Hamilton takes fourth Formula One title despite collision

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Lewis Hamilton became Britain’s first four-time Formula One world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday despite enduring his worst race of the season.

In a race won by Red Bull’s Dutch 20-year-old Max Verstappen, the 32-year-old Mercedes driver fought back from last place to ninth after a first lap collision with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, the only man who could have denied him the championship, started on pole position and finished fourth after having to pit for a new front wing at the end of the first lap and dropping to 19th.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates with a teammate after winning his fourth Formula One world title despite finishing the Mexican Grand Prix in ninth place, at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City on October 29, 2017. /AFP Photo

Hamilton now has an unassailable lead of 56 points with two races, worth a total of 50, remaining.

“I did everything that I could. I had a good start. I don’t really know what happened at Turn Three – I gave him plenty of room,” said a jubilant Hamilton, the British flag draped over his shoulders.

“It doesn’t feel real. That’s not the kind of race that you want but I never gave up. I kept going right to the end.”

Since the start of the season, in which he has won nine times so far, he had not finished lower than seventh.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning Formula One world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas finished second at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen third.

Vettel had needed to be in the top two to have any chance of taking the title fight down to Brazil in two weeks’ time but his already slim hopes seemed to have disappeared within seconds of the start.

Verstappen, with nothing to lose and everything to gain from his front row position, seized the lead with an aggressive move through the opening corners and the Red Bull bumping wheels with Vettel as he went through.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning Formula One world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Hamilton, starting in third place, tried to follow Verstappen but the Ferrari’s front wing hit Hamilton’s rear right tire.

“Did he hit me deliberately?” asked Hamilton over the radio, limping back to the pits with a puncture and fully aware Vettel’s only real hope of getting back into the reckoning would be if the Briton went out.

“Not sure, Lewis,” his race engineer Peter Bonnington said in reply. Stewards swiftly decided that no further investigation of the incident was necessary.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning Formula One world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

Vettel pitted while Hamilton, who had started the day 66 points clear of his rival, had a longer stop while mechanics inspected his car for any further damage.

The incident robbed the crowd of the prospect of a real duel between the two contenders, who will both be four-times champions when next season starts, but they still provided thrills as they fought back.

Source(s): Reuters