LIVE 2018 Mexican Grand Prix – FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MÉXICO 2018
Race Weekend: Formula 1 Gran Premio De Mexico 2018
Session: Live 2018 Mexican Grand Prix
It’s the weekend in which we could see Lewis Hamilton become a 5-time World Champion, it can only be the Mexican Grand Prix and here, we’re live with all the latest as it happens before and during the race with live updates.
This weekend, we’ve seen that Red Bull Racing have been in top form – dominating the weekend and with two Red Bull’s in the lead (Ricciardo an Verstappen) along with Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas and Raikkonen right behind, anything can happen so we’ll have a good race on our hands.
The pit lane has now opened and drivers are making their way to the grid.
Christian Horner: “We’ve had great pace all weekend – we have a 1 kilometre drag to the corner and this is what I’m dreading for the start of the race. We’ve gone through everything this morning in the briefings and they both know what’s expected of them – the cars are there for a reason and as a team we will try and convert this into points.”
Drivers are now lined up on the grid before the race – drivers are going through things with their engineers and the atmosphere is building – this will be a great start and drivers need to be aware.
Ricciardo and Verstappen will be battling each other along with Hamilton and Vettel right behind, it’ll be hectic but something we’re all waiting to see.
Stoffel Vandoorne: “The temperature feels normal – not a big change from Friday so hopefully this will play to our advantage….”
Matt Deane: “We’re doing the best job we can, we’re fortunate to work with a car that can win a world championship, we need to be here and do the job that we can do – we keep things simple, we do the same job that we do at the beginning of the year, you concentrate on the job.”
Carlos Sainz: “I’m good – I only want see what happens in front of me today, not behind me. Hopefully with good tyre management and strategy – we can deliver and do the best for the team.”
Valtteri Bottas: “I think I have a good seat to see what will happen in the front and to take opportunity for this race – it’s difficult to make a plan here but we will do what we can.”
Nico Hulkenberg: “I think it’s a challenging race and leave the top 6 cars alone – we are in our own fight and we should look at this and get the best out of our race.”
NATIONAL ANTHEM – Mexican Grand Prix
FORMATION LAP
Drivers are now making their way round the circuit for the formation lap – getting their cars ready for the race.
Lap 1
A great start for Lewis Hamilton however the battle down to the first corner is won by Max Verstappen who takes the lead – Vettel remains in P4 whereas Ricciardo drops to P3.
Bottas and Vettel come close with Bottas leaving the grid slightly but re-joins, overall a good start for everyone.
Lap 2
Max Verstappen now making way in the lead – Ricciardo dropping back slightly, he’s in P3 with Sebastian Vettel right behind.
Max Verstappen now sets the fastest lap time and is out of DRS range from Lewis Hamilton.
Lap 5
FERNANDO ALONSO IS OUT OF THE MEXICAN GRAND PRIX
The virtual safety car has been enabled – all driver speeds are the same and no one should gain anything here.
Lap 7
Hamilton asking the team if everything is ok with his car.
Team to Hamilton: “Brake management on”
Lap 8
Hamilton saying his tyres are feeling “fragile” – could this be a way to bring Red Bull into the pits or could he actually be suffering on these tyres?
Lap 10
Team to Ricciardo: “Hamilton is struggling on the tyres – he’s having an issue.”
Hamilton: “My front tyre is graining”
Ferrari also having a problem with their tyres whereas Red Bull is looking strong again.
Lap 11
Ricciardo has now caught up to Lewis Hamilton and is right behind, closing the gap and within DS range.
Mercedes is getting ready to bring in Hamilton – he comes into the pis and goes on the supersoft tyres.
Valtteri Bottas also comes into the pits – double stacking.
Lap 13
Ricciardo comes into the pits – Hamilton in front of Ricciardo.
Verstappen comes into the pits.
Lap 14
Following the pits – Vettel is now in the lead however, his tyres aren’t looking great either…
Lap 15
Verstappen now makes his way past Raikkonen – he has great speed.
