Mexico City: Lewis Hamilton clinched his fourth drivers’ World Championship in unexpected but dramatic fashion when, after a first lap collision with title rival Sebastian Vettel, he finished ninth in the Mexican Grand Prix here Sunday.
The 32-year-old Briton, who would have needed to finish in the top five to be sure of the title if Vettel had won the race, battled from last position in his Mercedes after suffering a puncture that needed an opening lap pit-stop as Dutchman Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull.
Vettel, already a four-time champion, came home fourth for Ferrari after driving through the field from 19th following his part in the early crash with Hamilton. He also pitted for a new front wing.
“I don’t know what happened at turn three, I gave him (Vettel) plenty of room,” said Hamilton. “It doesn’t feel real man. It’s not the race you want when you’re 40 seconds down, but I never gave up.”
Verstappen won the race convincingly ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and his Finnish compatriot Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.
Vettel finished fourth ahead of Frenchman Esteban Ocon of Force India, Williams’ Canadian rookie Lance Stroll on his 19th birthday, and local Mexican hero Sergio Perez in the second Force India car.
Verstappen led from the first lap once Hamilton and Vettel had clashed. “The start was very crucial, I went around the outside and from then on I was just looking after the car and the tyres,” said the Dutchman after a third race win of the season.
Vettel made a decent start at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with an air temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. But with a long 890-metre straight run to ‘Turn One’, both Verstappen and Hamilton made attacks, the Dutchman fighting his way round the outside to snatch the lead.
Hamilton followed him and as he passed Vettel, the pair collided, the German’s Ferrari running into Hamilton’s rear right wheel and causing a puncture amid a flurry of flying debris.
Both had to limp back to the pits where Vettel took a new front wing and Hamilton, slower to complete the lap, took a new set of tyres.
“Did he hit me deliberately?” asked Hamilton. “Not sure, Lewis,” came the reply from the paddock. Stewards however cleared both of adopting any unfair means.
As a result of that collision, Hamilton’s hopes of taking the world crown with a win were severely deflated, but not those of being champion – Vettel needing to win, or finish second, to keep his challenge alive. However, a fourth-place finish for the German paved the way for Hamilton to be called ‘King Lewis’ again.
Not satisfied, Brit wants 5
Mexico City: Lewis Hamilton said Sunday that he he plans to go out at the top but is not about to ‘do the easy thing’ like former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg who quit days after winning last year’s Formula One (F1) drivers’ title.
“Four is a great number. But I want number five now,” declared the 32-year-old, who also races with the No. 44 on his car.
“I want to go out at the top … I could do the easy thing, like obviously Nico (Rosberg) did, which is just stop and retreat with these four titles. But I think there’s more in me.
“I think there’s more to come, more of a challenge. There’s harder times ahead and I like that, I love that. That’s challenging and it would be so boring without it,” added the Brit.
Hamilton, who is developing interests outside of the sport in music, film and fashion, said he too had considered a change of scene but that was still some way down the road. “I will continue to race while I love it, I’ve enjoyed it this year more than ever,” he pointed out.
“I do think about how it would be so nice at some stage just to live in one place, a lot more socialising, walking your dogs every day or surfing. But then I’m thinking, there’s a lot of life to live beyond 40. There’s a lot to go,” he added.
Hamilton was also effusive in his praise about the Merc team who worked constantly to make the success possible. “I’d like to say a big thanks to everybody in this Mercedes team,” said Hamilton. “What you’ve done the past couple of years is incredible. I’m so grateful.”
Vettel was also all praise for his rival. Lewis has done a superb job all year and deserves to win the title,” said Vettel. “Congratulations to him. It is his day.”
Agencies