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Telly Talk Supreme
Mexican Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg in first practice
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
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Lewis Hamilton has won seven races this season
Lewis Hamilton headed championship rival Nico Rosberg in first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton was 0.759 seconds ahead of Rosberg, exactly the sort of display he needs at a race he really needs to win to keep his title hopes alive.
Rosberg, who leads by 26 points with 75 points available from three races, will be crowned champion on Sunday if he wins and Hamilton is 10th or lower.
Hamilton was fastest and Rosberg only seventh in an inconclusive session.
On a chilly morning in Mexico City, with temperatures at the start of practice only 10C, the two Mercedes drivers set their best times on medium tyres, while the four drivers between them were on softer rubber.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was second fastest, 0.079secs behind Hamilton and just ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, both using the soft tyre, and the Force Indias of local hero Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg next up on super-softs.
Williams's Valtteri Bottas was sixth, also using the softs.
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Will Rosberg wrap up the title in Mexico?
It was an inconclusive session as a result of the different tyre choices and the constantly changing track surface at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which started off extremely dusty and became quicker through the session as the circuit cleaned up.
But Mercedes did say that Rosberg had not had any problems, and the two Mercedes drivers did set their times at similar points in the session, when the difference in track surface would have been minimal.
The dirty track led to a number of drivers locking their wheels and running wide, but there was a bigger concern for Red Bull, where Max Verstappen suffered a rear brake fire midway through the session which damaged sensors and brought his running to an end.
The Dutchman was 14th fastest, with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who needs only one point this weekend to secure third place in the championship, eighth.
Sauber also had a difficult session after Felipe Nasr suffered a front wing failure after 35 minutes, the part exploding on the straight after he had bounced over a kerb on the exit of the Esses.
The wing sheered along the line where the FIA-mandated neutral section in the centre of the wing meets the part at which the teams can start playing with the design.
Sauber also felt another part of the car had failed at the same time and stopped running for much of the rest of there session, with the car of Nasr's team-mate Marcus Ericsson also held in the pits.
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Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Brazilian Nasr was sent out in the closing minutes, however, once the cars had been checked and split the McLarens in 17th place, while the Swede stayed in the pits.
Jenson Button was only 18th for McLaren, two positions and 0.253secs behind team-mate Fernando Alonso, both using the mediums, on a weekend when both expect to struggle for competitiveness because of the Honda engine's lack of power on the long straights.
Also on mediums, Jolyon Palmer was 21st, three places and 0.541secs adrift of team-mate Kevin Magnussen as both seek to convince Renault that they deserve a seat at the team alongside new signing Hulkenberg in 2017.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
- 43 minutes ago
- From the section Formula 1
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Lewis Hamilton has won seven races this season
Lewis Hamilton headed championship rival Nico Rosberg in first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton was 0.759 seconds ahead of Rosberg, exactly the sort of display he needs at a race he really needs to win to keep his title hopes alive.
Rosberg, who leads by 26 points with 75 points available from three races, will be crowned champion on Sunday if he wins and Hamilton is 10th or lower.
Hamilton was fastest and Rosberg only seventh in an inconclusive session.
On a chilly morning in Mexico City, with temperatures at the start of practice only 10C, the two Mercedes drivers set their best times on medium tyres, while the four drivers between them were on softer rubber.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was second fastest, 0.079secs behind Hamilton and just ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, both using the soft tyre, and the Force Indias of local hero Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg next up on super-softs.
Williams's Valtteri Bottas was sixth, also using the softs.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Will Rosberg wrap up the title in Mexico?
It was an inconclusive session as a result of the different tyre choices and the constantly changing track surface at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which started off extremely dusty and became quicker through the session as the circuit cleaned up.
But Mercedes did say that Rosberg had not had any problems, and the two Mercedes drivers did set their times at similar points in the session, when the difference in track surface would have been minimal.
The dirty track led to a number of drivers locking their wheels and running wide, but there was a bigger concern for Red Bull, where Max Verstappen suffered a rear brake fire midway through the session which damaged sensors and brought his running to an end.
The Dutchman was 14th fastest, with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who needs only one point this weekend to secure third place in the championship, eighth.
Sauber also had a difficult session after Felipe Nasr suffered a front wing failure after 35 minutes, the part exploding on the straight after he had bounced over a kerb on the exit of the Esses.
The wing sheered along the line where the FIA-mandated neutral section in the centre of the wing meets the part at which the teams can start playing with the design.
