The British Mercedes Pilot makes his fifth formula 1 Triumph with a fourth place in Mexico with something to spare, despite the tire problems. Rival Sebastian Vettel in spite of rank two again, only the role of well-wishers.
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Hamilton: With constancy for the fifth title
Place four-handed loose to the big world Cup Fiesta: Lewis Hamilton has secured with a lame silver arrow in Mexico to its fifth world title. The Mercedes-Star is the world Cup crown in a duel with Sebastian Vettel is already two races before the end of the season, the Briton was able to enjoy his coronation journey but he bitched and swore during the race on the radio about his tyres. His rival Vettel in the Ferrari was at the Grand Prix of Mexico after a good performance in Second behind the very strong Max Verstappen in Red Bull, the world Cup defeat was finally perfect.
“We have not won this title here,” said Hamilton after a “terrible” Grand Prix: “We have won in many other races where we have worked hard. I’m since I was 13 years old was in a Mercedes. To stand here today and to the creation of what has made Juan Manuel Fangio, is a very special Moment.” Because Hamilton is now ascended to the Olympus of formula 1. Besides him, only the Argentine racing legend Fangio managed five titles, only the record world champion Schumacher (7) is now in front of him. Vettel, congratulated the Englishman cordially. “It didn’t work out, this is not an easy day for me,” he said, “But Lewis deserves it, he and his Team have done a super Job, you have to give. I would have liked to have stayed longer in the race.”
Right at the Start Hamilton had made it clear that he wanted to leave in the world Cup race is nothing more to burn. While Vettel, hell win, his fourth start-up was able to hold space only, was pushing Hamilton on the 890 meters to the first corner in second place, last year’s winner Verstappen took over in the Red Bull the lead and didn’t let them. For the 21-year-old Dutchman, it was the fifth victory of his career. His team-mate and pole-setter Daniel Ricciardo was ten laps with a technical Defect.
After the little spectacular Start to the feared tire battle developed, all tried the sensitive Tires went as well to protect it. The sequence at the top, nothing changed after the first pit stops. While Hamilton was not at the front forced to full speed, overtook Vettel then during a lapping phase Ricciardo. Only a short time later, Vettel grabbed even Hamilton, but the 33-Year-old could get over and did not fight. He knew that he was still on course for the title. Because Vettel would have postponed the championship decision only once, when he had won at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in front of over 100,000 Fans – and Hamilton, who bleated on the radio constantly about his tires, would not come about place eight.
The Briton, whose Tyres were degrading more and more, had to leave after a mistake under braking then Ricciardo past. “I’ve got a hell of a hard time still changes nothing,” radioed Hamilton: “There’s something goes wrong.” Not after that happened, fell, Vettel, contrary to benefited from Ricciardo failure, Hamilton cruiste the title. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) in the second Ferrari of third parties, of Emmerich’s Nico Hulkenberg ended up in the Renault in sixth place. Almost exactly a year ago, Hamilton had celebrated in Mexico, already the title of number four. After his triumphs of 2008, 2014 and 2015, he is now after a more than impressive season under the Greatest of the formula 1 arrived.
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71/71: TARGET – congratulations to Verstappen, his fifth Gran Prix in his career to win, and here a mistake-free race. Hamilton it is not very quiet, driving to a podium finish, but hey: he is world champion again!
70/71: Verstappen in front of Vettel ahead of Raikkonen ahead of Hamilton. Place four to the British, to be sure, once again – after the last year to crown here in Mexico city the champion of the world.
68/71: Verstappen gets on the radio said: get Off the Gas. He leads three rounds before the final 15 seconds. But the Dutchman is not known to listen to advice.
66/71: current status: Verstappen in front of Vettel ahead of Raikkonen ahead of Hamilton. So that Hamilton would not be on the podium – what is it worms certainly – but the world title would be him for sure
64/71: Vettel moves up without a fight on the two, but that does him little good. Also Hamilton moves automatically. Vettel needs to win and Hamilton must not finish Eighth, so that the world Cup will be postponed a decision here. Bottas goes in the Box. Mercedes is very safe and is in a race to the end.
63/71: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR: Ricciardo is out there. Damage to the engine. This is of course bitter for the Australian, who was here went to square one starting the race with the hope of a podium or even a victory.
60/71: Verstappen to drive the front lonely his rounds. The Dutchman has a very relaxed, ten seconds ahead of his team-mate Ricciardo.
58/71: Ricciardo is driving the fastest lap. It will be difficult for Vettel, the Australian is not yet over. The tires seem to have recovered.
57/71: Vettel is trying to Ricciardo passing. This attempt miss, both are a disaster but to Ericsson over.
53/71: Hamilton continues to have big problems. He can’t keep up with the pace of the other. Vettel always comes closer to Ricciardo ran.
49/71: pit stop – the-Leading, Verstappen comes in. He has so much lead that his victory is not here actually.
48/71: pit stop – Vettel and Hamilton to go in the Box. Vettel falls to P 3, Vettel is now only on P 5.
