Verstappen claims record 14th win of season

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Red Bull's Max Verstappen claimed a record 14th victory of the Formula One season by winning the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday.

World champion Verstappen finished a comfortable 15.186 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes while Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished third on home soil.

It was the second win inside a week for Dutchman Verstappen, who also triumped at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Verstappen has now beaten the record previously held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for the most wins in a single season.

"It has been an incredible year so far, we are definitely enjoying it and we'll try to go for more (victories)," said Verstappen.

George Russell finished a frustrated fourth for Mercedes, but clocked the fastest lap ahead of the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, both unable to find the pace to make any impact on the leading quartet.

Daniel Ricciardo was seventh for McLaren, after a mid-race collision for which he was given a 10-second time penalty, ahead of Esteban Ocon of Alpine, Lando Norris in the second McLaren and Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo. Red Bull have already claimed the constructors' championship.

Booing

Lewis Hamilton admitted he had been affected by being booed by sections of the crowd after he finished second behind Max Verstappen.

The seven-time world champion saluted the big sellout crowd, which created a carnival atmosphere at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigues, before revealing how "awkward" he had been made to feel.

Speaking during the post-race interviews, the Mercedes driver said: "This has been an amazing crowd, but definitely a bit awkward this time around.

"Boos all day, but nonetheless I have so much love for Mexico and for the people here — and what a great race event they put on this weekend."

Daily Pioneer
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