Aston Martin escape sanctions after 'very minor' F1 cost cap breach
motorsport|28 October 2025 at 13:01
Aston Martin committed a "very minor" procedural breach of Formula One's cost cap regulations last year due to exceptional circumstances but will face no penalties, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the other nine teams and five engine manufacturers were all in compliance, despite speculation last week that a more substantial breach might be announced.
The FIA said the breach, involving a failure to submit signed versions of its audited annual financial statements by a March deadline, was due to unpredictable circumstances outside the team's control.
Significantly, Aston Martin had not exceeded the cost cap level.
The Silverstone-based team had acted cooperatively and in good faith, added the FIA, entering an Accepted Breach Agreement last month to resolve the matter.
"The Cost Cap Administration confirm that there is no accusation or evidence that AMR has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach," the FIA said.
Speculation about a team being in breach of the cost cap had mounted after the FIA was late publishing the accounts for the 2024 season.
Confirmation of teams' compliance had come much earlier in previous years.
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Andretti signs IndyCar star to multi-year extension
motorsport|3 November 2025 at 17:40
Andretti Global announced a multi-year extension on Monday with NTT IndyCar Series driver Kyle Kirkwood, through "2026 and beyond."
Specific length of the contract was not revealed by Andretti Global.
Kirkwood, 27, has won five times and reached six podiums in the No 27 Honda since joining Andretti in 2023.
"Kyle represents exactly what we strive for across TWG Motorsports and Andretti Global," Andretti Global president Jill Gregory said.
"His blueprint for success has made him a key part of our INDYCAR line-up defined by talent, tenacity and a relentless drive to win. Kyle's growth and ambition reflect the strength of Andretti Global and our commitment to developing world-class competitors on and off the track."
The plan isn’t changing. Kyle Kirkwood is extended for a multi-year contract with Andretti Global🔒 pic.twitter.com/nZ69cC9bkB
Kirkwood's breakout 2025 campaign included Grand Prix wins at Long Beach (April 13), Detroit (1 June) and Illinois (15 June). He finished fourth in the season standings.
"We've had an amazing three years together and our future together is very bright," Kirkwood said.
"We have proven to be true contenders, and most recently, Championship contenders. Our trajectory has only been up, and I am confident that we will be fighting again for championships. Between the new shop, leadership, teammates and the many evolving factors within the organisation, I believe this team is an absolute powerhouse, and we're so excited for the journey ahead."
Joining Kirkwood in Andretti's 2026 line-up are two-time IndyCar champion Will Power and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson.
Here to stay.
Andretti Global announces Kyle Kirkwood has signed a multiyear contract extension with the team. pic.twitter.com/mdd9DPXx74
A three-way fight for the drivers’ title is on with McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri looking to end Red Bull’s Max Verstappen reign.
With four races and two sprints left, 120 points are still available, meaning the title is wide open.
Norris has outperformed Piastri in recent rounds, and internal friction—like their wheel-banging in Singapore—could decide the title.
After an eight-race winless streak, Verstappen has stormed back with multiple victories and sprint wins.
Two remaining sprints (São Paulo and Qatar) offer extra points that could swing the championship.
These short-format races add pressure and technical challenges for all contenders.
There is only one place to watch the drama unfold - every single race is LIVE on SuperSport, your World of Champions. Click on the banner below to sign up for DStv Premium.
There has been a shake-up with the 2025 grid and only two teams, McLaren and Aston Martin, have stuck with their lineup from last year.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari is the biggest change going into the new season.
Six rookies are set to make their fulltime debut. Oliver Bearman caught the eye when he stood in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Kevin Magnussen at Haas last season. The 19-year-old Briton joins Haas on a multi-year contract.
Let's take a look at the full calendar ahead, with full broadcast details for the upcoming GP.
CALENDAR 2025 (all times CAT, GMT+2)
NEXT UP:
21. Sunday, 9 November 2025 Brazil GP, Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos), Sao Paulo
Friday, 7 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo 1
Practice 1: 4:25pm.
Sprint Qualifying: 8:25pm.
Saturday, 8 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo 1
Sprint: 3:55pm.
Qualifying: 7:55pm.
Sunday, 9 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo
Race: 6:55pm.
FULL SEASON
----- BREAK -----
22. Sunday, 23 November 2025 Las Vegas GP, Las Vegas Street Circuit
23. Sunday, 30 November 2025 Qatar GP, Losail International Circuit
24. Sunday, 7 December 2025 Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit
Liam Lawson bears no blame for a near-miss with two marshals who crossed the track ahead of him during last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix, Formula One's governing body said on Friday.
The New Zealander, who drives for Red Bull's Racing Bulls, was shocked by the lap three incident which happened after he left the pits last Sunday.
"Are you kidding me? Did you just see that?" he asked his race engineer over the radio. "I could have ... killed them, mate."
