The sun was shining over the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City for Race 20 of the 2024 Formula 1 season, and the anticipation in the air was palpable. All eyes were on the new sensation in Formula 1, Kruimel, who, in his debut season, stood on the brink of a historic achievement. With a lead over his closest rival Max Verstappen, Kruimel needed just 12 more points than Verstappen to secure the drivers’ championship this weekend. To add to the drama, a strong finish from Fernando Alonso could also crown Aston Martin as constructors’ champions for the first time in their history.
The stakes were high, and the race would deliver on all fronts, with unexpected turns of fate and intense battles from start to finish.
Qualifying: Kruimel in Pole, but The Captain Surprises
Kruimel approached qualifying with laser focus, determined to lock in his best possible position for the race. His lap times were quick and precise, securing the provisional pole. However, Verstappen was hot on his heels, only two-tenths behind, followed closely by Kruimel’s teammate Alonso.
Then, in a surprising twist, The Captain, in his Williams, used the car’s straight-line speed to perfection on his final flying lap, clocking in a 1:14.249. While it wasn’t enough to beat Kruimel, it was enough to demote Verstappen to third place, with The Captain securing P2. With a clear track ahead for Kruimel, the stage was set for a thrilling race where his championship hopes depended not just on his own performance, but also on Verstappen’s result.
Speaking after qualifying, Kruimel remained grounded yet optimistic: “I’ll just focus on my own race and see where the cards fall. If it happens tomorrow, great. If not, we keep fighting.”
Race Drama Unfolds
Kruimel had a strong start off the line, as did The Captain. The two Dutch drivers went side by side into Turn 1, but Kruimel held firm, maintaining the lead. Behind them, Charles Leclerc made a brilliant start from P6, passing Verstappen to take third. As The Captain stayed within DRS range of Kruimel, he attempted a bold move, but misjudged his braking. He clipped Kruimel’s rear wheel, but thankfully, Kruimel emerged without any damage. Moments later, The Captain made another attempt, this time successfully overtaking Kruimel into Turn 6. Kruimel slipped to second, with Leclerc lurking close behind. Not willing to let the race slip away, Kruimel retook the lead on the main straight using DRS. While he regained control of the race, he couldn’t build a gap larger than a second, keeping the pressure on. Disaster struck in the midfield as a crash caused a red flag, halting the race. Every car switched to hard tires, setting the stage for a tense restart.
Kruimel nailed the restart, holding his lead. Behind him, The Captain and Verstappen had poor launches, with Verstappen dropping out of the top five. The Captain lost several positions as Alonso, Leclerc, Sainz, and Hamilton swept past him. The Captain managed to recover, passing Hamilton in the Turn 1 complex, but not without picking up floor damage after a collision.
In lap 11, the race resumed after a brief Safety Car period, and Kruimel maintained his lead. Leclerc mounted an attack, drawing level through Turns 4, 5, and 6. The two went wheel to wheel, but Kruimel managed to squeeze Leclerc out in Turn 7. Kruimel, showing his maturity, quickly pulled out of DRS range, neutralizing the Ferrari threat. Behind Kruimel, The Captain made a stellar move to pass both Leclerc and Alonso, claiming third place. His determination was evident, but his race wasn’t without its problems—he received a three-second penalty for exceeding track limits multiple times.
Meanwhile, Verstappen began clawing his way back up the field, overtaking Sainz for P4. However, his gap to The Captain remained crucial, as Verstappen needed to finish within three seconds of The Captain to secure the final podium spot and keep his title hopes alive. With the pressure mounting, The Captain’s rear end stepped out in the stadium section, and Alonso pounced, taking second place. This put The Captain in a perilous position, with Verstappen closing in fast.
Kruimel extended his lead to over five seconds, cruising towards victory, but the championship was still undecided. The Captain remained within DRS range of Alonso, doing everything to maintain his position. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s charge saw him close the gap to just 3.4 seconds by Lap 24, but it wasn’t enough.
As Kruimel crossed the finish line to take the win, the tension shifted to Verstappen’s chase. In a final twist, Sainz launched an attack on Verstappen, reclaiming P4 and forcing Verstappen to lose more time. With that, the title was Kruimel’s. Verstappen finished P5, unable to challenge The Captain, who held on to third despite his time penalty.
Over the radio, Kruimel received the message he had dreamed of his whole life: “You are the world champion!” Aston Martin celebrated their first-ever constructors’ title as well, marking a historic double victory for the team.
A Friendship Turned Rivalry
Kruimel’s rapid rise to F1 stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. In just his first season, he has shown maturity beyond his years, with 14 race wins from 20 starts. His Aston Martin car has been dominant, but it’s his consistency and racecraft that have truly set him apart.
The Captain, also in his debut season, has made waves in the underpowered Williams, with podiums in China, Silverstone, and now Mexico. Despite their fierce rivalry on track, the two Dutch drivers share a close bond, having grown up together in the Mercedes academy.
As the 2024 season winds down, the future looks bright for both drivers, with Kruimel firmly establishing himself as the new king of F1 and The Captain proving that he has what it takes to challenge the very best, especially if he can secure a more competitive car for 2025.
In Mexico, however, it was Kruimel’s day, his dream realized, his legacy begun.
