The 2022 Mexican Grand Prix might not be etched in memory for its overt drama, but it certainly delivered a fascinating strategic chess match that unfolded across the grid. The high-altitude challenge of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez often dictates unique race dynamics, and this year was no exception, highlighting the critical role of tire management and strategic foresight.
Teams employing a more conservative approach by fitting harder compound tires after their initial pit stops found themselves grappling with a lack of grip and pace, struggling to generate the necessary performance. Conversely, those who dared to take a more aggressive route, opting for medium or even soft tires in their later stints, often reaped significant rewards, finding crucial lap time and better track position as the race progressed. This divergence in tire strategy became a defining narrative, influencing battles from the front runners down to the midfield.
With a remarkably low attrition rate, only two drivers failed to finish, a testament to the drivers’ skill in navigating the challenging Mexican circuit. However, as in any Formula 1 race, some performances stood out more than others. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the individual showings, providing detailed RaceFans driver ratings for the Mexican Grand Prix, analyzing each competitor’s weekend from qualifying prowess to race day execution.
Lewis Hamilton – 7
Qualified: 3rd (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.005s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 2nd (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend in Mexico was a solid, if somewhat frustrating, affair. He started qualifying strong, but a deleted first Q3 lap for exceeding track limits put him on the back foot. Despite this, he narrowly missed out on a front-row start to his teammate George Russell by an agonizing five-thousandths of a second, securing P3 on the grid.
Starting on the medium tires, Hamilton made an excellent getaway, swiftly passing his teammate for second position into Turn 2 on the opening lap. He then maintained a consistent gap of approximately two seconds behind the leader, Max Verstappen, even while running on harder tires. His first pit stop came on Lap 29, just after Verstappen, where he switched to the hard compound tires. Rejoining the race six seconds adrift of the Red Bull, Hamilton immediately faced a challenge. The harder tires proved difficult to manage, and he visibly struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, slowly but surely losing ground throughout the second stint.
Towards the latter stages of the race, Hamilton had to defend against a charging Sergio Perez, who closed the gap to within two seconds. Displaying his characteristic race craft, Hamilton successfully kept the Red Bull driver out of DRS range, eventually pulling away slightly in the closing laps. While a second-place finish is respectable, crossing the line over 15 seconds behind the winner on tires that simply didn’t work as hoped made it a somewhat disappointing outcome for the seven-time champion, leaving him pondering what might have been with a different strategic call.
George Russell – 6
Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free
Qualified: 2nd (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.005s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: 4th (-2 places behind team mate)
George Russell’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend began with a missed first practice session, as Nyck de Vries took his place. Despite this, Russell showed strong pace, particularly in qualifying. He was on a strong final Q3 lap, matching Max Verstappen’s time, before a crucial mistake in Turn 12 cost him a potential pole position. Nevertheless, he secured an impressive second on the grid, narrowly out-qualifying his teammate.
Starting on medium tires, Russell challenged Verstappen into Turn 1 but subsequently lost positions to both Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez, dropping to fourth. He then settled into a rhythm, maintaining a gap of around two seconds behind Perez. Recognizing the potential of his tires, Russell lobbied his team to extend his first stint, showcasing his strategic awareness. His pit stop finally came on Lap 34, taking him from the lead – as others had already pitted – for hard compound tires. He rejoined the race in fourth, approximately five seconds behind Perez.
Throughout the second stint, Russell steadily began to close the gap to Perez, though he consistently remained at least four seconds adrift. A late Virtual Safety Car presented a strategic opportunity, prompting Russell to ask his team if he could pit, but he was instructed to stay out. In a final strategic gamble, he pitted on the penultimate lap for soft tires, purely to claim the fastest lap of the race, which he comfortably achieved. He ultimately finished in fourth place, a solid result but perhaps not what he might have hoped for after starting on the front row.
Max Verstappen – 8
Qualified: Pole (+3 places ahead of team mate)
-0.353s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: Winner (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression and strategic execution at the Mexican Grand Prix, securing a dominant victory that further cemented his record-breaking season. Despite not topping a single practice session prior to Q3, Verstappen turned up the heat when it mattered most, snatching pole position by a significant three-tenths of a second, leaving his competitors in his wake.
