Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg to comfortable Mexico win

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton stormed to pole position in qualifying for the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix.

“On the formation lap I had a glazed front-right brake, and I couldn’t wake it up”, Hamilton, who is now 19 points behind Rosberg with 50 to play for, explained.

“I put it together when it counted in the end”, Rosberg said.

Rosberg, meanwhile, said he was broadly pleased with his performance in Mexico, even though he was not able to extend his advantage over Hamilton.

“At the end of qualifying I was quite happy with how I felt in the auto and managed to pull out a good lap – but Lewis was just a bit quicker”.

And at the Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez Saturday afternoon, he showed that he could by setting a 1:18:704 fastest time to take his 10th pole of the season ahead of challenger and series leader Nico Rosberg.

But as it is an intra-team battle, Wolff admits it is a “weight” on Mercedes’ shoulders making sure that both drivers have an equal opportunity to win. His problem is that he’s running out of time to win another Formula One championship.

“It is always a tough battle [for pole], trying to pull out the ideal laps when it counts is always a hard thing, particularly with these tyres – sometimes it is on the first lap and sometimes it is on the second lap when the tyres are ready”, Hamilton said. “Today was definitely very, very challenging”. Hamilton won the race ahead of fellow Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.

Verstappen made his way to the cool-down room after the race, as is the usual procedure for podium finishers, only to look up at the timing screen and see his name now fifth.

He added that he had no special tactics planned for the race.

“The long runs seemed to be good and the auto feels great”.

Button, the 2009 world champion, who will bring to an end his run of 17 consecutive seasons in Abu Dhabi, was four tenths adrift of his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, who qualified 11th.

“But I know going into tomorrow we’ve the right strategy, and the vehicle in a good place for long runs”. I honestly thought I was going to have to stop, the vibration was so big.

“Lewis has been too fast this weekend so I just have to accept second place”. With the Dutchman deciding not to cede position of his own volition, despite the suggestion he do so from his race engineer, an increasingly irate Vettel started ranting on the radio that the Red Bull driver should give the place back. “I have had a good feeling with the vehicle all weekend”, said Verstappen. “He did a good job so I had to settle for second place”. “I’m not on pole, but I have a chance from there. In fact, Q3 was my worst session but going into tomorrow, I think we have the right set-up and strategy”. The stewards investigated but chose to take no further action against either man. Crucially Hamilton was also deemed not to have gained any advantage and could continue at the front. “It was a handful”.