Rod Torque: Hamilton wins but not yet champion

Lewis Hamilton was in a class of his own, doing an unusual one-stop strategy to win the Mexican Grand Prix.

He tangled with Max Verstappen on the first lap, sending Verstappen into the pits for repairs, but he managed to carry on unscathed and pipped Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to the flag.

ALSO READ : Rod Talk: Brilliant Bottas outwits Vettel

Verstappen’s demise to the rear of the field was a big disappointment after showing such promise in his Red Bull Honda during qualifying.

After taking pole position he was given a three-place penalty for not slowing down when Valtteri Bottas went off the track to bring the yellow flags out.

Again, Ferrari had a quicker car in qualifying but the Mercedes team outwitted them with cleverer strategy.

It was therefore Mercedes first and third and Ferrari second and fourth (Valtteri Bottas third with Charles Leclerc behind him).

Alexander Albon drove another good race into fifth position and Verstappen recovered to sixth behind his teammate in the end.

Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo were seventh and eighth (Racing Point and Renault) followed by Pierre Gasly in ninth and Nico Hulkenberg in tenth, in the Toro Rosso Honda and Renault vehicles respectively.

With three races remaining, Bottas still has a very slight chance of beating Hamilton in the championship, but it’s highly unlikely.

Drivers: 1 Lewis Hamilton 363; 2 Valtteri Bottas 289; 3 Charles Leclerc 236; 4 Sebastian Vettel 230; 5 Max Verstappen 220; 6 Pierre Gasly 77; 7 Carlos Sainz 76; 8 Alexander Albon 74; 9 Sergio Perez 43; 10 Daniel Ricciardo 38.

Team: 1 Mercedes 652; 2 Ferrari 466; 3 Red Bull 341; 4 McLaren 111; 5 Renault 73; 6 Toro Rosso 64; 7 Racing Point Force India 64; 8 Alfa Romeo 35; 9 Haas 28; 10 Williams 1.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

To receive our FREE email newsletter, click HERE