Verstappen takes Mexican GP to set record for most wins in a season

Max Verstappen put Red Bull’s off-track dramas to one side to win the Mexican Grand Prix and claim the record for the most victories in a Formula One season.

Forty-eight hours after Red Bull were fined £6 million ($6.9m) for breaking the sport’s financial rules — before the team went on to boycott Sky Sports’ coverage — Verstappen claimed his 14th win of the year.

Michael Schumacher won 13 of the 18 races in 2004. Sebastian Vettel recorded the same number of wins from 19 rounds in 2013.

Lewis Hamilton hoped a different tyre strategy to Verstappen would propel him to his first win of the year.

But he crossed the line 15.1 seconds behind Verstappen, with Sergio Perez third. and George Russell fourth for Mercedes.

“The start helped me out a lot to stay in the lead. We were on a different strategy but an incredible result," Verstappen said.

“It has been an incredible year so far. We are enjoying it and we will try to go for more wins.”

The 811-metre charge to the opening right-left-right chicane at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is the longest on the calendar.

Dutch Formula one driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing during the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday. EPA

Hamilton, starting in third — the grid slot for the past two winners at this venue — said it would be his best shot for knocking Verstappen off his perch.

But Verstappen won the drag contest at a canter, keeping both silver machines in his mirror as he navigated the opening three bends unopposed.

Instead, the drama unfolded behind the double world champion, with Hamilton moving ahead of Russell at the third corner.

Hamilton’s no-nonsense move on Russell saw his junior teammate run wide over the kerbs, allowing Perez to carry the momentum on the run down to Turn 4