Defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton made his hard tires last for the majority of the race to hold off Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel for the victory at the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix while Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, claimed the third and final podium spot.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc held the pole position entering the race with Vettel alongside him in the front row and a energetic start saw those two hold onto to their positions but Hamilton tangled with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and sent both of them tumbling down the pecking order – Hamilton to fifth and Verstappen to eighth – on the first lap. A short time later – on Lap 6 – Bottas clanged wheels with Verstappen and gave Verstappen a flat tire which sent him into the pits and last place, effectively ending his chances for a podium finish. Verstappen would eventually end up in sixth place to salvage some points from the race.
Meanwhile, Leclerc lead until Lap 16 when he was pitted as part of a two-stop pit strategy for the race. That gave the lead to Vettel, who led until Lap 37, but Hamilton – who had pitted on Lap 24 – was able to hold off Vettel when he led for the final 34 laps of the race.
With the victory, Hamilton widens his lead over Bottas in second place in the driver’s championship, with Hamilton at 388 points and Bottas at 307. Hamilton is four points away from clinching the world championship. The fight for third place tightened up as Leclerc holds a slim six-point lead over Vettel, 236-230 and Verstappen is a further 10 points away with 220 points.
2019 Mexican Grand Prix Top 10
1] Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
5 Alexander Albon Red Bull
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull
7 Sergio Pérez Racing Point
8 Daniel Ricciardo Renault
9 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso
10 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso