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On this day: India's first Grand Prix and two Mexico wins

On 30 October, Sebastian Vettel won the first Indian Grand Prix in 2011, and Mexico City saw a penalty-hit podium in 2016 and a record in 2022.

Dancers in white and pink costumes with colourful turbans performing on the grid in front of a grandstand
Dancers entertain fans on the grid at the Buddh International Circuit during the 2011 Indian Grand Prix weekend. Photo: Dell Inc., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A first Grand Prix in India, a podium decided after the race and a new record in Mexico City. Here is what happened in Formula 1 on 30 October.

2011: Vettel wins the first Indian Grand Prix

Formula 1 raced in India for the first time at the Buddh International Circuit, near Delhi. Sebastian Vettel won for Red Bull, 8.433 seconds ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button.

Fernando Alonso finished third for Ferrari. Vettel took pole, led all 60 laps and set the fastest lap, the first grand slam of his career.

Narain Karthikeyan raced at home for HRT and finished 18th. Karun Chandhok drove in first practice on Friday but did not race.

Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa collided at turn five. Massa was given a drive-through penalty, and Hamilton pitted for a new front wing and finished seventh.

2016: Ricciardo gets third after the race

Lewis Hamilton won the Mexican Grand Prix from his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, cutting Rosberg's championship lead from 26 points to 19.

The fight for third was decided later. Max Verstappen crossed the line ahead of Sebastian Vettel but was given a five-second penalty for cutting a corner to stay in front.

Vettel stood on the podium, then received a ten-second penalty for moving under braking while defending from Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo was promoted to third, Verstappen dropped to fourth and Vettel to fifth.

2022: Verstappen breaks the record for wins in a season

Six years later, Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix for Red Bull, 15.186 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes.

It was his 14th win of 2022, one more than the previous record of 13 shared by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013). He finished that season with 15.

It was also his fourth win in Mexico, one more than Jim Clark. Sergio Perez finished third at his home race, 18.097 seconds behind.

Race it on Late Brake

None of today's races were held at a circuit in Late Brake. The free browser game has six real circuits instead: Spielberg, Monza, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Monaco and Interlagos. Pick one, follow the racing line and try to beat the gold medal time.

Sources: 2011 Indian Grand Prix, 2016 Mexican Grand Prix, 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix, List of Formula One driver records (Wikipedia)

Researched and written with the help of AI, using the sources above. How we write posts