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The 2025 F1 Mexican GP is poised to be an exciting event, after Max Verstappen brought the title fight to life by reducing the points deficit to Oscar Piastri.
The second half of the season has been full of surprises, with Red Bull's resurgence and Verstappen's pursuit of the championship the main talking points. As the title battle heats up, what can we expect from the first Mexican GP without home favorite Sergio Perez on the grid? Let's take a look:
2025 F1 Mexican GP: Preview
Key Storylines
#1 The title battle
At the start of the summer break, two title contenders had emerged, as the McLaren duo streaked clear of Max Verstappen. Since Monza, Verstappen has made a spectacular comeback, while Piastri and Norris have stumbled.
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Piastri has lost 64 points to Verstappen in four races, and the gap is now just 40 points. With five races remaining, this will be a true test of the drivers' character.
#2 McLaren's dilemma
With Max Verstappen reducing the deficit to Oscar Piastri in a manner nobody could have predicted, we now have a situation where McLaren must not only regroup but also determine the best method to manage a title battle in which they need to bounce back.
#3 Lewis Hamilton's unwanted record
Away from the spotlight, Lewis Hamilton just saw Charles Leclerc pick up his sixth podium of the season. The Brit has not made the podium for Ferrari, breaking the unwanted record of driving the most races for the team without scoring a podium (19). For a driver with lofty expectations when he joined the team, the debut season has not been the best.
Form Guide
In Form
No one is in better form than Max Verstappen right now. The Dutch driver has rekindled his championship bid by winning three of the last four races. Throughout the Mexican GP, the focus is going to be on his 40-point deficit to Oscar Piastri.
Out of Form
The problem with Piastri's recent run is not only that the Australian has lost a considerable number of points to Max Verstappen, but also that he has not finished ahead of his teammate Lando Norris since Zandvoort. He cannot afford a repeat of Austin at the F1 Mexican GP.
Driver with the biggest spotlight
Red Bull is set to make a call on Yuki Tsunoda's future for 2026 after the Mexican GP. Tsunoda's performance in terms of points has certainly improved, but that may not be enough for him to secure a spot on the grid for Red Bull next season.
It appears that the writing is on the wall for Tsunoda, and how he performs this weekend will be interesting.
2025 F1 Mexican GP: Predictions
Who wins the race?
Red Bull might not have the best car for the track with a bumpy third sector and a dependence on high downforce configurations, but if there's one race on the calendar where Max Verstappen has often shown his brilliance, it's in Mexico. The Dutchman had won a few races here even before he became champion.
A lot will depend on the start, and we're backing the Dutch driver to put together one of his patented, breathtaking starts and then manage the race from there, further closing the gap to the McLaren duo.
Biggest surprise of the weekend? (Team)
Yuki Tsunoda felt that Ferrari could have a strong car at the F1 Mexican GP, as it works brilliantly over bumps. The car's still a bit of an enigma, but if it can manage the chronic lift and coast issues, the race might turn out to be a good one.
Biggest surprise of the weekend? (Driver)
Fernando Alonso has picked up points wherever possible in the last few races, and the high downforce setup on the cars this weekend should help the Aston Martin.
The car should be competitive around this track, so expect the Spaniard to score a decent haul.
Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Team)
The Racing Bulls have taken a step back in the last couple of races. This weekend, with teams like Sauber and Aston Martin surging, the Faenza-based team might struggle again.
Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Driver)
With a sword hanging over his head, Yuki Tsunoda might end up being unable to show Red Bull that he can be trusted for the long term. The Mexican GP could be the final nail in the coffin for Tsunoda, who is potentially out of a seat for 2026.