"I could've f****** killed them" 😳
This was Liam Lawson’s POV when two F1 marshals ran across the track, narrowly avoiding being hit at the #MexicoGP ☠️pic.twitter.com/4coiZFdhZk
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that while an investigation remained ongoing, Lawson was in the clear.
"Having analysed the telemetry from the incident, we can confirm that... Liam Lawson slowed appropriately and reacted correctly to the double yellow flags displayed in the area," it said.
The statement added that the rookie had braked earlier than in other laps and passed "significantly slower than racing speed into turn one.
"He is not at fault in this incident," it said.
🗣️ Lawson "slowed appropriately and reacted correctly to the double yellow flags displayed in the area."
The FIA's response after Liam Lawson was criticised by the Mexican motorsport authority for the marshal near-miss in Mexico: pic.twitter.com/dCOMORceRJ
A statement from the Mexican Automobile Club (OMDAI) earlier in the week had highlighted that Lawson did not change his line despite the marshals being visible on track and knowing he needed to take extreme precautions.
Onboard footage had suggested he saw the marshals, who were collecting debris from an earlier collision, only at the last moment after turning into the right-hander.
Media reports had interpreted the OMDAI statement as putting blame on Lawson.
The FIA said a situation with marshals on track with oncoming cars was not something anyone wanted to see and it was natural the incident would provoke concern and debate.
"It is fortunate this incident did not result in any serious consequences but we are conducting an internal investigation to understand exactly what happened and to identify any areas where procedures can be improved," it added.
"As with all serious incidents, the full analysis will take some time," it added, citing the need to collect and review evidence in multiple languages.
The governing body thanked the marshals, who are volunteers, for their professionalism and dedication.
F1, FIA and Ecclestone bid to throw out Massa's lawsuit over 2008 title
Formula One, its ex-boss Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA on Wednesday sought to throw out Felipe Massa's lawsuit over the 2008 world championship, arguing the former Ferrari driver's mistakes were what cost the Brazilian the title.
Massa is suing at London's High Court for a declaration that he should have won the 2008 championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, and is seeking around 64 million pounds ($85.9 million) plus interest.
His case turns on the "crashgate" scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which Massa was leading from pole position when fellow Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr crashed to try and help his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso, who won the race.
Piquet in 2009 revealed he had been ordered to crash by team bosses, who were subsequently banned. Massa's lawyers say Ecclestone already knew the crash was deliberate and Ecclestone and then-FIA president Max Mosley failed to investigate it.
Massa argues the results of the Singapore Grand Prix – which Hamilton finished third, scoring six points – should have been annulled with the result that he would have won the title.
Lawyers for F1, Ecclestone and the FIA, however, say the case was brought too late and argue Massa and Ferrari's errors in Singapore – including a disastrous pitstop in which Massa accidentally knocked down a crew member – are the reason he lost the race and ultimately the championship.
MASSA IN COURT FOR CRUCIAL HEARING
Massa sat in the public gallery for the first day of a three-day hearing and smiled as Ecclestone's lawyer David Quest told the court Massa had "performed very poorly" in Singapore, where he finished 13th and scored no points.
He filed the case last year, relying on comments made by Ecclestone in an interview with F1 Insider in 2023 when he said he and Mosley knew Piquet crashed deliberately and did nothing to "protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal".
Quest said former F1 supremo Ecclestone, who turned 95 on Tuesday, "does not remember giving this interview".
The defendants argue Massa knew enough to sue in 2008 and 2009, meaning the case should be thrown out as having been brought too late.
They also say the declaration Massa seeks is unfair to Hamilton, whose 2008 title was the first of a joint-record seven world championships and is not a party to the litigation.
Hamilton clinched the championship from Massa after overtaking Toyota's Timo Glock for fifth place on the last lap of the season's last race, won by Massa, in Brazil.
Massa did not win again after 2008, suffering a near-fatal head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. He retired in 2017.
His lawyers say Massa did not know enough to bring a lawsuit until 2023, when Ecclestone's interview suggested the FIA knew Piquet crashed deliberately and decided not to investigate.
The hearing is expected to conclude on Friday with a ruling likely at a later date.
Aston Martin confirms American F2 star as third driver
Aston Martin confirmed that American Jak Crawford will serve as the Formula 1 team's third driver for the 2026 season.
A member of the team's development program since 2024 after a stint as a Red Bull F1 junior, Crawford is currently second in a tight Formula 2 battle this season, 19 points behind Leonardo Fornaroli with two races remaining.
The 20-year-old North Carolina native also made his F1 grand prix weekend debut in an FP1 appearance in Mexico City last week.
Jak Crawford will become the team's Third Driver for the 2026 Formula One season.
The role sees Jak act as the team's reserve driver at all races next season. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/luyQ4uVeWS
"I'm incredibly proud to be confirmed as the Third Driver for 2026," Crawford said. "It's a huge moment in my journey with Aston Martin and a big motivation to keep learning and contributing.