Starting from pole on soft tires, Verstappen expertly managed the run to Turn 1, fending off George Russell to retain his lead. While he couldn’t immediately break away from Lewis Hamilton in the early laps, he skillfully maintained the gap on the softer compound until his tires began to show signs of degradation. His strategic pit stop on Lap 25 for medium tires proved to be a pivotal moment. By the time Russell pitted for hards on Lap 34, Verstappen had already regained the lead and established a formidable advantage.
The Dutchman’s second stint was a demonstration of remarkable consistency and tire preservation. He settled into a relentless rhythm, clicking off 42 green flag laps predominantly in the 1’22s range. This unwavering pace allowed him to steadily build his lead, preserving his medium tires with an almost surgical precision that left his rivals with no answer. He crossed the finish line a commanding 15 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor, not only claiming another victory but also setting a new record for the most wins in a single Formula 1 season. It was a flawlessly executed performance from a driver at the peak of his powers.
Sergio Perez – 6
Qualified: 4th (-3 places behind team mate)
+0.353s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 3rd (-2 places behind team mate)
Sergio Perez’s home Grand Prix was a mixed bag of challenges and recovery, ultimately ending with a podium finish but leaving him somewhat distanced from his dominant teammate. His qualifying session was hampered by an persistent electrical problem that affected his DRS activation and caused some benchmark lap times to be wiped, preventing him from extracting the maximum performance from his Red Bull. Consequently, he was beaten to fourth on the grid by the Mercedes drivers, while Max Verstappen soared to pole position nearly half a second ahead.
Starting on soft tires, Perez demonstrated his fighting spirit on the opening lap, aggressively challenging George Russell for third place and successfully taking the position into Turn 4. Despite running on the softer compound in the initial stint, he couldn’t get within DRS range of Lewis Hamilton ahead, indicating a slight struggle for outright pace. He was the first of the leaders to pit, coming in on Lap 23 for medium tires, but his stop was marred by a three-second delay due to an issue with the left-rear tire change, a costly setback.
Armed with fresh mediums, Perez pushed hard to recover the lost time and managed to catch up to Hamilton. However, despite his best efforts, he was unable to breach Hamilton’s DRS range and mount a serious challenge for second place. In the final 15 laps, the gap to Hamilton began to open up once more, as the Mercedes driver found a rhythm. Perez crossed the line in a lonely third position, securing another valuable home podium for his fans, but ultimately unable to match the pace of the top two.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6
Qualified: 5th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
-0.204s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: 5th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Carlos Sainz Jnr enjoyed a relatively straightforward Mexican Grand Prix weekend, consistently performing ahead of his teammate and securing the best possible result for Ferrari given the car’s limitations. He started strong, topping the opening practice session, indicating good initial pace. In qualifying, Sainz delivered a solid performance, securing fifth on the grid, two places ahead of Charles Leclerc, a position that seemed to maximize the Ferrari’s potential.
Starting the race on soft tires, Sainz maintained his grid position on the opening lap, avoiding any early incidents. While he steadily fell back from George Russell ahead, he simultaneously began to open up a comfortable gap over his teammate behind him, demonstrating stronger race pace. His pit stop for medium tires came on Lap 29, a well-timed call that allowed him to pass Valtteri Bottas, who was yet to pit, moving him back up to fifth position.
Throughout the second stint, Sainz incrementally increased his lead over Leclerc, consolidating his position. However, the Ferraris simply didn’t have the pace to challenge the Red Bulls or Mercedes, and Sainz eventually finished over half a minute behind Russell. He crossed the line in a solitary fifth place, ten seconds clear of his teammate by the chequered flag, marking a competent and uneventful drive that delivered maximum points possible for his individual performance.
Charles Leclerc – 5
Qualified: 7th (-2 places behind team mate)
+0.204s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 6th (-1 place behind team mate)
Charles Leclerc’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend was plagued by misfortune and a lack of pace, ultimately culminating in a distant sixth-place finish. His troubles began early, losing control of his car at Turn 7 midway through second practice, resulting in significant damage to the rear of his car after hitting the barriers. This incident undoubtedly compromised his preparation.
