"We were robbed": Piastri loses F1 title lead in frantic finish

• Liam Lawson retired on lap 8
• Currently, Norris will lead the title race
• 10 second penalty for Hamilton
• Hulkenberg retired Lap 28
• Alonso is forced out of the race lap 36

As it stands...

With Lando's win at Mexico, the Brit leaps ahead of teammate Piastri atop the Drivers Championship standings.

1. L. Norris (McLaren) - 357 points
2. O. Piastri (McLaren) - 356 points
3. M. Verstappen (Red Bull) - 321 points

A three-horse race with four races remaining in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

LANDO NORRIS WINS THE MEXICO GRAND PRIX!

The title race was already tight at the top but there’s been a positional switch with Oscar Piastri no longer leading after a somewhat disastrous weekend in Mexico.

The Australian, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, now sits second, by just one point, behind teammate Lando Norris who enjoyed a faultless weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Norris led the Grand prix from start to finish and had zero worries through the 71 laps.

For Piastri it was a different affair. A terrible start saw him drop places from 7th before having to fight through the middle order relentlessly through the race.

He spent much of his time looking at the rear of George Russell’s Mercedes before an inspired move on the3 61st lap finally saw him show the British driver some dust.

It was a crucial overtake when it comes to the title race. It means Piastri trails Norris by just one point going into the Brazilian Grand Prix in a fortnight.

Right on the tail of Ollie Bearman's Haas in fourth place, Piastri was unable to make the move as a Virtual Safety Car cemented the cars in place over the final two laps.

While Piastri was stuck in fifth, the Safety Car did mean that Max Verstappen remained in third place despite finishing within a second of second-placed Charles Leclerc.

With four races remaining this season, McLaren are yet to elect a No. 1 driver to support through the title race, which has been criticised by many in recent weeks given max Verstappen’s proximity to both drivers in the race to be crowned world champion.

In August Verstappen was more than 100 points adrift of the charge. He is now 36 points behind Norris.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. L. Norris (McLaren)
2. C. Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. M. Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. O. Bearman (Haas)
5. O. Piastri (McLaren)
6. K. Antonelli (Mercedes)
7. G. Russell (Mercedes)
8. L. Hamilton (Ferrari)
9. E. Ocon (Haas)
10. G. Bortoleto (Kick Sauber)
11. Y. Tsunoda (Red Bull)
12. A. Albon (Williams)
13. I. Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
14. L. Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. P. Gasly (Alpine)
16. F. Colapinto (Alpine)

• DNF. C. Sainz (Williams)
• DNF. F. Alonso (Aston Martin)
• DNF. N. Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber)
• DNF. L. Lawson (Racing Bulls)

LAP 71 VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR

What a terrible way to end the race.

"We've been robbed of a finish here," Chandok on Sky F1, and he is not wrong.

"We have been utterly robbed."

LAP 66

Max Verstappen is driving one of the greatest stints I have ever seen. He has cut the the gap on Leclerc to just 2.2 seconds.

Bearman just one spot behind mean while is doing everything he can to annoy the heck out of Piastri. What a drive from the rookie.

But a lot can happen in four laps.

LAP 60 HUGE MOVE!

Piastri is up into 5th place, he finally makes the move on Russell. Oh the relief that will bring. Such an opportunistic move from the Aussie.

he's into 5th but he still won't retain his title lead, BUT this current result means he will slip one point behind Norris.

LAP 56 What Piastri must do

If Norris holds onto P1 today, Piastri must finish fourth or higher to retain his lead in the overall standings.

A fifth place finish would see Norris take the a one-point lead heading into the closing stages of the season.

As things stand I think Norris will take a three point lead in the title race.

LAP 54

Haas have totally screwed Bearman out of a podium you might think. They had no reasonable cause to bring their man in for another pit stop, it was more precautionary. But now he has no hope of catching Verstappen.

So disappointing for the you Brit.

There is debris on the final corner so could we see a late safety car? Standby....

LAP 50

I got a bit too excited then, in pitting Piastri obviously lost places so, the Aussie is in 7th with Antonelli BEHIND him crucially.

Now a flurry of other pits so let's let them all resettle and see what it means for Piastri.

Tell you what, Oli Bearman has pitted against and we are not talking enough about the Haas mechanics!

Piastri makes another move and he's GOT IT! Into 6th for the Aussie. Now he his back to chasing Russell.