45/71: Ricciardo has Hamilton in his sights. He overhauled the British, who obviously has currently big problems.
42/71: Hamilton seems to be pretty pissed to be and complains more about his tires.
41/71: collision between Ocon and Hartley. It will strike sparks on the ground. Both still drive. It drives just as long.
39/71: here it is: Vettel overtakes Hamilton is now Second. The Briton can’t defend himself, but also. He knows that the next world title belongs to him.
37/71: Vettel is closer to Hamilton. This could be exciting. If the world title will likely be decided today, there must be quiet on the track an interesting duel.
33/71: The race is on again. Vettel remained during the overhaul of a ban, very close to Ricciardo. Now he’s trying it: it worked. But it was very close. Vettel now behind Verstappen and Hamilton on P3. Meanwhile, Verstappen builds on his lead.
31/71: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR – The reason: Sainz Jr. from the rolls. So: Overtaking prohibited.
28/71: Currently happening, not so much. No one dares to here to attack – because all the fear of the tire. Verstappen drives away far to the front. The will be asked to make a little bit slowly in order to conserve the tires more.
26/71: Also Ricciardo, currently at No. 3, reports over the radio of the problems with the worn down tires. Vettel tried to make use of the back pressure. Meanwhile, Verstappen drives away without problems in the front.
22/71: Hamilton is still unhappy with the tyre, speaks of “Graining”. He still has tires Set ultra soft in the Box.
18/71: currently, after the Top 6 drivers are all in the Box were: Verstappen ahead of Hamilton in front of Ricciardo in front of Vettel ahead of Bottas ahead of Raikkonen. With the tires, almost everyone has problems here.
17/71: pit stop – now also comes Vettel in and goes on the super-soft tyres. Also Raikkonen drives in the Box.
15/71: cheers for Red Bull Fans. Verse not fall overtaken Raikkonen quite easily, as Vettel still in the Box. Whether the Dutchman can draw on so easy to the German past? Vettel tried any of the one-stop strategy.
14/71: pit stop – the-Leading, Verstappen is changing the tires. So Vettel was not the only one of the Top 4 still in the Box, briefly the box. Vettel ahead of Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hamilton and Ricciardo.
13/71: pit stop – Ricciardo is in the Box.
12/71: pit stop – Hamilton is in the Box. Shortly after, team-mate Bottas. Hamilton has previously “reported Graining on the front” Function, so Overloading of the tires.
10/71: Currently, little is happening, the drivers conserve the tyres.
8/71: the Front of everything as usual: Verstappen ahead of Hamilton in front of Ricciardo in front of Vettel ahead of Bottas.
5/71: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR. Alonso gives up. It smokes from the rear of his car. The reason is that In the case of the Spaniards, the front is stuck sash from the Ocon on the lower floor. The was left after a collision with another driver and Alonso’s car slipped.
3/71: Verstappen makes the front of the Tempo and drives the fastest lap. The Hamilton is behind him, fits him quite well. His team-mate Ricciardo would drive a little stormy, but the Australian has a good Start.
2/71: Hulkenberg loses a place to Sainz Jr. and is now on P8.
1/71: Hamilton with a super Start, he moves on to square two. Verstappen, however, remains ahead of the title defender. Ricciardo lost a place to Vettel is sandwiched, for a short time even on the fifth place behind Bottas, then ancestors but back to rank four. Ocons front wing depends in part on Alonso’s car. The two have not touched.
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At 20:13: The lights go out!
At 20:10: The Warm-Up begins – and so also grows the tension.
20:08 p.m.: With the fifth world title would be Hamilton, the formula 1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio.
20:05 PM: Hamilton wants to of course win a world championship title – this means at least a podium place, preferably with a victory. In front of him, the hot porn Verstappen and Ricciardo but it is also always good for a Surprise. And Vettel is not mad, that he starts from the Pole position – it should be an interesting race!
20:01 Watch: The Starting Line-Up
1. Ricciardo (Australia, Red Bull)
2. Verstappen (The Netherlands, Red Bull)
3. Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes)
4. Vettel (Germany, Ferrari)
5. Bottas (Finland, Mercedes)
6. Raikkonen (Finland, Ferrari)
7. Hulkenberg (Germany, Renault)
8. Sainz Jr. (Spain, Renault)
9. Leclerc (Monaco, Clean)
10. Ericsson (Sweden, Clean)
11. Ocon (France, Racing Point Force India)
12. Alonso (Spain, McLaren)
13. Perez (Mexico, Racing Point Force India)
14. Hartley (New Zealand, Toro Rosso)
15. Vandoorne (Belgium, Mclaren)
At 19:58: 19. out of a total of 21 races this season – probably it is the race of the decision. Because the chances are very great that Lewis Hamilton will today early champion of the world. The standings after 18 races: Lewis Hamilton (346) currently leads with 70 points, ahead of Sebastian Vettel (276) and Kimi Raikkonen (221). Hamilton is in Mexico, the champion of the world, if…
…Vettel will not win.
… it is a victory of Vettel at least the Seventh
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