"Over the past two seasons, I've learned so much from being in the Formula 1 environment, both at the factory and trackside. I'll be doing everything I can to support the team and continue developing as a driver."
Crawford will serve as the reserve driver behind Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, replacing Felipe Drugovich in the position.
"It is great to see Jak progress to become our Third Driver for 2026," team principal Andy Cowell said. "Over the past two years, he has shown his value as a key member of our driver squad and built up a valuable bank of experience and test mileage.
"Jak has impressed in the simulator, having completed regular sessions at the AMR Technology Campus to support our race operations and car development. Jak's performances in Formula 2 have also been outstanding, and we are excited to continue supporting his growth as he takes on a bigger role."
Aston Martin escape sanctions after 'very minor' F1 cost cap breach
Aston Martin committed a "very minor" procedural breach of Formula One's cost cap regulations last year due to exceptional circumstances but will face no penalties, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the other nine teams and five engine manufacturers were all in compliance, despite speculation last week that a more substantial breach might be announced.
The FIA said the breach, involving a failure to submit signed versions of its audited annual financial statements by a March deadline, was due to unpredictable circumstances outside the team's control.
Significantly, Aston Martin had not exceeded the cost cap level.
The Silverstone-based team had acted cooperatively and in good faith, added the FIA, entering an Accepted Breach Agreement last month to resolve the matter.
"The Cost Cap Administration confirm that there is no accusation or evidence that AMR has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach," the FIA said.
Speculation about a team being in breach of the cost cap had mounted after the FIA was late publishing the accounts for the 2024 season.
Confirmation of teams' compliance had come much earlier in previous years.
Three things we learned from the Mexico City Grand Prix
A triumphant Lando Norris may have rejected the idea that he has the momentum to win this year’s drivers' world championship, but clearly after his win in Mexico City he is the McLaren driver with the confidence and form to succeed.
Norris and Oscar Piastri’s diverging fortunes since F1's summer break saw Piastri, searching for his lost consistency, scrabbling in pursuit on his way to finishing fifth in a tense, chaotic and sometimes wild Latin American race.
AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's intense contest at a festive, sold-out Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
NORRIS SHOWS CHAMPION QUALITIES
By taking both a dominant pole position and then a flawless victory by 30 seconds, Norris stamped his authority on this weekend and boosted his prospects of claiming the title, even if his supremacy was hailed with unexpected boos after the race.
The Briton's reaction, calm and good-humoured, added to his new gloss as a champion in waiting.
"That’s sport sometimes," he said with a half-smile and a shrug. "I don’t know why. I was kind of laughing. I think it made it more entertaining for me.
"I'd prefer it if people cheered for me, but I just concentrate on doing my own thing."
His self-effacing style, previously seen as a weakness, has become a strength as it insulates him against the pressure as he seeks to beat Piastri and the looming figure of Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen.
He leads Piastri by one point and the Dutchman by 36 points with four races remaining.
Since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, where he retired with an oil leak and Piastri won, Norris has finished ahead of him everywhere to claw back 35 points and the championship lead for the first time in six months.
OPENING LAPS THRILLS AND DANGERS
While the spectacle of Sunday’s race, notably in the opening and closing laps, was dramatic and exciting, it was also dangerous and unfair.
The four-abreast charge into the opening corner at the end of an 830-metre straight produced thrills, wheel-banging and two cars leaving the track and gaining positions that they seemingly handed back.
More clashes followed, including a long and late lunge on seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari by Verstappen that, in effect, ended the Briton's podium hopes as he was given a 10-second penalty for rejoining incorrectly.
"It was pretty nuts," said Hamilton. "I was the only one given a penalty…" He did not name them, but Leclerc and Verstappen could have been penalised too.
Mercedes' George Russell also lost out in the first corner melee. "I don't understand how three drivers can cut the first corner and then re-enter where they continued… It allows you to risk everything and have a get-out-of-jail card if you get it wrong. I lost three positions, so I was pretty frustrated."
More seriously, on a day when questions were asked about the stewarding, decisions and crowd behaviour, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson revealed that he narrowly avoided a fatal accident when two marshals ran across the circuit on lap three.
VERSTAPPEN NEEDS MORE SPEED
After a blistering run of three wins in five races, Verstappen showed tenacity and his once-familiar aggression to claim third place, but admitted he needed more speed from his car to maintain any real hopes of a fifth title.
"We struggled for pace and, in hindsight, with the tyres... But at least we had the perfect strategy… It's fine to think differently, but we need to be faster," the Dutchman said.
Verstappen closes the gap after unexpected podium finish
Max Verstappen did not expect to finish on the podium at the Mexico City Grand Prix after his struggles in qualifying so the Dutchman was not overly disappointed that a late virtual safety car denied him the chance to turn his third place into second.
McLaren's race winner Lando Norris moved one point clear of teammate Oscar Piastri at the top of the standings, with Red Bull's Verstappen closing the gap at the top to 36 points from 40 coming into Sunday's race.