Qualifying brought further woes. Leclerc suffered an engine problem in Q3, which cost him a crucial 15km/h on the run to the stadium section, severely impacting his lap time. This issue relegated him to seventh on the grid, two positions behind his teammate Carlos Sainz Jnr, a clear indicator of the car’s underperformance. Starting on soft tires, Leclerc managed to gain one position on the opening lap from Valtteri Bottas, providing a small glimmer of hope.
For much of the first stint, Leclerc ran behind his teammate. He was the first of the Ferrari drivers to pit, switching to medium tires. While this strategy helped him move back up to sixth position, he gradually fell further behind Sainz, unable to match his pace. He remained comfortably ahead of Fernando Alonso behind him but spent the latter half of the race in a somewhat isolated position. Leclerc finished a lonely sixth, ten seconds adrift of his teammate, a frustrating end to a weekend filled with technical difficulties and compromised performance.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
Lando Norris – 6
Qualified: 8th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
-0.206s quicker than team mate in Q2
Finished: 9th (-2 places behind team mate)
Lando Norris delivered a strong qualifying performance in Mexico but found the race to be a tougher challenge. He consistently outpaced his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in every timed session, showcasing his raw speed. He comfortably reached Q3, beating both Alpines to secure an impressive eighth position on the grid, maximizing the McLaren’s potential.
Starting on medium tires, Norris experienced a difficult opening lap, dropping two places to fall to tenth behind Esteban Ocon. He then spent the initial stint keeping in touch with Ocon but remained just outside of DRS range, unable to mount a serious challenge. His pit stop came on Lap 31, where he switched to hard compound tires. Rejoining the track in 15th, Norris began to make his way back through the field as other cars completed their stops.
He moved up to tenth position before being asked by the team to allow his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, to pass him, as Ricciardo was on faster soft tires and chasing down points. After letting Ricciardo through, Norris then caught and successfully passed Valtteri Bottas for ninth place, where he ultimately finished, four seconds behind Ocon. It was a race of managing expectations and following team orders, yet Norris still secured valuable points.
Daniel Ricciardo – 6
Qualified: 11th (-3 places behind team mate)
+0.206s slower than team mate in Q2
Finished: 7th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Daniel Ricciardo’s Mexican Grand Prix was a rollercoaster of performance, strategy, and penalty, ultimately culminating in a strong points finish despite a mid-race incident. He consistently lagged behind his teammate Lando Norris in all timed sessions, just missing out on Q3 by a mere half-a-tenth, which saw him line up 11th on the grid.
Starting on medium tires, Ricciardo lost two places on the opening lap, dropping to 13th behind Zhou Guanyu. He quickly settled into a rhythm, staying within a second of Zhou in the early laps and eventually making a decisive pass on Lap 9. He then caught up to Yuki Tsunoda, who promptly pitted, allowing Ricciardo to extend his first stint significantly. This long stint proved crucial, as he eventually pitted on Lap 44 for soft tires, a strategy that would pay dividends later.
Rejoining the race in 13th place, Ricciardo was immediately on the charge. He caught Tsunoda but earned a ten-second penalty for a reckless lunge at Turn 4, resulting in a collision that forced Tsunoda to retire. Undeterred, he caught his teammate Lando Norris, who was instructed to let him pass due to Ricciardo’s faster tire compound. He then executed impressive overtakes on Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon, capitalizing on his fresher soft tires. With a ten-second penalty hanging over him, Ricciardo drove exceptionally well in the closing laps, pulling out a gap of over ten seconds to Ocon to negate the penalty and impressively retain his seventh-place finish, a testament to his late-race pace and determination.
Fernando Alonso – 7
Qualified: 9th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.071s quicker than team mate in Q3
Classified: 19th (-11 places behind team mate)
Fernando Alonso showcased strong performance at the Mexican Grand Prix, only for yet another mechanical issue to cruelly deny him a points finish. He trailed his teammate Esteban Ocon in most timed sessions, but crucially out-qualified him in Q3 by a tenth of a second, securing a respectable ninth position on the grid, a testament to his experience and ability to extract performance when it matters most.
Starting on medium tires, Alonso made an excellent start, gaining two positions on the opening lap. He then demonstrated strong defensive driving, keeping Valtteri Bottas behind him in the early stages of the race. He settled into a consistent rhythm, running behind the Ferrari drivers for a significant portion of the race, showcasing the Alpine’s competitive pace. Alonso opted for a long opening stint, finally pitting on Lap 40 for hard compound tires. Rejoining in seventh, he continued to run strongly, comfortably pulling ahead of his teammate behind him.
However, fate dealt Alonso a cruel hand once again. Towards the latter stages of the race, his engine developed a cylinder problem, severely costing him power down the straights and nearly two seconds a lap. Despite his best efforts, he was powerless to defend, dropping two places to Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo. His race unfortunately came to an end on Lap 64 when he was forced to pull off track at Turn 1 due to the persistent engine issue. Despite not seeing the chequered flag, he was classified as a finisher in 19th position, having completed over 90% of the race distance, a disappointing end to a weekend where he displayed impressive form until misfortune struck.
Esteban Ocon – 6
Qualified: 10th (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.071s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 8th (+11 places ahead of team mate)
Esteban Ocon’s weekend started with Jack Doohan stepping into his car for the first practice session. In the subsequent timed sessions, Ocon generally displayed strong pace, being quicker than his teammate Fernando Alonso in every session except for Q3, where he was narrowly beaten by a tenth of a second, resulting in a tenth-place grid slot.
Starting on medium tires, Ocon had a good opening lap, gaining one place over Lando Norris. He then spent the initial stint running behind Valtteri Bottas, though he gradually fell back from the Finn. His pit stop for hard tires came on Lap 33, rejoining the track in 13th place behind Pierre Gasly. Armed with fresh tires, Ocon quickly used their advantage to pass Gasly, and then executed a successful overtake on Bottas into the first chicane, showcasing his race craft.
Ocon then settled into eighth position, running behind his teammate Fernando Alonso. His fortunes took a turn when Alonso developed an engine problem, allowing Ocon to inherit seventh place. However, he subsequently lost seventh to a charging Daniel Ricciardo, who was on much faster soft tires in the closing stages. Ocon ultimately finished in eighth place, securing valuable points for Alpine and benefiting from his teammate’s unfortunate retirement to move up in the classification.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
Pierre Gasly – 5
Qualified: 14th (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.083s slower than team mate in Q2
Finished: 11th
Pierre Gasly endured a challenging Mexican Grand Prix weekend, consistently running behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in every session. He was knocked out of Q2 in 14th position, just under a tenth slower than Tsunoda, highlighting the AlphaTauri’s struggle for outright pace.
Starting the race on medium tires, Gasly had a difficult opening lap, losing two positions. He found himself running in 15th place behind Lance Stroll, but a clumsy maneuver at Turn 4 saw him shove Stroll off track, gaining the position but incurring a five-second penalty for the incident. Despite the penalty, he extended his first stint, eventually pitting on Lap 40 for soft tires. He rejoined the race in 16th place behind Alex Albon.
Gasly then mounted a strong comeback in the latter stages. He pressured Albon before following him past Sebastian Vettel. He continued his charge, catching and ultimately overtaking the Williams of Albon for 11th place with just three laps remaining. On the final lap, he caught Valtteri Bottas, but ran out of time to mount a challenge for the final point, finishing just outside the points in 11th position, a commendable recovery drive despite his earlier penalty and relative lack of pace.
Yuki Tsunoda – 6
Qualified: 13th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.083s quicker than team mate in Q2
Finished: Retired (Crash damage – L51)
Yuki Tsunoda had a promising Mexican Grand Prix weekend that was unfortunately cut short by an incident beyond his control. He consistently outperformed his teammate Pierre Gasly in every timed session, showcasing good pace and potential. He even sat out the opening practice session to allow Liam Lawson to drive in his place, yet still found his rhythm quickly. He was a strong contender in the top ten for third practice and Q1, but frustratingly, track position issues in Q2 led to his elimination in 13th.
