ALONSO WINS POINT AFTER FIGHT WITH HAMILTON

FERNANDO ALONSO CLAIMED HIS third points finish of 2017 in 10th place, after his dramatic battle for ninth with Lewis Hamilton enlivened the closing stages of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Alonso started 18th, thanks to power unit element change penalties, but quickly climbed to 12th with other drivers hitting trouble and early pitstops. He passed Romain Grosjean for 11th and held ninth following a stop under the virtual safety car, after jumping Marcus Ericsson and gaining a place from the retirement of Nico Hulkenberg.

Alonso then harried Kevin Magnussen for eighth, but was caught by the recovering Hamilton. With three laps left, Hamilton attacked to the outside at Turn 1, completing the move at Turn 5.

Alonso, who set the fifth fastest time in Q1, claimed the Mclaren was the best car in Mexico – once you factored out the limitations of the Honda engine.

“As of today, or at least today, we have the best car,” said Alonso. “The car was handling incredible. In the corners, it has very good grip and it allows you to drive instinctively and easily.

“It’s been a while since we set a pink sector. It’s probably the best weekend of the whole season.”