The four-time world champion started fifth on the grid after complaining of a lack of grip in Saturday's qualifying but the Dutch driver finished less than a second behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who was struggling with his tyres at the end.
A virtual safety car on the penultimate lap, deployed when Carlos Sainz spun and stopped with smoke coming from his Williams, came as a godsend for Leclerc.
"Sometimes the safety car works for you, and sometimes it works against you," said Verstappen.
"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 for everyone to watch.
Verstappen did an extended first stint on medium tyres before switching to softs while his rivals made earlier pit stops. The strategy paid dividends as he moved past Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, after an early battle, on lap 47.
He then climbed to third when several drivers, including Mercedes' George Russell, Piastri and Haas's Oliver Bearman, made second stops.
"Personally, I didn't expect to be on the podium," Verstappen told reporters. "I think even in the first stint, it was not really looking like it. At the time, I thought we were just slow and struggling on tyres.
"Once we bolted on the softs, we were a little bit more competitive, a bit happier," he added.
Rookie Oliver Bearman modestly praised his Haas team's relentless hard work on Sunday after resisting intense pressure and finishing a career-best fourth in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
It was the young Briton's third successive points-scoring finish and equalled the American team's best finish, a performance that underlined he is one of the stars of the future.
"It feels great," said Bearman, 20, in his first full season in F1 after the race in which it seemed he might secure his and Haas's maiden podium finish.
"I'm really happy that is our joint-best finish in the history of the team.
"We had a great race and, of course, I was lucky to be where I was before the first stop, but actually we had the pace to stay there.
"I held off Max (Verstappen) in the first stint. I held off the Mercedes (George Russell) in the second and then the McLaren (Oscar Piastri) in the third, so I was under a lot of pressure.
"I spent more of the time looking in my rear view mirrors than in front, but that is sometimes how it has to be.
"And I'm really proud of the team because it really validates all the hard work we've been doing for the past few races."
Charles Leclerc breathed a sigh of relief after his seventh podium of the season for Ferrari and thanked a late safety car intervention for "saving" his second place in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
"I'm very happy with this weekend and happy to be on this amazing podium again, but I was very happy also to see the safety car at the end," Leclerc said.
"My tyres were completely gone and I could see Mas was coming back on the softer tyre so it was tough, but the safety car saved me.
"It was the most stressful part of the race."
He said the start was "chaos as well... There was Lewis (Hamilton) on the inside and I don't think he expected that and there was Max on the outside and a little bit of contract.
"I had to go straight, but it was stressful too. I thought the race would end there for me and Lewis... Lewis wanted to try take his shot and I would have done exactly the same if I was him. It is completely normal."
Seven-time champion Hamilton, who started third and finished eighth after being given a 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage by running off track, said: "It was fun at the start and then it didn't end up that way or the way I had hoped, but that's motor racing.
"At least I got some points."
Verstappen was sanguine about the late Virtual safety car thwarting his charge for second and the early bumps during the opening laps.
"It was very hectic at the beginning of the race for me," he said.
"I had to be on that kerb, kept battling out all the way so almost crashed over the grass and even after that there was a lot going on.
"Everyone around me was on soft tyres and I was on the medium and it looked like a bit of a struggle, so I was just surviving the first stint.
"But once we bolted on the softs I think we were more competitive.
"And the safety car? Well, you win some, you lose some. Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it works against you."
Calm Norris plans to stay relaxed after taking F1 title-race lead
Lando Norris said he plans to continue his policy of being relaxed and focussed on just himself after taking a one-point lead in the Formula One drivers' world championship by winning Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.
As McLaren teammate and chief title rival Oscar Piastri fought to finish fifth, Norris cruised to a commanding 30-second triumph ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who resisted a late charge by Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen with the aid of a late Virtual Safety Car intervention.
It was Norris's first win in Mexico and the 10th of his career, lifting him to 357 points in the title race ahead of Piastri on 356 and on top for the first time in six months since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April.
With four events remaining, Norris has seized the momentum and is also 36 points ahead of in-form Verstappen, who has reeled off six consecutive podium finishes to reduce Piastri's 104-point lead at the end of August.
"It's one weekend at a time for me," said Norris, whose competitive mentality and composure has been questioned this season.
"I'm happy and I'm focused on myself. I'm just keeping my head down and I keep to myself.
"It's working for me at the minute so I'm happy... But, what a race. I could just keep my eyes forward and focus on what I was doing."
Staying calm amid a carnival atmosphere at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, he added: "It was pretty straight-forward, which is just what I wanted. A good start, a good launch and a good first lap... And then, I could go from there.
"I just stay relaxed and it helps. It helped me get a good start and it's the best thing.
"For me, this is awesome and I love it, my first win in Mexico and what a beautiful one to win here in this stadium."
TRYING TO LEARN
Piastri, who emerged from a mostly desultory weekend with a feisty race, admitted that he had to change his driving style to adapt to circumstances after seeing how Norris has adapted in recent races.