Sauber also felt another part of the car had failed at the same time and stopped running for much of the rest of there session, with the car of Nasr's team-mate Marcus Ericsson also held in the pits.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Brazilian Nasr was sent out in the closing minutes, however, once the cars had been checked and split the McLarens in 17th place, while the Swede stayed in the pits.
Jenson Button was only 18th for McLaren, two positions and 0.253secs behind team-mate Fernando Alonso, both using the mediums, on a weekend when both expect to struggle for competitiveness because of the Honda engine's lack of power on the long straights.
Also on mediums, Jolyon Palmer was 21st, three places and 0.541secs adrift of team-mate Kevin Magnussen as both seek to convince Renault that they deserve a seat at the team alongside new signing Hulkenberg in 2017.
Swami
Swami
Telly Talk Supreme
Mexican Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel fastest as Ferrari threaten Mercedes
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
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The Mexican Grand Prix is live across the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was a surprise pace-setter in second practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The four-time champion upstaged title rivals Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, pipping the Briton by 0.004 seconds.
Rosberg, who can tie up the title on Sunday if results go his way, was 0.435secs behind Vettel.
The German, 26 points ahead with 75 available over the remaining three races, will be champion if he wins the race with Hamilton 10th or lower.
Rosberg can afford to finish second - or second twice and third once - even if Hamilton wins all the remaining races and still be champion.
Ricciardo possibly catches a mirror after forgetting his make-up to celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead
Final practice (16:00 BST) and qualifying (19:00) are live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live sports extra.
Could Ferrari put a spanner in the works?
If Ferrari are in the mix at the front on Sunday, it would be unexpected after a difficult season for the Italian team, but it could play into Hamilton's hands.
Because Rosberg has such an advantage, Hamilton ideally needs him to finish below the podium positions. If Hamilton won with Rosberg lower than third, the Briton would be able to control the championship - two wins in the final two races would be enough, even without any further problems for the other Mercedes.
Scary: flames lick from the brakes of Max Verstappen's Red Bull
Ferrari have been working hard on developing their car in recent races and the SF16-H tends to go better relative to Mercedes at the races where the softer tyres of the five in the Pirelli range are behind used.
Mexico is one of those tracks, with the super-soft, soft and medium being the tyres available.
It was harder than usual to get a read on relative form because Ferrari did not run the super-soft tyres at the start of the race-simulation runs.
Instead, they sent Vettel out on the medium tyre and Raikkonen on the soft, while Mercedes and Red Bull did the more usual thing in running the super-soft.
Of the super-soft runners, Hamilton was comfortably quicker than Rosberg, who was closely matched with the Red Bulls.
The Mexican Grand Prix circuit has a stadium section towards the end of the lap
Hamilton, who was beaten to pole and win by Rosberg in Mexico last year, said he had had "a solid day", adding: "The track is feeling better than it did last year and I feel a lot more comfortable in the car than I did the first time we came to this circuit, so hopefully I can carry that through the rest of the weekend.
"I didn't really get the maximum out of my lap and out of my tyres so I think we have got more pace."
Asked if Ferrari were a big threat, Hamilton said: "I don't think so but we'll find out tomorrow."
"It was a good day," said Vettel. "The car seems to work, but there was a lot of traffic - I felt like I was in Mexico City, not on the race track.
"Lewis' lap didn't look particularly good so I think he has a little more in the pocket. We need to be realistic. If it's like this tomorrow, we take it for sure."
What about Red Bull?
Red Bull have been Mercedes' closest challenger in recent races but they appeared off the pace on one lap on Friday. However, Verstappen said he had struggled initially to find a good set-up after missing first practice following a brake fire. He said the short runs were "not representative" as a result but that "our race pace was very strong".
He added: "Ferrari look definitely very strong but we just need to work hard, understand the tyres a bit more on this slippery track and then I am pretty sure we are there as well tomorrow."
A topsy-turvy timesheet
The whole day was a difficult one to read, perhaps as a result of the low-grip track surface at an unexpectedly cool Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where highs were only 16C.
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Will Rosberg wrap up the title in Mexico?
Tyre supplier Pirelli said it was difficult to draw conclusions from the day's running and that the competitive picture would be clearer once more rubber had been laid down on the track on Saturday morning.
Nico Hulkenberg's Force India split the Red Bulls, Williams' Valtteri Bottas was eighth quickest and Fernando Alonso's McLaren was 10th fastest on a track where the Honda-powered team were expecting a difficult weekend.
