"The race is still long. Of course, it looks good, but everything can change very quickly," recalled the Dutchman after winning his second successive Grand Prix in Mexico on Sunday and the ninth this season (against five to its British rival).

Mercedes certainly surprised by dominating qualifying in Mexico, with Finland's Valtteri Bottas ahead of Hamilton, but Verstappen's success was expected given Red Bull's dominance in recent years on the Rodriguez Brothers circuit.

The Austrian team were even so much faster on Sunday that, for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, his driver's second place is almost a victory.

"It is rather the third (behind the two Red Bulls, editor's note) which was within our reach," he said.

And next ?

"I am a realist but I love motorsport because anything can happen. None of us will leave the circuit thinking that things are escaping us," insists the Austrian.

"There are four races left, four wins to be taken, four potential retirements and we will continue to fight."

Results of the Mexican Grand Prix with the rankings of the drivers and manufacturers Laurence SAUBADU AFP

"There are 107 points to be taken at the most so we are far from the score," says his counterpart at Red Bull Christian Horner.

"Reliability is going to be crucial, everything will have to be successful every weekend, the strategy, the pit stops ..."

"Win every race"

Hamilton, he recognizes that "19 points is a lot" and draws up his battle plan.

"Of course I have to win every race because we need those points to try to come back," said the seven-time world champion in pursuit of a record eighth crown.

"This was already the case this weekend and in previous races."

"But ... they're just too fast," he can't help but notice.

"I'm giving absolutely everything I have and that's not enough for the moment. (...) If they kept the same speed during the next GPs, we would be in trouble."

But so far this season, Red Bull has often been the swiftest.

And this from the winter testing, where the Austrian team surprised by outclassing the seven reigning champions, drivers and constructors.

The joy of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after his victory in the Mexican GP, ​​November 7, 2021 in Mexico Francisco Guasco POOL / AFP

The bull team also won on circuits promised to Mercedes, starting with Austin (United States) at the end of October, which could prove to be the turning point of the season if Verstappen were crowned.

The next round, in Brazil this week, again promises to be a success for Red Bull.

The proof is that the Dutchman is the last to win in 2019.

Reliability issue resolved

But Wolff does not abdicate.

"We're leaving a circuit in Mexico that we considered to be one of the worst for us. Brazil hasn't been much more favorable to us in the past but I think we can at least have a solid car there, be closer to them. "

This is also important for the manufacturers' ranking, where Mercedes has gone from 23 to just one step ahead of its rival.

Good news for the German manufacturer, the engine reliability problem which it has been facing since September seems to be resolved.

"We are on a good trajectory," said Wolff.

Subtlety of the Brazilian weekend: it is the third and last this season to include a qualifying sprint race on Saturday determining the starting grid of the main race on Sunday and offering points to the first three (from 3 to 1).

Max Verstappen's Red Bull is ahead of his rival Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City, November 7, 2021 PEDRO PARDO AFP

The rest is a dive into the unknown with two circuits visited for the first time, in Qatar (November 21) and Saudi Arabia (December 5), before the traditional Abu Dhabi final (December 12), where Verstappen has for the first time dethroned Mercedes last year.

A victory that perhaps heralded the end of an era?

© 2021 AFP