Lewis Hamilton has his sights set on the runners-up spot in this year’s Formula 1 title race after Max Verstappen wrapped up a record 16th grand prix victory of the season.
The Dutchman surpassed his own win mark for a single campaign with another comfortable procession in Mexico City on Sunday.
Hamilton, after struggling with his car for much of the weekend, finished a surprise second to close to within 20 points of Sergio Perez, who still lies second in a drivers’ championship dominated by his Red Bull team-mate despite crashing out in front of his home crowd.
“It’s mostly dependent on Checo’s [Perez] weekends,” said Hamilton. “They have the championship-winning car.
"He has just been unfortunate in some scenarios. I have lost quite a lot of points in the last two races but he lost points here.
“Having lost the points last week, I didn’t think I would be in shooting range but, after today, we will give it the best shot. It’s a bonus if we get second in the drivers’.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff described it as a “brilliant, brilliant drive from Lewis”, but was at a loss to explain fluctuations in pace from the Silver Arrows over the course of the weekend.