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Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Regardless, it did appear as if Hamilton had an advantage in pace over Rosberg.
He was 0.7secs quicker in the first session in addition to his smaller advantage in the second and the auguries appear good at this early stage for him to keep the title fight alive, barring some kind of technical problem or error.
Mexican Grand Prix second practice results
Mexican Grand Prix coverage details
Alonso performed well for McLaren - even if it doesn't quite look like it here
If Hamilton retires on Sunday, it could be game over
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
- 28 Oct
- From the section Formula 1
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37806176
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The Mexican Grand Prix is live across the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was a surprise pace-setter in second practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The four-time champion upstaged title rivals Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, pipping the Briton by 0.004 seconds.
Rosberg, who can tie up the title on Sunday if results go his way, was 0.435secs behind Vettel.
The German, 26 points ahead with 75 available over the remaining three races, will be champion if he wins the race with Hamilton 10th or lower.
Rosberg can afford to finish second - or second twice and third once - even if Hamilton wins all the remaining races and still be champion.
Ricciardo possibly catches a mirror after forgetting his make-up to celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead
Final practice (16:00 BST) and qualifying (19:00) are live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live sports extra.
Could Ferrari put a spanner in the works?
If Ferrari are in the mix at the front on Sunday, it would be unexpected after a difficult season for the Italian team, but it could play into Hamilton's hands.
Because Rosberg has such an advantage, Hamilton ideally needs him to finish below the podium positions. If Hamilton won with Rosberg lower than third, the Briton would be able to control the championship - two wins in the final two races would be enough, even without any further problems for the other Mercedes.
Scary: flames lick from the brakes of Max Verstappen's Red Bull
Ferrari have been working hard on developing their car in recent races and the SF16-H tends to go better relative to Mercedes at the races where the softer tyres of the five in the Pirelli range are behind used.
Mexico is one of those tracks, with the super-soft, soft and medium being the tyres available.
It was harder than usual to get a read on relative form because Ferrari did not run the super-soft tyres at the start of the race-simulation runs.
Instead, they sent Vettel out on the medium tyre and Raikkonen on the soft, while Mercedes and Red Bull did the more usual thing in running the super-soft.
Of the super-soft runners, Hamilton was comfortably quicker than Rosberg, who was closely matched with the Red Bulls.
The Mexican Grand Prix circuit has a stadium section towards the end of the lap
Hamilton, who was beaten to pole and win by Rosberg in Mexico last year, said he had had "a solid day", adding: "The track is feeling better than it did last year and I feel a lot more comfortable in the car than I did the first time we came to this circuit, so hopefully I can carry that through the rest of the weekend.
"I didn't really get the maximum out of my lap and out of my tyres so I think we have got more pace."
Asked if Ferrari were a big threat, Hamilton said: "I don't think so but we'll find out tomorrow."
"It was a good day," said Vettel. "The car seems to work, but there was a lot of traffic - I felt like I was in Mexico City, not on the race track.
"Lewis' lap didn't look particularly good so I think he has a little more in the pocket. We need to be realistic. If it's like this tomorrow, we take it for sure."
What about Red Bull?
Red Bull have been Mercedes' closest challenger in recent races but they appeared off the pace on one lap on Friday. However, Verstappen said he had struggled initially to find a good set-up after missing first practice following a brake fire. He said the short runs were "not representative" as a result but that "our race pace was very strong".
He added: "Ferrari look definitely very strong but we just need to work hard, understand the tyres a bit more on this slippery track and then I am pretty sure we are there as well tomorrow."
A topsy-turvy timesheet
The whole day was a difficult one to read, perhaps as a result of the low-grip track surface at an unexpectedly cool Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where highs were only 16C.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Will Rosberg wrap up the title in Mexico?
Tyre supplier Pirelli said it was difficult to draw conclusions from the day's running and that the competitive picture would be clearer once more rubber had been laid down on the track on Saturday morning.
Nico Hulkenberg's Force India split the Red Bulls, Williams' Valtteri Bottas was eighth quickest and Fernando Alonso's McLaren was 10th fastest on a track where the Honda-powered team were expecting a difficult weekend.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Regardless, it did appear as if Hamilton had an advantage in pace over Rosberg.
He was 0.7secs quicker in the first session in addition to his smaller advantage in the second and the auguries appear good at this early stage for him to keep the title fight alive, barring some kind of technical problem or error.
