P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc secured his first back-to-back podiums since finishing on the rostrum earlier this year in Monaco and Spain.
Charles Leclerc admitted that a two-stop strategy was on the table during the Mexico City Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen rapidly closed in on him. Despite starting in second alongside Lando Norris on soft tyres, Leclerc had a slow start and had to battle with Hamilton and Verstappen. However, he managed to hold onto second place after going off track at the first corner and facing no penalties. In the second stint, Leclerc was on medium tyres while Verstappen closed the gap on softs. Verstappen’s strong pace almost allowed him to overtake Leclerc, but a Virtual Safety Car in the final laps prevented the pass. Leclerc expressed his relief at the VSC, acknowledging that without it, Verstappen might have overtaken him, making him and his team contemplate a two-stop strategy. Ultimately, Leclerc stuck with his medium tyres, which proved to be the right decision as he finished strong in second place, feeling lucky and proud of the outcome.