"Today, there was a lot of fight. The whole race I was right behind someone and struggling with dirty air, so that was pretty difficult," Piastri said.
"For me, the biggest thing is trying to learn the things I want to learn. Yesterday, it became obvious after the session that there were a few things I had to change pretty majorly in the way I was driving.
"Today was about first trying to implement that. If I've made some progress with that I will be happy, but obviously, when your teammate wins the race, finishing fifth is not that extravagant.
"I think I've had to drive very differently in the last couple of weeks. It has been a bit to get my head around. I've been driving the same all year, but the last couple of weeks the car and tyres required a different way of driving.
"I've not really gone to that. I tried a few things today. It is nothing to do with the car. Given how the pace had differentiated in the last couple of races – Lando has found it easier to dial into that and I haven't.
"It's about adding tools to the toolbox rather than reinventing myself."
Lando Norris beamed with pleasure on Saturday after turbo-charging his bid for the Formula One drivers' world championship by grabbing pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix while rivals struggled in his wake.
The 25-year-old Briton, who is 14 points behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and 26 ahead of third-placed four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, powered to a stunning fastest lap in one minute and 15.586 seconds.
It carried him 0.262 seconds clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who was three-tenths adrift. Mercedes' George Russell was fourth and Verstappen fifth while Piastri struggled to qualify eighth.
"I'm here to win and I am looking forward to it," said Norris, who showed a mental edge and performance to give him confidence after several weeks of pressure.
"I know I have some very quick guys behind me and it's a long run to Turn One, but I'm focused.
"I've not been sleeping well lately so that's maybe the key to everything. I've had good races here in the past, so I'm just focusing on what I can control and that's all I can do."
Norris drove with a freedom that was in contrast to the pressurised Piastri, who was unable to match his teammate’s pace at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
"I'm happy to be back on pole," said Norris. "It has actually been quite a long time, so it's a good feeling. My lap was one those laps where you don't really know what happened. It felt decent, but when I crossed the line I was very pleasantly surprised.
"I've been feeling good all weekend, especially today. I got a little bit nervous of the Ferrari at the end of Q3, but I pulled it out when it mattered and I'm happy because of that."
'EXPECTING A BATTLE'
It is his first pole in Mexico, his fifth of the season and the 14th of his career, as well as his first since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. For McLaren, it is a first Mexico pole since Gerhard Berger in 1990.
Looking ahead to the race, Norris added: "The race pace from the Ferraris is usually very strong, so I'm expecting a battle and I'm not expecting it to be easy.
"Eyes forward. And I will see how much I can win by."
His teammate Piastri, who had a 39-point lead at the end of August, was downcast.
"I will try my best," he said. "It is an opportunity to make some progress forwards.
"Everything feels OK, but there's just no pace, which is a bit of a mystery. It has been more or less the same gap all weekend.
"We'll have a look at where I was going wrong and I would say it's all a bit frustrating. This week and last weekend the car has felt like the pace hasn't come. I'm not 100 per cent sure why and we need to do some digging."
Piastri puzzled by 'mystery' lack of speed as Norris takes pole
Formula One leader Oscar Piastri said his vanishing speed was "a bit of a mystery" after struggling to seventh on the grid in Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying while teammate Lando Norris took pole position.
Norris lapped the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Saturday with a time 0.6 seconds quicker than the Australian. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were second and third.
Piastri qualified eighth but moves up a place thanks to Williams' Carlos Sainz carrying a five-place grid penalty from Austin.
"I'm a bit frustrated with how the session's gone," Piastri told reporters. "There's a lot of things I could worry about, but ultimately, being that far off when you feel like you've done a reasonable job is a difficult place to be."
The gap between the McLaren teammates has been stubbornly consistent all weekend, leaving Piastri searching for answers. "Clearly one of the cars was quick (today), so we need to try and work out why I'm not," he said.
What was particularly frustrating for the 24-year-old, who is 14 points ahead of Norris and 40 clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who qualified fifth, was that he felt he had not fundamentally changed his approach.
"I've not changed really how I'm driving since the start of the season, and even a few races ago when things were going really well," he said. "It's difficult to pinpoint where the lap time's been lacking this weekend."
The issues echo problems from Austin, dashing hopes those were track-specific.
"In some ways, not too dissimilar," Piastri said. "Some of the things that were difficult in Austin are also proving difficult."
Despite the frustration, he remained optimistic about Sunday's race prospects.
"I'll try my best. I think if I can unlock the pace of the car, then we can have some fun. We're just going to try and unlock it."
Hamilton closer than ever to first podium with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton said he was perfectly placed to secure a first podium with Ferrari, after qualifying third in Mexico on Saturday, and planned an aggressive start with nothing to lose.
The seven-time world champion, who joined the Italian team in January from Mercedes, enjoyed his best qualifying in 20 races this season with teammate Charles Leclerc just ahead in second place.
"This is the first time we've both been up in the top three in qualifying this year and the team truly deserves it," said Hamilton, enjoying being back in a post-qualifying press conference.
