Formula One: Hamilton wins in Mexico as Vettel rages at Verstappen
Published:
Lewis Hamilton may have kept his World title hopes alive with victory in yesterday’s Mexican Grand Prix, but for once the Brit isn’t the centre of attention in today’s press.
As the Mercedes ace cruised to the chequered flag, teenage prodigy Max Verstappen again incurred the wrath of a Ferrari driver.
Having already clashed with Kimi Raikkonen several times this season, the Dutch star this time came to blows with Sebastian Vettel – and the four-time champion wasn’t impressed.
After the Red Bull pilot took to the grass to maintain his position, Vettel produced an expletive-laden rant targeted at both Verstappen and race director Charlie Whiting.
Immediately after the race FIA handed Max a five-second time penalty, and we had the unusual sight of a driver in the post-race podium room being informed he actually finished fourth.
Vettel then sprinted up to the rostrum and claimed his hard-fought trophy.
Or so we thought.
Following that altercation with Verstappen during the race, a lap later Vettel came under fire from the other Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo.
Still raging from his earlier altercation, Vettel then moved in the braking zone to defend from the Australian, and as of last week, that move is now deemed punishable.
And so, a good three hours after the flag had fallen and the crowds had gone home, Vettel himself was handed a 10-second time penalty.
Coupled with the demotion for Verstappen, it all meant that Ricciardo actually finished third, with his team-mate fourth and the Ferrari ace dumped to fifth.
For the most part, yesterday’s Mexican Grand Prix was somewhat drab, but woah, what a final 10 laps.
Anyway, back to the front and Hamilton’s 51st Grand Prix win was soured somewhat by the news that Nico Rosberg finished second.
The German’s result means that Lewis has a 19-point gap to overhaul with just two races remaining.
At 1/4 Rosberg is very much title-favourite, with Lewis at 3/1 and the former Williams driver can wrap up his first world crown if he wins in Brazil next time out.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
