THE BIG PICTURE: There will be math today. All the focus was on Lando Norris retaking the championship lead and Max Verstappen finally being beaten by a McLaren. But in the end, Verstappen actually gained on the championship leader. He entered the race 40 points behind first and left Mexico 36 points back. Granted, only four points and with races running out, it's becoming a tall order. But who is going to dare count Max out?

EVENT: A raucous, and classless, crowd as always. But lots of empty seats in some areas. Lots. That won't be a problem next year when Sergio Perez is back.

TRACK: This is a temporary circuit which seemingly gets dustier than any other temporary track. So much so, it's the most useless FP1 all season, where the teams throw in their gullible test rookies.

QUALIFYING: Norris laughs at his critics and says, what pressure, laying down an epic qualifying lap to grab pole. Ferrari is solid to beat the rest. Verstappen hangs on but can only manage fifth. Piastri has a disastrous time. Sainz continues his recent qualifying success while Albon's qualifying woes continue. Hadjar is back in Q3 while Tsunoda's career is frittering away.

RACE: Packed full of action. Even Norris running away had the question mark all race of how much would he gain in the standings.

START: Chaos reigns. Four wide into turn one. Verstappen throws a Hail Mary which had no prayer of working and goes very off somehow keeping it off the road. Leclerc takes first by cutting a corner so gives it back. Piastri has a way too conservative start.

NORRIS: The real driver with steel nerves. His performances the past two weekends have been nothing short of coming through in the clutch.

PIASTRI: Outstanding job salvaging as many points as possible. But Oscar really needs to break out of this pressure inducing funk.

MCLAREN: They now have one hell of an intra-team battle on their hands.

LECLERC: Saved by the VSC. Still would have been a solid podium finish either way.

HAMILTON: We don't have a problem with his penalty. We have a problem with no one else being penalized for essentially doing the same thing.

FERRARI They have now put themselves in the position of spoiler.

BEARMAN: Almost every rookie this year has moments where they've shined in extraordinary ways. Right now, you would be hard pressed to find anyone arguing against Oliver being the best rookie on the grid. He went mano a mano with Verstappen. And won that battle!

OCON: A solid performance by Esteban as well.

HAAS: Leaving the team to party through the night.

VERSTAPPEN: Also did an excellent job not losing as much ground as possible.

RED BULL: Perhaps the new floor didn't work as well producing downforce in the thin air.

MERCEDES: Wasted precious time and tire life dicking around to make their decision to swap. Just what does Mercedes have against Russell?

BORTELETO: Just when you think Gabriel has returned to "his place," he pulls out another great run in the points.

WILLIAMS: If it wasn't for bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all.

ALPINE: They may as well just drag out some Formula 2 cars. They would be a lot cheaper to run.

FIA: What the hell was that?! Trying to reenact 1977 South Africa?

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Tight.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 4 -- The number of consecutive races Oscar Piastri has not gotten a podium finish. This coming after 13 consecutive podium finishes.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: It was 60 years ago in Mexico City where Honda won their first F1 race. Driven by American Richie Ginther on October 24 in the final race of the season. It was also Goodyear's first F1 win, and Ginther's one and only victory (though he had 14 podiums). Ginther qualified third. Pole sitter Jim Clark's engine failed after eight laps. Second qualifier and fellow American, Dan Gurney, finished second in a Brabham-Climax. It was the only victory that year by a non-British engine and a non-British driver.

TWEET OF THE WEEKEND: From @ChrisHewgill:

I don't like to hear F1 drivers being booed. No matter who they are. They're risking their lives. This isn't football
#F1 #MexicoGP

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Max Verstappen had to be thinking of 2021 as he was perfectly calm when asked about the VSC controversy, "I mean, you win some, you lose some, right? Sometimes the Safety Car works for you, and sometimes it works against you."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Oliver Bearman's young bravado when it was mentioned to him he must have been happy to see the VSC with Piastri breathing down his back, "I would have held him off anyway."

SCHEDULE: From the highest altitude track to the second highest altitude track, Interlagos. Which always produces a great race, so eagerly awaiting.

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