LEW’S BULL FIGHT
Hamilton can’t catch Max but holds off home favourite Perez
LEWIS HAMILTON narrowly avoided his world title challenge being engulfed by a Red Bull Mexican wave.
But, after finishing second at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez behind Max Verstappen in Mexico City, Hamilton is in serious danger of waving goodbye to his chance of landing an historic eighth drivers’ championship.
The Briton at least avoided being overhauled by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, right, in the closing stages, despite the Mexican being willed on by his adoring home fans.
But there was nothing Hamilton could do to pressure Verstappen as his title rival finished more than 16 seconds ahead. With four races to go there is plenty of time for the title-race momentum to change.
If Hamilton is going to pull off what will surely rank as his greatest achievement in the sport, however, he will have to do so in a car which is no longer the fastest in the field.
His downbeat radio message to his Mercedes team spoke volumes about the task ahead.
He said: “I gave it everything. I just didn’t have the pace.”
How Hamilton could have done with a helping hand from team-mate Valtteri Bottas in Mexico. In the build-up to the race, Bottas, who departs for Alfa Romeo at the end of the season, promised to take one for the team if he was in a position to help Hamilton. Instead, Bottas sparked opening-lap carnage as Mercedes’ unexpected front-row lockout – the Finn was on pole and Hamilton was in second – counted for naught.
With Hamilton taking the inside line and Verstappen, having started third, the wide route, Bottas was the meat in the sandwich.
He blinked first, prompting McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo to tag him and send him spinning.
Verstappen was bravest on the brakes, allowing him to surge around the outside of Hamilton and take a lead he would never relinquish. Bottas at least pinched a point off Verstappen by claiming the fastest lap at the death as he came home 15th.
The safety car was needed after the opening lap shenanigans, Yuki Tsunoda and Mick Schumacher crashing out as they tried to avoid Bottas.
But at the restart Verstappen aced his getaway before producing a faultless drive, which stretched his lead in the drivers’ standings to 19 points.
Verstappen was doubtless only too happy for Perez to take the plaudits from the frenzied crowd, but with nine wins already this season, the Dutchman should be soaking up the adulation as a world champion in the near future.