"P3 (third on the grid) is kind of the perfect spot actually, at this track, so I'm hoping I can make the most of that at the start. I think our race pace is not too bad."
Hamilton is a two-time winner in Mexico, also clinching his 2017 and 2018 world championships at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
"I'm finally figuring out how to drive this car that Charles has been fortunate to drive for the past seven years in terms of the characteristics. I'm finally feeling like I'm getting there," he said.
Hamilton said he would be "racy" at the start, with McLaren's Lando Norris on pole.
"I don’t have anything to lose, but he (Norris) does ... we’ll be quite aggressive, I’m pretty sure. Hopefully, we’ll be close enough to put up a good fight," said the Ferrari driver.
Norris could retake the championship lead from teammate Oscar Piastri if results go his way, while Ferrari have nothing to fight for other than second in the constructors' standings.
Monday will be the anniversary of Ferrari's last Formula One victory and Leclerc, who was on provisional pole until Norris put in a storming late lap, said it would mean a lot to win.
"We will do everything in order to get the first place into the first corner and then we'll see what's possible."
Leclerc doubted he would have had the pace to match Norris's time, even if he had been able to go again, but was happy with the car's performance.
"I think he (Norris) will be very strong tomorrow for sure but the start is definitely a chance for us to try and make something special, even though we're starting second on the dirty side (of the track)," said the Monegasque.
McLaren's Norris takes stunning pole in Mexico ahead of both Ferraris
Title-chasing Lando Norris produced a stunning late lap in his McLaren to grab pole position for Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix and boost his championship challenge on Saturday ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Norris's teammate and series leader Oscar Piastri, who leads him by 14 points in the championship, qualified down in eighth after a disappointing session, three places behind four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who is 40 points behind in third.
The 25-year-old Briton clocked a best lap of one minute and 15.586 seconds to beat Leclerc by 0.262 seconds with seven-time champion Hamilton three-tenths adrift.
Mercedes’ George Russell was fourth ahead of Verstappen and Italian teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Carlos Sainz of Williams and Piastri. Sainz faces a five-place grid penalty.
Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar was ninth and Oliver Bearman of Haas 10th.
It was Norris’s first pole in Mexico, his fifth this season and the 14th of his career as well as McLaren’s first Mexico pole since 1990.
"I'm happy to be back on pole, it's been a long time," said Norris whose last pole came at the Belgian Grand Prix in July.
"My lap – it was one of those laps where you don't know what happened - it felt decent, but when I saw it was a 15.5, I was surprised.
"I've had some good races here in the past and I'll just focus on what I can control.
"I'm here to win," Norris added. "I'll be looking forward, I have some quick guys behind me – I'm not expecting it to be easy."
Leclerc called it a "difficult qualifying because there is so little grip.
"It's very tricky, but I am happy with the job I've done," he said.
HAMILTON BREAKTHROUGH
Hamilton, having taken his first top three qualifying spot since joining Ferrari, said: “I am so happy. I am honoured to be here with these guys who have been so quick all year – and my first top three all year!”
In hot conditions and a festive atmosphere, Aston Martin's two-time champion Fernando Alonso clocked an early opener before being overhauled by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and then a flying Norris in 1:17.147.
Leclerc went second, adrift by a tenth, but Piastri was seven-tenths slower in 10th.
The track was ramping up in the sunshine, enabling faster laps and the entire field were within a second of Norris before Hadjar, sporting an Alain Prost tribute helmet to mark the four-time champion’s 1990 win in Mexico, went top in 1:16.733 with a late lap ahead of Hamilton.
It was the first time this year that a Racing Bulls driver had been on top in any segment of qualifying.
What a Qualifying! 😇
Lando Norris secures pole position, with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton behind him on the grid 👀#F1#MexicoGPpic.twitter.com/G66l8Oh614
Both Alpines, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Williams’ Alex Albon and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto were eliminated in a tight finish as tyres and temperatures emerged as decisive factors.
Q2 began with fast laps on new softs from Verstappen and Leclerc before Norris went top in 1:16.252, four tenths clear Leclerc. Piastri was a second down on his teammate in 10th after the first runs and complained of a powertrain issue that hampered him.
Verstappen led the way again for the second runs and with the aid of a tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda went second, 0.353 off Norris's lap, before being beaten by Hamilton while Piastri squeezed into the top ten in seventh. Hadjar hung on in 10th.
Out this time went Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon of Haas, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls.
Verstappen led the way again in Q3 to clock 1:16.455 and was overhauled immediately by Norris in 1:16.170. Hamilton went second before Leclerc soared to the top in 1:15.991 – an improvement of seven-tenths to secure provisional pole.
Ferrari were clearly enjoying a surge of pace that left Piastri fifth behind both of his main title rivals and set up a thrilling finale with the second Q3 runs.
This time, the Australian was first out of the pitlane, hoping for a dramatic change of fortunes. Instead he wound up eighth as Norris charged to the top.
