Red Bull's two-time world champion Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday to set a Formula One record of 14 victories in a single season.

He cruised to his 14th win of the year to pull clear after sharing the record of 13 wins in a season with two German stars – seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.

His victory in Austin a week earlier had sealed Red Bull's first constructors' championship since 2013. He now has 35 wins and a total of 416 points to lead Red Bull teammate and local hero Sergio Perez on 280 in the drivers' championship, which he clinched on October 9 in Japan. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is third on 275.

Fast start and smart strategy paid off: Verstappen

Verstappen said the combination of a fast and flawless start and Red Bull's smart tire strategy were decisive on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Dutchman took control of the race with a perfect start from his 17th career pole position.

He made one stop before a long stint on the medium tires to take the checkered flag 15.186 seconds clear of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

"It helped me out a lot for the rest of the race to stay in the lead at Turn One," said Verstappen, emphasizing how important the 800-meter charge off the grid was to taking command of the race.

"Of course, we were also on a different strategy to the cars around us – but again an incredible result. The pace of the car was really nice. We had to look after our tires because it was a very long stint on the mediums, but we made it work," he said.

"It's such an incredible atmosphere and we love to come here. And it has been an incredible year so far. We are definitely enjoying it and will try to go for more."

Alfa Romeo's Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu finished 13th.

Red Bull rivals hit back at 'inadequate' cost cap penalties

Red Bull's rivals insisted on Saturday that the punishment meted out for their breach of F1's $145 million cost cap last year was "very limited" and unlikely to act as a deterrent.

Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren led the way, making clear their unhappiness with the outcome of the saga after the sport's governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) had fined Red Bull $7 million and given them a 10 percent cut in permitted aerodynamic testing.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner said on Friday the sanctions were "enormous" and "draconian," descriptions that were derided by some in the paddock at the Mexico Grand Prix. 

Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies said the Italian team felt the punishment did not fit the crime.

McLaren team chief Andreas Seidl said he was so disillusioned by the outcome that he did not bother listening to Horner's reaction.

"I didn't listen to it because I can imagine it was another fairy tale," said Seidl. "I'm not really interested in that.

"In the end, on a positive side, I think it's good to see the FIA did a good job in terms of doing the audit. Nine teams got it right and it was clear one team was in breach, so that's a positive outcome. But on a negative side, it's also clear, from my point of view, that the penalty doesn't fit the breach. I just hope moving forward we have stricter penalties in place."

(With input from agencies)