Hamilton equals Fangio with fifth F1 title in Mexico

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Britain's Lewis Hamilton celebrated his fifth Formula One world championship title on Sunday after a Mexican Grand Prix won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen for the second year in a row.

The Mercedes driver, who equaled the five titles of late 1950s Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio with only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher ahead of them, finished fourth while Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel took second place.

Hamilton, 33, had needed only five points to be sure of the title while four-time champion Vettel had to win to have any hope of denying the Briton.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was third, meaning the constructors' championship remained open at least until the Brazilian Grand Prix in two weeks' time with Mercedes' lead trimmed.

"It wasn't won here, just throughout the season and a lot of hard work," said Hamilton after doing smoking "donuts" at the finish of an unusual race without a Mercedes driver on the podium.

"To complete this when Fangio did it with Mercedes is an incredible feeling and very surreal." In a nice sporting gesture, the Briton hugged Vettel and then ran back to the Mercedes garage to embrace his teammates one by one.

Champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrate after the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico on October 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

The following details the Mercedes driver's career to date in numbers:

1 - Hamilton's first race was in Australia on March 18, 2007, with McLaren. He finished third.

5 - The number of F1 championships won: In 2008 with McLaren and 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 with Mercedes.

11 - Most wins in a single season (in 2014).

16 - Successive podium finishes (2014/15).

22 - Hamilton's age when he made his debut.

23 - Hamilton became the youngest ever world champion at 23 years and 301 days in 2008. That record is now held by Sebastian Vettel, who won the 2010 title aged 23 and 134 days.

33 - The record number of successive points finishes, a run that ended with retirement in Austria in June 2018.

44 - The number on Hamilton's car, which he has used since his junior career.

50 - Wins for Mercedes since he joined in 2013.

71 - The number of wins Hamilton has racked up, more than any driver apart from Michael Schumacher (91). The first win was in Canada in June 2007.

81 - The all-time record number of pole positions Hamilton has achieved. His first pole came at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.

132 - Hamilton has finished on the podium 132 times.

227 - Races started. Hamilton is the only driver to have won at least one race in every season he has competed.

Source(s): Reuters