals cross the track: 'I didn't know what I was seeing'
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf tackled the scariest and most concerning aspect of the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
On lap three, Lawson, who had just emerged from the pit lane, encountered two marshals on the track at Turn 1. Understandably, the Racing Bulls driver was shocked by the incident, pointing out that he could have "killed" them.
The FIA released a statement after the race to explain what transpired, and further reviews will take place. It appears that an instruction to work on the track was rescinded when Lawson pitted, but the marshals at that corner did not get the message.
🇮🇹 La Gazzetta dello Sport - Leclerc: "Saved by Virtual? Maybe, but what a race!" Verstappen: "McLaren from another planet."
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport honed in on Leclerc's podium finish, placing an emphasis on how the late Carlos Sainz-induced virtual safety car saved him from being further attacked by Verstappen.
"I was very happy to see the [virtual] safety car coming out in the last two laps," the Monegasque driver told media, including RacingNews365.
"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."
It also addressed Verstappen's comments about McLaren being on "another planet" in Mexico, a sentiment shared by Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.
🇪🇸 El País - Mexico surrenders to Saint Verstappen, the Ferraris, and boos Norris.
Whilst the headline of Spanish outlet El País leads with Verstappen — inspired by a saint-like painting of the Dutchman — the article is almost exclusively about the boos aimed at Lando Norris after qualifying and the race in Mexico.
It became apparent in the post-grand prix press conference that the hostility has its roots in the perceived unequal treatment at McLaren, with particular focus on the switch that took place at Monza.
However, this article also highlights a closer-to-home reason for the jeering: "[It] goes back to the last two seasons, when Lando Norris criticised Mexican idol Checo Pérez, whom he judged for always winning in the Red Bull, something Norris himself could do. 'Verstappen doesn't have anyone pushing him, he doesn't have anyone trying other things with the car,' said the Briton in 2024," it reads.
🇳🇿 The New Zealand Herald - Liam Lawson to wait on future as Red Bull delay 2026 drivers decision
The New Zealand Herald also focused on home son Lawson, but from a different angle to the main talking point surrounding the Racing Bulls driver.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has stated the joint Milton Keynes-Faenza squad would make its 2026 F1 season driver line-up call following the Mexico City Grand Prix.
However, team principal Laurent Mekies has since said there may well be a delay to that, with the team now wanting the "distraction" of the situation.
Lawson is vying to stay with Racing Bulls, but is up against Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad for just three seats — and the New Zealander is not believed to be in the running for the one alongside Max Verstappen.
🇦🇺 Herald Sun - ‘Change how I was driving’: Piastri’s major admission, McLaren shuts down sabotage theory
Australian tabloid the Herald Sun addressed the unfounded accusations of sabotage at McLaren, with some seemingly perplexed at Oscar Piastri's poor run of form over the Austin-Mexico double header.
Team principal Andrea Stella explained that a thorough examination of the 24-year-old's car shows there is nothing wrong.
"Every evidence, every piece of data, every indirect measurement of information we have tells us that there is no problem with the car, and we have no reason to suspect that that’s the case," explained the Italian.
In reality, the issue boils down to Piastri struggling to produce the required lap time on low-grip surfaces, as seen at the past two rounds. His style of driving does not lend to finding pace by sliding the car, so he is now having to adapt his approach.
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