Mexican Grand Prix second practice results
Mexican Grand Prix coverage details
Alonso performed well for McLaren - even if it doesn't quite look like it here
If Hamilton retires on Sunday, it could be game over
Swami
Swami
Telly Talk Supreme
Lewis Hamilton on pole position in Mexican GP qualifying
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
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Lewis Hamilton took pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix as title rival Nico Rosberg left it late to join him on the front row.
Rosberg was slower than the Red Bulls throughout qualifying until the very last lap, when he sneaked ahead of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
Rosberg was 0.254secs behind Hamilton and just 0.096secs quicker than Verstappen with his crucial last lap.
The German is 26 points ahead of Hamilton with 75 remaining this season.
Hamilton has been on top of Rosberg through all sessions so far this weekend, but one technical failure and the title could be Rosberg's
He can afford to finish second twice and third once even if Hamilton wins all the remaining races and still win the title.
And if Rosberg wins on Sunday in Mexico City and Hamilton is 10th or lower, he will tie up the championship.
Sunday's race is live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live at 19:00 GMT.
Hamilton v Rosberg: The season so far
Rosberg struggling to keep up with focused Hamilton
Rosberg had been struggling for pace all weekend in Mexico, lagging between 0.3-0.5secs behind Hamilton through all the sessions, including the first two parts of qualifying and the first laps of the top 10 shoot-out.
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Hamilton v Rosberg - title permutations
But he managed to get it all together when it mattered and sneak on to the second row.
Considering the pressure, it was one of his most impressive performances of the season.
Ferrari go missing when it matters
Ferrari had also appeared to be in the mix up until the second part of qualifying. Sebastian Vettel was fourth fastest in Q2, 0.4secs quicker than Rosberg and running the same soft tyres as Mercedes.
A woman awaits the beginning of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, having just heard Vettel's result in qualifying. Possibly
The move was a strategic one, so Vettel and the Mercedes drivers can start the race on the soft tyre which is just as quick and much more durable than the super-soft.
But Ferrari's hopes of taking much advantage of the strategy faded with their pace in Q3. Vettel could manage only seventh fastest, one place and 0.005secs behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is also starting on the softs.
Many of Mexico's thousands of fans are Ferrari supporters - as well as getting behind home favourite Sergio Perez, of course
Red Bull, on the other hand, are optimistic of mixing it with Mercedes in the race following their decision to start on the super-soft.
"Very disappointed," said Vettel. "The car is quick. Q2 was a walk in the park with soft tyres. I had a much better feel than with the super-softs.
"It's clear that on the super-soft we did not make the step like everyone else. Everybody was improving by half a second; we didn't improve at all. That's why I'm so annoyed.
That's Hamilton first Mexican GP pole since its return in 2015 after a 23-year absence - Jim Clark has the most in Mexico with four. Source: Forix
"We start where the car doesn't belong. We are quicker than most people, we should start second row and even have a crack at first row if everything goes well."
Meanwhile, the other Brits...
Both were beaten by Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz completing the top 10.
Sainz pipped fellow Spaniard and friend Fernando Alonso of McLaren to the final top 10 place but Alonso sounded pleased to be 11th when talking to his engineer.
The track is situated more than 2,200ft above sea level, making the cars even faster as they travel through the thin air
It puts him on the gripper side of the grid and with free choice of tyres for the start of the race.
His team-mate Jenson Button has never been on Alonso's pace all weekend and was 0.391secs adrift in 13th.
Fellow Briton Jolyon Palmer will start last after not taking part in qualifying because he damaged its chassis over a kerb in final practice and he needed a new monocoque for the race.
What they said afterwards
"It's always a tough battle," Hamilton said. "Trying to pull out the perfect laps when it counts is always a difficult thing. The track has got a lot better, there is more grip than last year and it feels more like a race track."
Rosberg said: "I'm still 0.25secs from Lewis. His lap was great, not mine. I put it together in the end and I am relatively pleased with that to make sure I am on the front row and give me a chance for the win.
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Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Explaining his troubles through the weekend, he said: "It just took a bit longer to find the way [with the car], just generally with tyre temperatures. It's quite cold out there and that makes it a bit nervous. Just finding my way with that."
Hamilton, who is aiming for his second win in a week after his victory in Austin last Sunday, said: "There is no real tactic. Turned up to do the job and I will try to do the same thing as I did last week here."
