Mexico penalties cost Piastri and Alpine crucial points

Post-race decisions significantly reshaped the Mexico City Grand Prix classification on Sunday, November 1. Oscar Piastri, who crossed the line seventh for McLaren, dropped to 13th following a 10-second penalty for contact with Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad retired after the late incident.

McLaren said Piastri had made progress from 12th on the grid and showed stronger race pace than his finishing position suggested. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the penalty in the team's official race report and said the lost points were disappointing. Lando Norris finished fifth for McLaren.

Alpine loses a double points finish

Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly had initially finished eighth and tenth on the road. Colapinto received a 10-second time penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags. Gasly was handed a 30-second time penalty in lieu of a drive-through after an infringement under double yellow flags. The sanctions dropped both Alpine cars out of the points.

In Formula 1's race-day team reaction roundup, Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore expressed frustration that both cars had finished in points-paying positions before the penalties, only for the team to leave Mexico City without scoring.

What the final order means

The changes moved Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and other midfield drivers higher in the final classification. The incidents involved different circumstances: Piastri's punishment followed contact between cars, while Alpine's penalties concerned how its drivers responded to yellow flags. The race was already notable for a red flag, several restarts and a last-stint Safety Car, making the stewards' post-race rulings an important part of the competitive outcome.