Norris tops Mexico final practice ahead of Hamilton
Title-chasing McLaren driver Lando Norris topped the times ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with series leader Oscar Piastri fifth and Max Verstappen sixth in Saturday's third and final practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
In a tensely-contested session, the 25-year-old Briton, who is 14 points behind McLaren teammate Piastri in the drivers' championship, clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 16.633 seconds to outpace seven-time champion Hamilton by 0.345.
Mercedes' George Russell was third ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari with Piastri and Verstappen behind them, a confidence-boosting outcome for Norris as he seeks a first Mexican win to overhaul a faltering Piastri.
Lando Norris tops the timesheets in final practice! 👏💨
Kimi Antonelli was seventh in the second Mercedes ahead of Racing Bulls’ star rookie Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was unable to make a late soft tyres run due to a mechanical issue on his Aston Martin and finished 20th, but it was a competitive hour of action.
The session began with Lance Stroll leading Aston Martin teammate Alonso out in near-perfect conditions at the dusty and slippery Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Much of the overnight paddock gossip had focussed on McLaren’s race pace in second practice when, despite Verstappen’s one-lap speed, there was an air of confidence that suggested the Friday run times had disguised their potential.
It's Lando fastest in FP3 with an impressive lap on the soft tyres! 💨
It had been a disappointing day for Piastri, down in 12th, which prompted 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve to suggest he had lost confidence.
"We didn’t hear a lot of confidence and his driving has been messy since Baku," he told Sky Sports F1.
"That can make a tenth or two difference… A little mistake here and there and it gets to your head.
"And seeing Max at the front, that's going to eat him all evening. If you’re running and looking backwards, things go wrong and that’s what’s happening.
"It might not be down to the car. The driver just needs to be a little bit tense behind the wheel and that's it - it’s gone. He doesn’t feel the car anymore, doesn’t drive it smoothly and starts making mistakes."
Remaining calm, and removed from the incessant speculation about the title race, Piastri waited 18 minutes to go out soon after Sainz had gone top on softs for Williams ahead of Verstappen with Norris third, the trio separated by only 0.037 seconds.
Most drivers were on mediums and working their way into the session with Piastri clearly sticking to a programme that did not require him to compete at that stage, taking a ‘big picture’ approach to the job.
Norris though emerged top with a blistering effort, Piastri responding by going third until pushed back by Russell.
Formula One cost cap delay raises speculation about possible breach
At least one team looks likely to be in breach of cost caps in the yet-to-be published Formula One accounts, Sauber team boss Jonathan Wheatley said on Friday.
The sport's governing body has held off publishing the accounts for the 2024 season, triggering speculation about the reason for the delay. Confirmation of compliance in previous years has come much earlier.
"I think the delay in announcing made it very clear to all of us that there were some teams in trouble, or a team in trouble perhaps. Nobody's doing it intentionally. These things happen sometimes," Wheatley told a press conference at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur urged caution against drawing conclusions from rumours, however, saying teams must trust Formula One's governing body, the FIA, to complete its work.
"I think it’s not a big deal to have the decision in September or October at the end of the day. On this, we have to trust the FIA that they are doing their job. And I think it’s not an easy one, honestly," he said.
"We have to separate sporting advantage with a sporting penalty from a technical mistake or administrative issue," he added.
Wheatley also noted that unexpected costs can arise from incidents like car crashes as teams face the increasing challenge of managing budgets while maximizing spending under the cost cap, now in its fourth year.
Haas team principal Ayo Komatsu said that teams must adjust their processes and await the outcome.
The FIA said in a statement the Cost Cap Administration was finalising its review of 2024 financial submissions, with an announcement expected soon. The FIA would not comment on individual cases.
Max Verstappen continued his Formula One comeback charge with the fastest time in practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday while McLaren rivals struggled.
Red Bull's four-time world champion, who has roared back into contention after being 104 points adrift at the end of August, lapped the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in a best time of one minute 17.392 seconds despite complaining the medium tyre was like driving on ice.
The Dutch driver is 40 points adrift of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, and 26 behind the same team's Lando Norris, with five rounds remaining.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, fastest in a sunny first session with nine rookies or reserves replacing regular race drivers in line with regulations to give them track time, was second on the overall timesheets but 0.153 slower.
Verstappen had given up his car to up-and-coming F2 driver Arvid Lindblad for first practice and the Briton looked after it well while still going sixth fastest - best of the non-race drivers.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was second and third in the respective sessions, with Norris fourth and 0.251 off the pace after sitting out the first practice while Mexican IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward took his car.
Piastri was fourth in the first session and 12th in the later one.
"It was okay," the Australian said of his performance. "The lap on softs, on low fuel, was pretty average, so I'm not surprised with the lap time.
"It's going to be tight, like always, but I think we have a good car underneath us."
