Max: I’ll ruin the victory parade for Hamilton

MAX VERSTAPPEN has told Lewis Hamilton that he has peered into Mexico City’s thin air and can see himself stopping the Briton reaching his fifth world title in winning style. The Dutchman won this race last year but Hamilton clinched the championship when he finished ninth after Sebastian Vettel dubiously collided with him on the opening lap. This time Hamilton needs only to finish seventh to be assured of retaining his drivers’ crown, again over Vettel’s evaporating challenge. The German must win all the remaining three rounds to stand any chance of prevailing. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez stands 7,200 feet above sea level and that is a crucial help to Verstappen and his Renault-powered Red Bull. His engine lacks the grunt of the Competitive: Max Verstappen Mercedes and Ferraris and this is where altitude helps equalise the disparity. ‘This is definitely the best chance for me,’ said Verstappen. ‘The engines will be closer because it is more difficult to breathe. ‘Performance here is more about mechanical grip and I think our car is very good mechanically — aerodynamically. That is why I think we will be competing more on this track than on others, even if there is a super-long straight.’ Verstappen, 21, is full of confidence after a fine display in Austin last week, when he moved from 18th to second with a clean, fast drive. He added: ‘In qualifying we may not be as strong but in the race we will be working a lot better.’