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
- 1 hour ago
- From the section Formula 1
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37812740
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Lewis Hamilton took pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix as title rival Nico Rosberg left it late to join him on the front row.
Rosberg was slower than the Red Bulls throughout qualifying until the very last lap, when he sneaked ahead of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
Rosberg was 0.254secs behind Hamilton and just 0.096secs quicker than Verstappen with his crucial last lap.
The German is 26 points ahead of Hamilton with 75 remaining this season.
Hamilton has been on top of Rosberg through all sessions so far this weekend, but one technical failure and the title could be Rosberg's
He can afford to finish second twice and third once even if Hamilton wins all the remaining races and still win the title.
And if Rosberg wins on Sunday in Mexico City and Hamilton is 10th or lower, he will tie up the championship.
Sunday's race is live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live at 19:00 GMT.
Hamilton v Rosberg: The season so far
Rosberg struggling to keep up with focused Hamilton
Rosberg had been struggling for pace all weekend in Mexico, lagging between 0.3-0.5secs behind Hamilton through all the sessions, including the first two parts of qualifying and the first laps of the top 10 shoot-out.
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Hamilton v Rosberg - title permutations
But he managed to get it all together when it mattered and sneak on to the second row.
Considering the pressure, it was one of his most impressive performances of the season.
Ferrari go missing when it matters
Ferrari had also appeared to be in the mix up until the second part of qualifying. Sebastian Vettel was fourth fastest in Q2, 0.4secs quicker than Rosberg and running the same soft tyres as Mercedes.
A woman awaits the beginning of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, having just heard Vettel's result in qualifying. Possibly
The move was a strategic one, so Vettel and the Mercedes drivers can start the race on the soft tyre which is just as quick and much more durable than the super-soft.
But Ferrari's hopes of taking much advantage of the strategy faded with their pace in Q3. Vettel could manage only seventh fastest, one place and 0.005secs behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is also starting on the softs.
Many of Mexico's thousands of fans are Ferrari supporters - as well as getting behind home favourite Sergio Perez, of course
Red Bull, on the other hand, are optimistic of mixing it with Mercedes in the race following their decision to start on the super-soft.
"Very disappointed," said Vettel. "The car is quick. Q2 was a walk in the park with soft tyres. I had a much better feel than with the super-softs.
"It's clear that on the super-soft we did not make the step like everyone else. Everybody was improving by half a second; we didn't improve at all. That's why I'm so annoyed.
That's Hamilton first Mexican GP pole since its return in 2015 after a 23-year absence - Jim Clark has the most in Mexico with four. Source: Forix
"We start where the car doesn't belong. We are quicker than most people, we should start second row and even have a crack at first row if everything goes well."
Meanwhile, the other Brits...
Both were beaten by Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz completing the top 10.
Sainz pipped fellow Spaniard and friend Fernando Alonso of McLaren to the final top 10 place but Alonso sounded pleased to be 11th when talking to his engineer.
The track is situated more than 2,200ft above sea level, making the cars even faster as they travel through the thin air
It puts him on the gripper side of the grid and with free choice of tyres for the start of the race.
His team-mate Jenson Button has never been on Alonso's pace all weekend and was 0.391secs adrift in 13th.
Fellow Briton Jolyon Palmer will start last after not taking part in qualifying because he damaged its chassis over a kerb in final practice and he needed a new monocoque for the race.
What they said afterwards
"It's always a tough battle," Hamilton said. "Trying to pull out the perfect laps when it counts is always a difficult thing. The track has got a lot better, there is more grip than last year and it feels more like a race track."
Rosberg said: "I'm still 0.25secs from Lewis. His lap was great, not mine. I put it together in the end and I am relatively pleased with that to make sure I am on the front row and give me a chance for the win.
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Perez excited by 'incredible' home race in Mexico
Explaining his troubles through the weekend, he said: "It just took a bit longer to find the way [with the car], just generally with tyre temperatures. It's quite cold out there and that makes it a bit nervous. Just finding my way with that."
Hamilton, who is aiming for his second win in a week after his victory in Austin last Sunday, said: "There is no real tactic. Turned up to do the job and I will try to do the same thing as I did last week here."
Swami
Swami
Telly Talk Supreme
Lewis Hamilton wins Mexican Grand Prix to keep title chase alive
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
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Lewis Hamilton kept his title hopes alive with a comfortable victory from team-mate Nico Rosberg in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton survived a scare at the start, when he ran wide at the first corner after locking a front tyre.