Starting 13th on soft tires, Tsunoda made a strong start, gaining two positions on the opening lap. He then settled into 11th place, holding his own until he came under pressure from Daniel Ricciardo. He pitted on Lap 29 for medium tires, aiming to extend his race. After his pit stop, he found himself running behind Lando Norris but was soon caught again by a charging Ricciardo, who was on a different strategy.
Tragically, Tsunoda’s race came to an abrupt and unfair end on Lap 51. He was barged out of 11th place by Ricciardo at Turn 6 in a clumsy overtaking attempt, which caused significant damage to his car. The damage was severe enough to force him into retirement, a disappointing and unjust end to what had been a solid and competitive drive up to that point. Tsunoda was understandably frustrated, as he was running well within the points battle before the collision.
Sebastian Vettel – 6
Qualified: 17th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.101s quicker than team mate in Q1
Started: 16th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Finished: 14th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Sebastian Vettel’s Mexican Grand Prix was a struggle for Aston Martin, but the four-time champion still managed to extract the maximum from a difficult package. He openly struggled with poor balance during qualifying, resulting in his elimination from Q1 in 17th position. However, he managed to out-qualify his teammate Lance Stroll by a tenth of a second, showcasing his enduring talent even with a challenging car. Due to grid penalties for other drivers, he started the race from 16th.
Starting on soft tires, Vettel made a good start, gaining two places on the opening lap. He utilized the softer compound to pull ahead of his teammate and apply pressure on Zhou Guanyu ahead, but ultimately couldn’t get close enough to make an overtake stick. His pit stop came on Lap 38 for medium tires, after which he rejoined the track ahead of Alex Albon.
The latter part of the race saw Vettel lose positions, first being passed by Albon, then dropping two more places to Pierre Gasly and Zhou. He was running in 15th place but was promoted one position when Fernando Alonso retired from the race. Vettel ultimately finished in 14th place, a respectable result given the car’s performance, and notably, ten seconds ahead of his teammate, underlining his ability to get the most out of challenging circumstances.
Lance Stroll – 5
Qualified: 18th (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.101s slower than team mate in Q1
Started: 20th (-4 places behind team mate)
Finished: 15th (-1 place behind team mate)
Lance Stroll had a difficult Mexican Grand Prix weekend, struggling to find pace and compounded by a grid penalty. He was eliminated in 18th position in Q1, just a tenth of a second behind his teammate Sebastian Vettel, indicating a challenging qualifying session for Aston Martin. To make matters worse, he dropped to the very back of the grid after serving a three-place penalty carried over from his collision with Fernando Alonso at the Austin Grand Prix.
Starting the race from 20th on medium tires, Stroll made an impressive start, gaining five places on the opening lap to move up to 15th, directly behind his teammate. However, his progress was hampered when he lost a place to Pierre Gasly after being illegally shoved off track into Turn 4, an incident that was later penalized for Gasly. He then came under pressure from Alex Albon before making his first pit stop for soft tires, which dropped him to the back of the field once again.
Stroll managed to overtake Kevin Magnussen to move up to 17th, but then opted for a second pit stop on Lap 40, taking on another set of soft tires. This two-stop strategy was unconventional for the midfield. He eventually passed Mick Schumacher for 16th place, moving him behind his teammate. Stroll ultimately finished in 15th position, ten seconds behind Vettel, a weekend where penalties and struggles with pace made it difficult to make significant progress.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
Nicholas Latifi – 4
Qualified: 20th (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.308s slower than team mate in Q1
Started: 18th (-1 place behind team mate)
Finished: 18th (-6 places behind team mate)
Nicholas Latifi endured a deeply challenging Mexican Grand Prix, consistently struggling for pace and ultimately finishing as the slowest runner. He was behind his teammate Alex Albon in every session, culminating in his elimination as the slowest driver in Q1, qualifying 20th. Due to penalties for other drivers, he started the race from 18th on the grid.
Starting on soft tires, Latifi had a poor start, losing two places on the long run to Turn 1, which dropped him to last position. He also picked up unspecified damage in his first stint, which severely compromised his race pace and made it even harder to compete. Despite his struggles, he managed to overtake Kevin Magnussen on Lap 7 and was one of the first drivers to make a pit stop, coming in on Lap 23 for hard tires.
