Briton Lewis Hamilton was crowned world champion for the fourth time in his career tonight at the Mexican Grand Prix. A coronation made possible by the 4th of Sebastian Vettel, insufficient result for the German, the only rival that could prevent the coronation of Columbia Everything was initially chaotic at the start of the Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel, starting in pole collided with Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen went on to race ahead. He beat Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) on Sunday became world champion in Formula 1 for the fourth time in his career by finishing 9th in the Grand Prix of Mexico, his closest rival, German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) managed to finish in fourth position, not enough to continue his fight for the world championship. Hamilton, 32, joined the few drivers such as Vettel and the Frenchman Alain Prost, both who have won the world championship four times. Only Michael Schumacher (7 titles) and Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio (5 titles) are ahead of the British driver. The GP of Mexico was won by Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
“It does not seem real”, he said before joining his booth British flag on the back, pursued by a few Mexican fans. “Thank you to my team that was incredible for five years, I am proud to be part of”, praised Hamilton. “I do not know what happened at the start, but I did not give up”, he explained.
The Briton, arrived in Mexico with 66 point lead, needed only a fifth place in case of victory of Vettel, a task within reach since, except in Monaco, he had attained that rank in all races this season. But Vettel started on pole, complicated the situation by touching successively Max Verstappen ultimately victorious, and Hamilton in the first two turns.
The German was forced to change his front wing, while Lewis Hamilton suffered a puncture of the right rear tire, narrowly escaped abandoning and cautiously returned to his garage ten seconds later. The equation was then shaped as a single race against time: Vettel must finish in the top two to have any chance of continuing his fight for the world championship, with Hamilton needing at least 5th position to be champion.
Ten laps, Vettel was fourth at 50 seconds from the second place driver, the Finn Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), while his rival occupied only 10th place. “Mamma Mia, it is not enough! “, exclaimed the German on the team radio, indicating that it was a cross on the title. If he’d said aim for victory in the last three races, Hamilton, author of a good ball weapon in the final laps with Fernando Alonso (McLaren-Honda) will just probably the 9th to enjoy this fourth world championship crown in the circumstances
