Hamilton clinches 4th world title

Mexico City : Lewis Hamilton wrapped up his fourth Formula One driver’s championship after a dramatic race that included a first-lap collision at Mexico.

The Brit was forced to pit without completing the Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigue once after clashing with Sebastian Vettel, the only driver who could mathematically catch him with two races remaining in the season.

And after Vettel fought back to fourth - having needed second at least to keep the championship alive - Hamilton’s celebrations were able to begin with a doughnut in front of 134,000 fans.

Brazil and Abu Dhabi will be laps of honour for the Brit after his ninth-place finish was more than enough to complete his campaign.

Max Verstappen, who also banged wheels with Vettel in a frenetic start to Sunday’s race, took advantage of the first-lap mayhem to win from Valtteri Bottas with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen completing the podium places.

The German - whose hero Michael Schumacher famously took Jacques Villeneuve out of the concluding race in Jerez 20 years ago in a do-or-die attempt to win the championship - appeared at fault.

Hamilton led the inquisition as he asked over the team radio whether it was indeed an act of desperation from his title rival.

“Did he hit me deliberately?” Hamilton asked.

The stewards looked at the dramatic incident, but took just seven minutes to make up their mind by taking the course of pursuing no further action.

Vettel, who had led this year’s championship battle by 25 points in May but had been cast 66 points adrift of Hamilton prior to Sunday’s dramatic race in Mexico City, emerged from the pits 35 seconds adrift of leader Verstappen with Hamilton one minute behind the Red Bull man.

Vettel was soon on a charge and almost came unstuck for a third time when he was forced off the road by Felipe Massa, but the four-time champion emerged unscathed, and by half-distance he was into the points, albeit the best part of 60 seconds adrift of second-placed Bottas.

Hamilton’s progress through the pack was not as swift, and he was soon a lap down. He fought past Fernando Alonso in the closing stages, but it was inconsequential.

Despite Vettel reducing the points deficit to 56, with just two races remaining Hamilton heads to Brazil for the year’s penultimate grand prix with an unassailable lead.