For the majority of the race, Latifi ran at the very back of the field, consistently two seconds slower than the rest of the pack, highlighting the extent of his struggles and the damage. He made a second pit stop on Lap 52 for soft tires, a desperate attempt to find some pace. However, he continued to run well off the pace and finished last of the cars running at the chequered flag, in 18th position. He was the only driver to be lapped twice, underscoring a truly difficult and uncompetitive weekend for the Canadian.
Alexander Albon – 7
Qualified: 19th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.308s quicker than team mate in Q1
Started: 17th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Finished: 12th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
Alexander Albon delivered a commendable performance at the Mexican Grand Prix, extracting strong pace from his Williams despite an unfortunate qualifying. He consistently outpaced his teammate Nicholas Latifi in every session, showcasing his superior raw speed. His weekend started with Logan Sargeant running in his car during FP1, but Albon quickly got up to speed.
Albon was left frustrated in Q1, as a mistake in Turn 7 while on a lap that could have put him in 15th place resulted in him being knocked out in 19th. However, due to penalties for other drivers, he started the race from 17th on the grid. His race start was also challenging, as he suffered a misfire that caused him to drop two places to 19th in the opening laps.
Despite these setbacks, Albon began a determined charge. He expertly overtook both Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher to move up into 17th, then set about pressuring Lance Stroll ahead. His pit stop for soft tires from 14th place on Lap 38 was well-timed, allowing him to rejoin in 17th and immediately go on the attack. He caught and passed Sebastian Vettel, displaying strong race craft. Although he lost a place to Pierre Gasly in the closing laps due to the AlphaTauri’s fresher soft tires, Albon crossed the line in 12th place, just two seconds behind Gasly but a significant 11 seconds ahead of Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo. His drive was highlighted by three effective on-track passes, demonstrating his strong race pace and fighting spirit.
Valtteri Bottas – 7
Qualified: 6th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
-0.714s quicker than team mate in Q2
Finished: 10th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
Valtteri Bottas delivered an outstanding qualifying performance at the Mexican Grand Prix, putting his Alfa Romeo into an impressive sixth position on the grid. He consistently outpaced his teammate Zhou Guanyu in every session, comfortably reaching Q3 and even out-qualifying a Ferrari, a testament to his skill and the car’s setup for the high-altitude conditions.
Starting on medium tires, Bottas had a slightly difficult opening lap, dropping two places to Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso. However, he quickly settled into a rhythm, keeping within DRS range of Alonso during the early laps, showcasing his competitive pace. As the first stint progressed, he gradually dropped back, eventually finding himself over three seconds behind the Alpine, indicating the tire wear was starting to impact his performance.
His pit stop for hard tires came on Lap 39. He rejoined the race ahead of Esteban Ocon but was quickly overtaken by the Alpine driver into the first chicane, a clear sign of the hard tire’s struggle to come up to temperature. As the race wore on, he fell further back from Ocon and was subsequently caught and passed by both McLarens, highlighting the conservative nature of his hard tire strategy. Despite immense pressure from Pierre Gasly on the final lap, Bottas bravely held his position, clinging onto tenth place and securing the final point, a hard-fought reward after a strong qualifying and a challenging race strategy.
Zhou Guanyu – 4
Qualified: 12th (-6 places behind team mate)
+0.714s slower than team mate in Q2
Finished: 13th (-3 places behind team mate)
Zhou Guanyu had a difficult Mexican Grand Prix, consistently trailing his teammate Valtteri Bottas throughout the weekend. He narrowly secured passage to Q2 on his final lap but ultimately failed to match Bottas’s impressive pace, being eliminated in 12th position, a significant six places behind his teammate.
Starting the race on medium tires, Zhou maintained his grid position in the opening stages. However, he later lost ninth place to a charging Daniel Ricciardo and then faced sustained pressure from Sebastian Vettel. In a strategic move, he aided his teammate by extending his opening stint longer than anyone else, eventually pitting on Lap 45 for soft tires. This extended stint was part of the team’s strategy, but it put him on the back foot in terms of track position.
