Verstappen pleased with podium as he offers verdict on Hamilton clash

Max Verstappen secured an unexpected third-place podium finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, keeping his championship hopes alive despite a challenging race. Starting on medium tires, Verstappen struggled for pace initially and faced a controversial early battle with Lewis Hamilton, where both drivers went off-track. After a pit stop to soft tires, he found better rhythm, climbing back through the field. A late Virtual Safety Car prevented a potential overtake on Charles Leclerc for second, but Verstappen expressed surprise at his podium result, admitting he "didn't expect to be there." This crucial finish places him 36 points behind new championship leader Lando Norris with four races remaining.