What happened: Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen pitted together on Lap 28 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Leclerc served a time penalty during his stop, allowing Verstappen to emerge ahead on track. The sequence leaves Lewis Hamilton leading the race in clean air for Ferrari.

Why it matters: Hamilton, who claimed pole position by 0.009 seconds for his first with Ferrari, gains vital track position at the front of the field. The lost position drops Leclerc behind his rival while Ferrari manages strategy across both cars. With Verstappen now running second, the pit sequence significantly alters the podium battle.

What to watch: Watch whether Hamilton can extend his gap in clean air as Verstappen pursues on fresh tires over the remaining 43 laps.