LAP 47 PIASTRI PITS

Norris leads, let's just assume he's winning this.

Piastri tries to make a move on Antonelli but just falls short, but the confusing thing is the McLaren mechanics came into the pitlane and their driver was nowhere to be seen.

Hamilton has floor issues on the Ferrari it seems. He's been told to pit.

Here's a twist, McLaren and Mercedes BOT PIT

LAP 42 MERCEDES SWITCH

Russell is into 4th, Piastri remains 6th and they're the bread in an Antonelli sandwich.

Mercedes have ruined their drivers' days. If Russell has anything left in his tyres after all that defending.

You won't be shocked to hear Toto Wolff is not in town, imagine how irate he is.

LAP 40

Piastri is back up to 6th, 0.65 behind Russell who keeps asking for the positional switch and has promised to give it back to his teammate, but Mercedes rules could blow up both their races.

Russell being very reasonable. And no sooner do I say that but he is furious on the radio now. his tyres are getting screwed over, he's being told to cool his tyres down and he cannot because he is trying to protect his position.

This will haunt Mercedes and it's great for Piastri.

Two more positions and Piastri is back in the lead of the title race - JUST.

Verstappen has pitted and is back in 8th.

LAP 37

Norris leads.

Piastri is chasing Russell for 6th, Antonelli who is in 5th is holding Russel up...so, in short, if Piastri plays this right, he could take out two Mercedes for the price of one.

If, IF, he does that, then he is in 5th and back in front of Norris in the title race.

Russell on the radio: "I've got a bleeping McLaren coming up my bleeping arse, want me to let him by? Didnt think so."

Essentially, "move Antonelli out of my way NOW".

LAP 35 HALFWAY POINT

You won't be surprised to know Lando is leading. Piastri has gained another spot!

1-10: NOR, VER, LEC, BEA, ANT, RUS, PIA, TSU, HAM, HAD

Also, how's the chaos at Red Bull

LAP 30 Piastri making moves

We're approaching the half-way point of this race and the Aussie is on the move after that pitstop. he is back up to 8th and back in the fight with George Russell.

Lando Norris is 16 seconds ahead of the race and will lead the title race by seven points as things stand. Piastri must finish 5th of best to retain his lead.

Further back, Hamilton is back up to 10th.

In case you missed it four laps back we had our second retirement of the day with Hulkenberg out.

LAP 26 Pit stops starting

Norris leads.

OK, Hamilton has gone in and will serve his penalty while there, so expect him to disappear for a while.

Piastri has pitted and it was a very slow one. Haas meanwhile have just pulled off a 2.1 second stop. They're having a banging day!

AFTER THE PIT STOPS

• Hamilton P14
• Piastri P12

Piastri fans don't panic yet...I mean maybe some mild panic, he's not finishing today as the title race leader unless something awful happens to Norris' race, B UT plenty more care to stop so the Aussie will climb back up the ranks.

LAP 23

Busy day for the stewards so far and it's all involving Hamilton and Verstappen. I think the same incident has been investigated three times so far for different rules.

Hamilton has just been told of his 10-second penalty and put it this way, there was a lot of bleeping.

Chandok's having a crack at the Ferrari team for mis-communicating why Hamilton got the sanction saying they have unnecessarily "riled up their driver". Which is true, they were not clear.

LAP 20 Piastri is gaining

The fight for 7th is getting spicy. Russell has gone deep and his lead on Piastri is down to .0 of a second. But the McLaren is consistently too slow coming out of the turns.

Debate now on just how long the cars are left out there if they're on the medium compound.

1-10 NOR, LEC, HAM, BEA, VER, ANT, RUS, PIA, TSU, OCO

Lap 17 BIG BLOW

Huge blow for Hamilton for the incident with Verstappen earlier, he's copped a 10 second penalty which, in the current standings is going to see him drop below Piastri.

So, every cloud I guess. I mean you'd rather see Piastri attack and make his own moves but he gained a spot in quali thanks to Sainz, he might gain a place in race thanks to Lewis.

Take it.

LAP 14

Norris leads by a solid five seconds on leclerc, Hamilton 3rd.

Have a look at Oli Bearman, sitting pretty in 4th, when was the last time you saw a Haas in 4th!?

He's just made the most audacious move on Verstappen. This is wild.

