Verstappen Climbs to Second at Mexican Grand Prix
Max Verstappen moved into second place on the opening lap of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix while Isack Hadjar fell to last after a spin.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Motorsports
Max Verstappen moved into second place on lap one of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix. Isack Hadjar was sent spinning by George Russell and fell to 22nd and last.
Why it matters
The opening-lap shuffle reshaped the early order and left Isack Hadjar without a route back into the points. The result shows how quickly a single incident can decide a driver's race.
Charles Leclerc was serving a five-second time penalty during the race. Liam Lawson started from the pit lane and still salvaged two points.
The players
Max Verstappen
Dutch Formula One driver and four-time world champion who moved into second place at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Isack Hadjar
French Formula One driver who was sent spinning on lap one and finished 22nd, last in the race.
George Russell
British Formula One driver for Mercedes whose contact sent Isack Hadjar spinning on lap one.
The details
George Russell sent Isack Hadjar spinning on lap one, dropping him to last. Verstappen used the opening lap to move into second place as the field sorted itself out.
Timeline
Lap one of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix: Verstappen moves into second and Hadjar spins to last.
Season Trajectory
Lap-one incidents like this one frequently determine a Grand Prix's finishing order, and Hadjar's fall to last leaves him with little room to recover. Verstappen's move into second keeps him in contention within the race's opening phase.
Fantasy managers tracking Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar should note the lap-one swing that moved Verstappen up and Hadjar to last. Liam Lawson's two salvaged points came after a pit-lane start.
The takeaway
Early-race incidents can erase a driver's chances in a single lap, so the opening lap often matters as much as any later strategy. Watching the first few corners of a Grand Prix can reveal which results are likely to hold.
Further reading
For more race coverage, see Motorsports.