But otherwise he was untroubled en route to his 51st career win.
In the championship, the result changes little - Rosberg can win the title finishing second to Hamilton at the last two races.
Heart in mouth: Hamilton locked a wheel and went wide at the first corner
Hamilton is 19 points adrift with a total of 50 available in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg can now regroup after a weekend on which Hamilton was in almost total control throughout.
The German will doubtless keep to his well-worn mantra that he is taking it one race at a time and trying to win each one, but he has the luxury of knowing he can afford to take it easy and finish behind his team-mate in both remaining races and clinch his first will title.
Both Mercedes take to the grass
Rosberg also had a scare, and a more eventful race than Hamilton, as 120,000 fans had little to excite them under blue skies and warm sunshine in Mexico City, until some frantic and bad-tempered late action in a battle over third place between Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.
That's Hamilton's first win in Mexico - level with Brit champs Graham Hill (1968) and John Surtees (1966, pictured). Source: Forix
Hamilton spent the first stint controlling his pace to ensure he did not overwork his damaged tyre while Rosberg was under pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Rosberg and the Dutchman had collided at the first corner as Verstappen tried to take second place, Rosberg taking to the grass behind Hamilton after the collision.
The incident was investigated by the stewards but given the all clear.
Verstappen's audacious overtake
It was a foretaste of what was to come. As Hamilton controlled the race, on the way to a victory that puts him equal with Alain Prost in second place in the all-time winners' list, with Michael Schumacher way ahead on 91.
Rosberg spent much of the afternoon watching his mirrors for Verstappen.
There was stalemate for a long time, until Rosberg locked up into Turn One on lap 50 while trying to lap Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz.
Manor's Pascal Wehrlein came to grief on the first lap after colliding with Sauber's Marcus Ericsson
Verstappen saw his opportunity and dived down the inside into Turn Four. But although he was briefly ahead he could not stop in time and ran wide, sliding thrillingly across the track on opposite steering lock, and Rosberg regained the place.
It was Verstappen's one and only chance. Once he was back up speed, the gap was out to 2.5 seconds and Rosberg edged gently away for the rest of the race.
Red Bull's bold gamble fails
Red Bull's gamble of starting on the super-soft tyres to try to mix it with the Mercedes did not really pay off but it led to a frantic battle in the closing laps.
Instead of challenging Rosberg, Verstappen found himself under pressure in the closing laps from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and the second Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo.
Vettel started on the soft tyre like the Mercedes and ran a very long 33-lap first stint, leading for 16 laps after Hamilton's first stop.
That gave him tyres that were 20 laps fresher than Verstappen's for the final stint and he closed in inexorably until he was within 1.2 seconds with six laps to go.
Verstappen the villain
Vettel locked up at the first corner on lap 68 and ran wide over the grass, cutting the corner and keeping hold of third place, the German complaining he should be given the position as Verstappen was advised by his team to hand it over.
But he kept fighting as Vettel tried to pass, the German complaining that the Dutchman was backing him into Ricciardo, who fought back through the field after a first-lap stop put him on a two-stop strategy.
That's two wins for Mercedes in Mexico: same as Ferrari, who won in 1970, and 1990 with Alain Prost, above. Source: Forix
The three were nose to tail at the start of the penultimate lap and Vettel was right on the edge in holding Ricciardo back as he tried to pass into Turn Four.
The incident spread the gap between the three cars and Verstappen crossed the line in third, from Vettel and Ricciardo.
But Verstappen's cutting of the first corner was investigated by the stewards on the grounds he might have gained an advantage by leaving the track and in dramatic scenes Verstappen was given a five-second penalty immediately after the race and was demoted to fifth.
Verstappen was forced to leave the pre-podium room as Vettel ran to take up his place on the podium.
Furious Vettel rants at F1 referee
Vettel earlier fumed over the radio, using several expletives in telling his team how unhappy he was with race director Charlie Whiting. He and Verstappen then gesticulated at each other after crossing the line - Vettel wagging his finger at Verstappen as if to say: "You can't drive like that."
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Formula 1: Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel on poor season
There could yet be further changes as Red Bull are angry about Vettel's defence against Ricciardo, claiming he had broken new guidelines forbidding moving under braking and may protest.