Lap 11 Piastri FINALLY makes a move

Kudos to Tsunoda for the work he did there, Piastri is back up to 8th but what a waste of 10 laps for the Aussie.

This race so far is playing out beautifully for Norris who retains his lead and is just stretching his legs at the front.

The medium tyre is NOT working.

LAP 9 retirement!

Norris leads.

Liam Lawson is out of the Grand Prix - which impacts pretty much nobody but him.

In the battle for 8/9th Yuki Tsunoda, who has done very little to impress this season, is giving Piastri absolute hell.

McLaren, take note, this is what happens when you have a No 1 and No 2 driver. One pushes for a title, the other defends a threat. Just saying.

LAP 6 HAMILTON OFF!

Norris leads.

Wild scenes, Lewis Hamilton driven off the track and into the safety track, Verstappen into the grass and it's is pandemonium.

I have no idea how Hamilton is still on this race, I for sure thought that was a retirement.

OK so replays showing Hamilton and Max lunged at one another, the former gave th elatter the space but I think there's a penalty coming for the Ferrari who is under investigation.

Title race - Norris leads Piastri

LAP 4 Piastri has slipped back. It was, as expected, a chaotic start. Cars all over the grass.

Norris leads from Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen - Piastri is currently P9! Great start from the Red Bull, Max ahead of Russell before the braking point.

Tell you what, the Ferraris are lucky they didn't collide early on and if I'm Hamilton I'm filthy with the move Leclerc made.

7am WE ARE RACING

Just a cool 53 degrees on the track - hottest it's been all weekend and that will have a significant impact on these early laps, particularly for those on the medium compound.

With just four rounds remaining following this weekend, Piastri must fight off teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, however qualifying leaves the Australian in a really difficult position.

If Lando Norris holds onto P1 to win the Mexican Grand Prix, Piastri must finish fourth or higher to remain ahead in the race for the Championship. A fifth place finish would see Norris take the a one-point lead heading into the closing stages of the season.

6:50am Piastri "frustrated" as title hopes fade

Is it strange that Piastri doesn't appear more concerned? perhaps he's playing it cool for the media and panic stations are reserved for behind closed doors, but to say he found positives in the car after finishing 8th is bizarre for someone leading the world title race.

The lead is only 14-points, it was substantially more a few months back, and Max is creeping into contention.

“I feel like I’ve done some decent laps through the weekend, but everything seems to be about four or five-tenths off. So that’s obviously not a great sign,” Piastri said after qualifying.

“Ultimately, just a bit frustrated with how the session has gone.

“There’s a lot of things I could worry about, but ultimately, being that far off when you feel like you’ve done a reasonable job is a difficult place to be, and so that’s my biggest concern.”

6:40am: Could Hamilton ruin Lando's day?

Sounds ominous from the Ferrari drive who starts top three for the first time since he joiend the Scuderia.

"I don’t have anything to lose, but he (Norris) does," the bri said after quali.

“Yeah, we’ll be quite aggressive, I’m pretty sure. Hopefully, we’ll be close enough to put up a good fight.”

6:25am Can Max do the incredible?

40 points between him and the top and a fifth straight title. So how can Max upset McLaren? Retirements are key he says.

“It’s not the lack of trying, it’s just not finding it. We tried something again, we didn’t get it quite right, it didn’t allow me to push, I knew from Q1 from the first run that that wasn’t going to be it.

“Basically, everything we tried didn’t really work.”

“There’s no recovery drive when we have no pace. I need people to retire to finish ahead.

“It’s not suddenly going to change tomorrow.”

__6:05am What the grid means: __

The only saving grace for McLaren is that their closest threat, Red Bull's Max Verstappen could only manage fifth on the grid.

The four-time world champion is still within reach of claiming a fifth with the gap between him and Piastri 40 points.

If Norris holds onto P1 to win in Mexico, Piastri must finish fourth or higher to retain his lead in the overall standings.

A fifth place finish would see Norris take the a one-point lead heading into the closing stages of the season.

MEXICO STARTING GRID

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
4. George Russell (Mercedes)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
9. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
12. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
17. Alex Albon (Williams)
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

"Australian Grand Prix Corporation Travel is the Official Travel Program of the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2026. Designed to make your Grand Prix™ weekend a seamless experience from start to finish, Official Travel Packages include the best available range of tickets, hand-picked local accommodation, plus exclusive tourism and event experiences that you won't find anywhere else."