Hamilton wins in Mexico, but has to wait for title

After his brilliant victory at the Mexican Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver can complete his sixth World Championship triumph in Formula 1 next Sunday with an eighth place in Austin. “We came here knowing it would be a difficult race, but we pulled through,” said Hamilton: “I love racing, I don’t mind the wait.”

The Mercedes star left Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel behind in the tire thriller at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday. “Lewis just rushed through,” said Vettel. Mathematically, Hamilton can only be caught by teammate Valtteri Bottas in the remaining three races of the season. The Finn secured third place in Mexico City and is now 74 points behind. Vettel had already mathematically had to say goodbye to the World Cup fight in Japan in the fifth last race of the season.

In Mexico, the 32-year-old German initially fought primarily for supremacy in his own team. Stable rival Leclerc subsequently climbed to pole position, having won ahead of Vettel in qualifying. Like Hamilton, both of them benefited from the penalty against Max Verstappen.

Unlike the Dutchman, he did not take his foot off the accelerator in the Red Bull on his last fast lap when the yellow flags were waved due to a violent impact from Bottas' Mercedes. Verstappen slipped from pole to fourth place on the grid.

Hamilton initially falls back to fifth place The front row was red, Hamilton behind and the approach to the first corner on the 2250 meter high track was long. Meant: slipstream opportunity. “Third place on the grid isn’t the worst,” emphasized team boss Toto Wolff. However, Mercedes had not necessarily prepared for a World Cup break for Hamilton. It didn't look like a title fiesta even after the first few kilometers. Vettel fended off Hamilton's attack at the start. Verstappen wanted to get past the Brit on the inside, but it became too tight. They touched each other twice, had to go through the grass and lost ground. Hamilton initially fell back to fifth place. Leclerc held his own at the top despite a driving error that also led to involuntary contact with Vettel's Ferrari.

And what did Bottas do when he had to start from sixth place? The Finn temporarily slipped to seventh place, was then slightly rammed by Verstappen, but like Hamilton, quickly made up places. The two initially finished fourth and fifth behind Leclerc, Vettel and Alexander Albon, who benefited most from the failed starting attacks of his competitors in the second Red Bull. Verstappen, on the other hand, had to have his tires changed early after a puncture, and the winner of the last two years was initially in last place.

Albon was the first of the leading quintet to come into the pits to swap wheels. Then Leclerc. He got the same tire compound, which also meant: Vettel's 21-year-old stable rival definitely had to have his tires changed again. Vettel, meanwhile, was on a one-stop strategy. Then Hamilton challenged the German and came into the pits earlier. “Let him drive,” Vettel countered the command post’s request to have new tires fitted.

Right or wrong? “It feels like we changed the tires too early,” said Hamilton, who has to do without his regular race engineer on the Mexico-USA trip. The strategy was clear: Hamilton should win, ideally the fastest lap of the race. If Bottas only finished fourth, the triumph would be perfect. Hamilton doubted, Hamilton quarreled. “You can do it,” said Mercedes chief strategy officer James Vowles over the radio. Vettel withstands pressure from Bottas When Vettel had the tires changed for the first time and Leclerc for the second time, Hamilton was in front, followed by Vettel, Bottas and Leclerc. Nothing seemed decided yet. Bottas initially got closer to Vettel. The man from Heppenheim withstood the pressure just as did Hamilton before him, who, after his tenth win of the season and his 83rd Grand Prix success, is also facing another crowning achievement.

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Hamilton wins in Mexico, but has to wait for title

Lewis Hamilton let the tires smoke in the Foro Sol baseball stadium and climbed onto his Silver Arrow to the thunderous cheers of the fans.

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