Swami
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
- 19 minutes ago
- From the section Formula 1
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Lewis Hamilton kept his title hopes alive with a comfortable victory from team-mate Nico Rosberg in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton survived a scare at the start, when he ran wide at the first corner after locking a front tyre.
But otherwise he was untroubled en route to his 51st career win.
In the championship, the result changes little - Rosberg can win the title finishing second to Hamilton at the last two races.
Heart in mouth: Hamilton locked a wheel and went wide at the first corner
Hamilton is 19 points adrift with a total of 50 available in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg can now regroup after a weekend on which Hamilton was in almost total control throughout.
The German will doubtless keep to his well-worn mantra that he is taking it one race at a time and trying to win each one, but he has the luxury of knowing he can afford to take it easy and finish behind his team-mate in both remaining races and clinch his first will title.
Both Mercedes take to the grass
Rosberg also had a scare, and a more eventful race than Hamilton, as 120,000 fans had little to excite them under blue skies and warm sunshine in Mexico City, until some frantic and bad-tempered late action in a battle over third place between Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.
That's Hamilton's first win in Mexico - level with Brit champs Graham Hill (1968) and John Surtees (1966, pictured). Source: Forix
Hamilton spent the first stint controlling his pace to ensure he did not overwork his damaged tyre while Rosberg was under pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Rosberg and the Dutchman had collided at the first corner as Verstappen tried to take second place, Rosberg taking to the grass behind Hamilton after the collision.
The incident was investigated by the stewards but given the all clear.
Verstappen's audacious overtake
It was a foretaste of what was to come. As Hamilton controlled the race, on the way to a victory that puts him equal with Alain Prost in second place in the all-time winners' list, with Michael Schumacher way ahead on 91.
Rosberg spent much of the afternoon watching his mirrors for Verstappen.
There was stalemate for a long time, until Rosberg locked up into Turn One on lap 50 while trying to lap Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz.
Manor's Pascal Wehrlein came to grief on the first lap after colliding with Sauber's Marcus Ericsson
Verstappen saw his opportunity and dived down the inside into Turn Four. But although he was briefly ahead he could not stop in time and ran wide, sliding thrillingly across the track on opposite steering lock, and Rosberg regained the place.
It was Verstappen's one and only chance. Once he was back up speed, the gap was out to 2.5 seconds and Rosberg edged gently away for the rest of the race.
Red Bull's bold gamble fails
Red Bull's gamble of starting on the super-soft tyres to try to mix it with the Mercedes did not really pay off but it led to a frantic battle in the closing laps.
Instead of challenging Rosberg, Verstappen found himself under pressure in the closing laps from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and the second Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo.
Vettel started on the soft tyre like the Mercedes and ran a very long 33-lap first stint, leading for 16 laps after Hamilton's first stop.
That gave him tyres that were 20 laps fresher than Verstappen's for the final stint and he closed in inexorably until he was within 1.2 seconds with six laps to go.
Verstappen the villain
Vettel locked up at the first corner on lap 68 and ran wide over the grass, cutting the corner and keeping hold of third place, the German complaining he should be given the position as Verstappen was advised by his team to hand it over.
But he kept fighting as Vettel tried to pass, the German complaining that the Dutchman was backing him into Ricciardo, who fought back through the field after a first-lap stop put him on a two-stop strategy.
That's two wins for Mercedes in Mexico: same as Ferrari, who won in 1970, and 1990 with Alain Prost, above. Source: Forix
The three were nose to tail at the start of the penultimate lap and Vettel was right on the edge in holding Ricciardo back as he tried to pass into Turn Four.
The incident spread the gap between the three cars and Verstappen crossed the line in third, from Vettel and Ricciardo.
But Verstappen's cutting of the first corner was investigated by the stewards on the grounds he might have gained an advantage by leaving the track and in dramatic scenes Verstappen was given a five-second penalty immediately after the race and was demoted to fifth.
Verstappen was forced to leave the pre-podium room as Vettel ran to take up his place on the podium.
Furious Vettel rants at F1 referee
Vettel earlier fumed over the radio, using several expletives in telling his team how unhappy he was with race director Charlie Whiting. He and Verstappen then gesticulated at each other after crossing the line - Vettel wagging his finger at Verstappen as if to say: "You can't drive like that."
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Formula 1: Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel on poor season
There could yet be further changes as Red Bull are angry about Vettel's defence against Ricciardo, claiming he had broken new guidelines forbidding moving under braking and may protest.
Swami