Verstappen surges from fifth to second at Mexico GP start

Max Verstappen climbed from fifth to second in the opening phase of the Mexico Grand Prix as Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battled.

A difficult start had been a concern, with Turn 1 a long way from the starting line. Verstappen instead got away well and used the slipstream to pass both Mercedes. Hamilton and Leclerc ran side by side on the approach to Turn 4, where Leclerc was pushed off the track by Hamilton. Two corners later, Verstappen went up the inside of the Briton and moved into second.

The stewards investigated Leclerc after he cut the track at Turn 4, then gave him a five-second penalty for cutting the track and failing to return the position. George Russell was separately given 10 seconds for contact with Isack Hadjar, who was spun around at Turn 6.