The Weekend Debrief: Norris in Control, Chaos Behind

Mexico City - The City of Movement. A dense pool of vibrancy, bursting with life, but with Formula One in town, chaos is guaranteed. Thin air, long straights, and a cacophony of noise through the stadium. But amid the turbulence, Lando Norris found calm - a feeling that has been all but common for McLaren in recent weeks. Norris delivered a superb drive on Sunday, much untroubled by the chasing pack. This weekend was not just dominant; it was mature and symbolic of how this title race has shifted yet again.

The dominance began earlier than the race on Sunday, with the Brit putting in an incredible lap to take pole in Saturday's qualifying session. From here, the job was simple: survive the drag race into Turn One with the two Ferraris close behind. He nailed it. Behind him, Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen went three-wide into a corner that never allows it and the rest of the afternoon unravelled from there. Norris stayed out front, very much out of reach, a quiet figure in the lead as the drama unfolded in his mirrors.

It could be tempting to describe this drive as "routine," which, in a way, it may have been. But with recent results and the building pressure in the Drivers' Championship - it had all the makings of being far from this. Yet Norris’ rhythm never broke. As others fought rising temperatures, dirty air and penalties, he found something rarer: clean air and clarity, resulting in a first win in Mexico for McLaren since 1989.

McLaren's Internal Balance

There is growing intrigue in the paddock, and among fans, regarding McLaren's decisions. Norris landed his sixth win of the season and this has put him a singular point clear of teammate Oscar Piastri in the Championship - a rivalry that has been rising inevitably to boiling point since early spring. The Australian's fifth-place was nothing short of damage limitation, after clearly not having the pace all weekend. What makes this compelling is the contrast in tone. Norris' authority in Mexico felt almost effortless; Piastri's was far from this. The margins are getting ever finer.

We have seen this before. Title fights corrode niceties. Neither will admit it publicly, but beneath the helmet and those striking papaya overalls lies the oldest truth in Formula One: Your biggest rival is the one across the garage. Think back to Hamilton and Rosberg at Mercedes - friends turned rivals once the silverware came into view. Or Senna and Prost at McLaren, a pairing that began in mutual admiration and ended in mutual destruction. Even Vettel and Webber (conveniently, the manager of a certain Oscar Piastri) in Red Bull's dominant era learnt how thin the line was between collaboration and competition. Echoes of Multi 21, Seb.

We have seen that both of the current McLaren drivers' styles can win races, but, with four rounds to go, only one can come out on top.

And could it be a certain flying Dutchman?

Verstappen's Adventurous Afternoon

Ever the protagonist, Verstappen started the race on mediums when everyone else opted for the softer compound. His move from fifth on the grid around the outside of the Ferrari duo forced him onto the curb and over the grass. It was always ambitious and bold, but this is Max Verstappen we are talking about so when is it not?

From there, he fought with characteristic aggression, escaping sanction for his early scuffles only to be robbed of a final-lap charge by a contentious, late Virtual Safety Car (VSC). After the flurry of pit-stops, with the gap on Lap 49 standing at around 14 seconds, the maths said “maybe”; the mood said “definitely". But when Carlos Sainz's stranded Williams caused the VSC, Verstappen's chase ended not with a pass, but with abrupt punctuation.

In truth, Verstappen's race in Mexico City reflected the broader story of his season - defiance. The Red Bull beneath him is no longer the flawless weapon it once was and despite being under a new ringmaster, in Laurent Mekies, what once looked like a lost cause has the possibility to become one of the greatest title fight-backs ever.

It is fair to say that no-one expected him to be this close - especially not after McLaren's mid-season surge. But as Mexico City once again proved, the Dutchman is refusing to yield. If anything, his relentlessness in an inferior car is reminding everyone why he became a World Champion. He squeezes performance from thin air and this means that the now 36 point deficit no longer looks like a mountain. All it takes is a single DNF or a typically treacherous wet weekend at Interlagos and this Championship could swing right back into his favour. Count him out at your peril

Bearman Breaks Through

Every so often a Formula One weekend will deliver a performance that cuts through the noise, and Oliver Bearman's fourth place was exactly one of those. What began as opportunistic became disciplined and incredibly impressive, holding off the pressure of two Mercedes and a McLaren.

When Verstappen and Hamilton tangled, Bearman struck - luck mixed with a big dose of racecraft and instinct. He drove like a man beyond his years, with the rookie absorbing the pressure while Russell and Antonelli bickered behind him, overheating their tyres. The young rookie matched the team's highest ever race finish. A team growing in confidence under new Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu. Maybe Haas no longer need luck.

All Still to Play For

So what have we learnt? Norris seems to be the benchmark going into the final four, finally capitalising how he should have done in Baku. McLaren's young stars are writing one of the sport's most enthralling intra-team title races. Verstappen's fight is far from over. And as the tension builds, every lap, every call, and every corner now carries the weight of a Championship.

Four races left. One point in it. And a World Championship teetering on the apex.