Lindblad, strongly tipped for a seat at Racing Bulls next season, caught the eye as much as anyone in the opening session
"He did a very good job. It's so difficult to jump in. The pace is there, so not much to argue against that," said Red Bull principal Laurent Mekies, whose other race driver Yuki Tsunoda was eighth in the same session.
"I was given the pep-talk beforehand," said Lindblad, of stepping into Verstappen's car. "Obviously you never want to crash but there was even more emphasis on that in the session because of the amazing job the team have done over the last few races to bring themselves into the championship."
Sauber were the only team not to run a non-race driver.
Estonian reserve Paul Aron replaced Pierre Gasly at Alpine for session one and was 15th, with Argentine Franco Colapinto ninth in the team's other car as the Renault-owned outfit assessed options for next season.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton handed his Ferrari over to endurance racer Antonio Fuoco, who was last on the timesheets. The Briton returned to set the fifth fastest time.
Red Bull chief says no more 'silly games' after fine
motorsport|24 October 2025 at 22:30
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies said on Friday his team will cut out the 'silly games' that led to them being fined 50,000 Euros for tampering with McLaren's grid tape in Austin last weekend.
Mekies, who took over at Red Bull following the dismissal of Christian Horner in July, said his team had gone too far interfering with the tape used to indicate Lando Norris's position on the grid.
A Red Bull team member entered the grid area after the start of the formation lap at last Sunday's United States Grand Prix and tried to tear the tape off the pit wall.
"I think there has been a bit of silly games being played for a few races between the teams and it probably got out of hand," Mekies told Sky Sports F1. "Moving forward it will be more in control."
Norris, who finished the race second behind four-time champion Max Verstappen, said he thought it was 'amusing'.
"Good job by them because they can, but it didn't matter," he said. "I didn't use the tape. So, it was extra amusing because I didn't need it.
"We just put it there in case so it made it extra funny because they got a penalty for it and I didn't even need it."
Gamesmanship to gain an advantage by any means has been common in Formula One for many years, but is rarely uncovered and punished.
Leclerc tops reserve-filled first practice in Mexico
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped the times ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli in Friday's rookie-packed opening practice for this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.
Series leader Oscar PIastri of McLaren, looking for a return to form, was fourth behind Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, four-tenths off the pace in a session when his main rivals were inactive as nine teams obeyed sporting regulation requirements to run reserves.
Leclerc clocked a best lap in one minute and 18.380 seconds to beat Italian rookie Antonelli by 0.107 with Hulkenberg three-tenths adrift and Piastri further back ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto in the second Sauber.
British rookie Arvid Lindblad was an impressive sixth for Red Bull in the car usually occupied by Max Verstappen, ahead of Haas’s Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.
Alex Albon was 10th for Williams ahead of Racing Bulls’ regular impressive rookie Isack Hadjar, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Mexican Patricio O’Ward in Lando Norris’s McLaren and Dane Frederik Vesti in George Russell’s Mercedes.
For Piastri, 14 points ahead of Norris and 40 ahead of Verstappen in the drivers’ title race, it was hardly the emphatic statement of intent he and McLaren may have hoped for on a bright and warm day at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where the thin air affects aerodynamics and turbochargers.
With nine rookie reserves standing in for established drivers – only Sauber sticking with their usual pairing – the session provided an opportunity for Piastri to take advantage of the absences of Norris, Verstappen, Russell and Hamilton who would have only one hour of practice to adapt.
The Dutchman, who has won three of the last four races, had the satisfaction of knowing Red Bull had brought another set of upgrades to Mexico including a revised floor while McLaren continued, as they had for several weeks, without any car updates.
Given that fillip, it was no surprise that several paddock observers were expecting Verstappen to deliver more stress for McLaren who were warned late Thursday, by Hamilton, that they needed to "dig deep" to resist his charge for a fifth title.
'HIGH LEVEL'
@You really have to be cut-throat," said the seven-time champion.
"That’s what Max is and he’s going to take this from them if they don’t do the same. They’ve got to be pushing."
His Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc added: “Max is always driving at a very high level and Red Bull is probably the one team that has pushed developments more than any other.
"I think McLaren stopped quite a while ago. We also stopped quite a while ago and Mercedes and Red Bull are the two teams that pushed for a bit longer so it is not a complete surprise.”
On track, Leclerc set the opening best lap in 1:21.939 before a brief best time from Esteban Ocon preceded Piastri taking control in 1:21.570.
Ocon replied with 1:20.934, trimmed by Hadjar in 1:20.128 – and then Piastri, on softs, did 1:19.035 to go clear by a second.
In the improving conditions, as the track ‘rubbered in’, further soft-compound laps from Leclerc and then Antonelli took the initiative, the Italian posting 1:18.487 to go two-tenths clear before Leclerc responded again with 1:18.380.
Ferrari’s form in Texas, coupled to their latest upgrades, clearly buoyed the team, adding another threat to Piastri’s hopes of recovering his pre-September consistency and boosting his title bid with a win.
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