Rejoining the race behind Vettel in 16th, Zhou utilized his fresh soft tires to catch and successfully pass the Aston Martin driver. However, he subsequently dropped off the pace of Pierre Gasly ahead in the final laps, eventually finishing in 13th place, more than ten seconds from the car in front. After the race, Zhou described it as “one of the toughest” of his rookie season, reflecting the challenges faced by the Alfa Romeo on the demanding Mexican circuit.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
Mick Schumacher – 5
Qualified: 16th (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.126s slower than team mate in Q1
Started: 15th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Finished: 16th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Mick Schumacher’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend was a struggle for the Haas team, characterized by a lack of pace and a difficult race. He was knocked out of Q1 in 16th place, just under a tenth slower than his teammate Kevin Magnussen, largely due to his best lap being deleted for exceeding track limits. However, due to grid penalties for other drivers, he started the race from a slightly improved 15th position.
Starting on soft tires, Schumacher had a challenging opening lap, losing two places. He then fell off the back of Pierre Gasly ahead, struggling to maintain pace. He was subsequently overtaken by Alex Albon on Lap 9, further dropping him down the order. His pit stop came on Lap 24 for medium tires, after which he rejoined the race ahead of only Nicholas Latifi, highlighting the Haas’s overall lack of competitiveness.
Schumacher gained a place when Lance Stroll pitted for his second stop, but he was soon chased down and re-passed by the Aston Martin on Lap 51. In the final stint, he lost time to his teammate Kevin Magnussen behind him. Despite this, he managed to finish just under two seconds ahead of Magnussen in 16th place, a small victory in a weekend where Haas were firmly in the doldrums.
Kevin Magnussen – 5
Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free
Qualified: 15th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.126s quicker than team mate in Q1
Started: 19th (-4 places behind team mate)
Finished: 17th (-1 place behind team mate)
Kevin Magnussen’s Mexican Grand Prix was a weekend fraught with technical issues and grid penalties, making it an uphill battle from the start. He missed the first practice session to allow Pietro Fittipaldi to drive his car, and his second practice was also severely hampered, as he was prevented from running on his tires due to a turbo problem carried over from FP1. Despite these significant setbacks, he managed to beat his teammate Mick Schumacher to reach Q2, though he was ultimately eliminated as the slowest in that session, qualifying 15th.
However, his qualifying performance was overshadowed by a five-place grid penalty for taking a sixth power unit component, dropping him to 19th on the starting grid. Starting on medium tires, Magnussen gained one place over Alex Albon on the opening lap. But his initial progress was short-lived, as he soon fell to last place after being overtaken by both Albon and Nicholas Latifi, indicating the Haas’s fundamental lack of race pace.
Magnussen pitted for soft tires on Lap 38, rejoining the track ahead of Latifi in 19th. He then began to close in on his teammate Mick Schumacher in the latter stages of the race. While he managed to significantly reduce the gap, he ultimately finished just under two seconds behind Schumacher in 17th place. It was a tough weekend for Magnussen, battling car issues, penalties, and a general lack of performance from the Haas package.
Over to you
The 2022 Mexican Grand Prix certainly presented a dynamic interplay of strategies and individual performances, even if overt on-track battles were somewhat limited. Max Verstappen’s controlled dominance, Lewis Hamilton’s resilient defense, and Daniel Ricciardo’s penalty-defying drive were just a few of the standout narratives. Every driver faced their own set of challenges and opportunities on the high-altitude circuit, making the assessment of individual efforts a nuanced task. Now, we want to hear from you, the dedicated fans of Formula 1, to weigh in on who truly impressed you the most last weekend. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable in crowning the ultimate performer.
Cast your vote for the driver you believe delivered the most impressive performance at the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix. Share your view and find out whether other RaceFans around the world agree with your choice. This is your chance to contribute to the collective verdict and see who truly captured the admiration of the F1 community.
- Vote for your 2022 Mexican Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
- How many victory chances did Hamilton have in his first winless F1 season?
- Delay in producing new parts held up Alfa Romeo upgrade
- Doohan’s practice run earns praise, but Alpine undecided over reserve role
- ‘I was in the fight, which hasn’t been often this year’: Ricciardo’s Mexican GP transcript
- Verstappen “will continue to break records for the rest of his career” – rivals
Browse all 2022 Mexican Grand Prix articles