Lap 18
Vettel now comes into the pits – Raikkonen also comes into the pits.
Lap 22
Hamilton reporting that his tyres still “don’t feel great”
Lap 23
Team to Ricciardo: “OK, Hamilton still not happy on his tyres.”
Ricciardo: “Understood”
Lap 24
Hamilton: “My front left isn’t great…”
Team to Hamilton: “OK – the only other option we have is another set of ultra’s”
Lap 25
Ricciardo: “I can feel the front left again”
Drivers are suffering with their tyres – most teams are trying to manage things.
Lap 26
Team to Hamilton: “Ok, Lewis – we can see that other cars are suffering on their tyres but have managed – we’ll check and let you know in about 10 laps.”
Lap 27
Team to Verstappen: “OK Max, this won’t be an easy race – there could be a one or two stop….”
Lap 31
CARLOS SAINZ OUT – VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR
Vettel right behind Ricciardo – it was a close battle between the two however the VSC made an appearance and the move went on hold.
Lap 32
Hamilton asking whether he should come into the pits – team telling him to “Stay out”
Lap 34
Vettel just manages to make his way past Ricciardo – a close battle between the two but Vettel makes it past and is now up into P3.
Lap 42
Sebastian Vettel has made his way past Lewis Hamilton who’s tyres are looking awful right now – since the pit-stop for Vettel, he’s flying!
Lap 43
Hamilton: “How can you keep me on these tyres? I’ve lost time and the others ones are gaining?”
Lap 44
Hamilton: “I’ve got vibrations.”
Team to Ricciardo: “Yeah, Hamilton’s struggling on his tyres – his front left is angry”
Lap 45
Ricciardo has now closed the gap to Hamilton – he’s right behind and gaining. The two are battling.
Lap 48
Hamilton suffers a big lock-up and goes off-track.
Hamilton: “**** guys – why are you keeping me on these tyres?”
Team to Hamilton: “We’re looking at the options.”
Hamilton comes into the pits – along with Vettel.
Lap 49
On the same straight – a lockup for Valtteri Bottas who goes off track, just like his team-mate.
It’s now Verstappen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas and Hamilton.
Lap 61
Hamilton is in P5 – he’s managing his car and his tyres. As things stand – he will win the World Championship.
In the meantime, Vettel and Ricciardo are battling for position – it’s Verstappen, Ricciardo and Vettel who make up the top 3.
Lap 62
Team to Ricciardo: “Mate, I think we’re having a problem.”
DANIEL RICCIARDO IS OUT OF THE MEXICAN GRAND PRIX
What a shame, what a shame!
Lap 63
Verstappen: “Erm, yeah – guys, if you need to check my engine and turn things down, turn it down.”
Some drivers are now taking advantage of the VSC – Lewis Hamilton stays out in the lead, Valtteri Bottas comes into the pits.
It’s Verstappen, Vettel, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Bottas.
Lap 71
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2018 MEXICAN GRAND PRIX
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS HIS FIFTH DRIVERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Driver Interviews
Max Verstappen: “I didn’t sleep well last night as I was really determined to win here today – we had the right tyres available and the car worked well for us today.”
Sebastian Vettel: “It’s not an easy day but congratulations to him and his team – we need to stand here and accept that. We need to say congratulations and it would have been nice to hang in there.”
Lewis Hamilton: “It’s a very strange feeling right now – first of all, I want to say a big thank you to all the fans. A big thank you to my team and this was all won through the races, I’m grateful to the team back home, to all our partners. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 so to complete this is an incredible feeling and quite surreal at the moment.”
“This was a horrible race, I was working my way up and then I don’t know what happened – I just tried to bring the car home. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my dad who put all his time and dedication to this and a big thank you to my family.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “This was the best we could do and we tried what we everything for the race. This is good, we always want more so I can’t complain much – we will just try and do our best for the next two races.”
