Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen returned to their usual racing intensity in Mexico, reigniting their fierce rivalry at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The two Formula 1 titans battled head-to-head for track positions, getting dangerously close at times. As a result, Hamilton incurred a 10-second time penalty for cutting the corner via the escape road.
The Mexican Grand Prix marked the 20th race weekend of the season. It was Lando Norris who emerged as the race winner, while Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen secured spots inside the top 10. However, it was Hamilton and Verstappen who stole the spotlight, thanks to their intense mid-race tussles.
Fans got a glimpse of the fierce battle reminiscent of their 2021 title fight as the two went wheel-to-wheel once again in Mexico. Unfortunately for Hamilton, the duel ended on a sour note when he had to cut a corner to retain his track position—but this maneuver cost him a 10-second time penalty.
### Reactions on Social Media
Fans quickly took to social media to share their thoughts on the Hamilton-Verstappen clash.
One fan tweeted,
**“Hamilton loses his mind when Max is near him doesn’t he.”**
— @F1JayyUK
Another wrote,
**“Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton the moment they see each other on track.”**
— @versatancore
Some questioned Verstappen’s composure:
**“Why does Max Verstappen lose his head every time he’s near Lewis Hamilton?”**
— @AlecMilly
Others expressed frustration over perceived investigation biases:
**“Anything with Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen where Max is at fault is never under investigation.”**
— @TashyRR
A few fans criticized Verstappen’s aggressive racing style and overtaking tactics:
**“Max Verstappen doing his terrorism racing style against Lewis Hamilton? Water is wet.”**
**“Max Verstappen forgets how to race wheel-to-wheel when it comes to overtaking Hamilton.”**
— @bonotires
### Lewis Hamilton Reflects on a Difficult Race in Mexico
After a challenging race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts with the media:
> “It was fun at the start and then didn’t end up the way I had hoped, but that’s motor racing. Very, very dirty off line [at the start], did the best I could to keep the car or bring it back to the track safely. Got some points at least.”
Currently, Hamilton sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 146 points after 20 races and four sprint events. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, holds fifth place with 210 points, while Ferrari is placed second in the Constructors’ Championship.
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### About the Author
**Sabyasachi Biswas** is a passionate motorsport journalist for Sportskeeda with a Master’s degree and over nine years of experience. Having published more than 11,000 articles, Sabyasachi closely follows motorsport events to deliver thorough, well-sourced reports.
Inspired by Max Verstappen’s fearless attitude, he dreams of attending the Indian Grand Prix should it return to the calendar. An ardent F1 fan, Sabyasachi fondly remembers watching Felipe Massa and now enjoys following Verstappen’s journey.
Apart from F1, he is a big NASCAR and football (soccer) fan, supporting Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports and Real Madrid. A former sub-junior level footballer and quiz and debate champion, Sabyasachi is also a travel enthusiast who enjoys exploring new cuisines and cultures.
When not at his keyboard, he likes geopolitics, astronomy, and spending time with his adorable beagles, Khushi and Ubbu.
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*Edited by Sabyasachi Biswas*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-lewis-hamilton-loses-mind-max-verstappen-near-doesn-t-he-fans-react-incident-dutch-driver-british-f1-legend
