Nico Roseberg wins Mexican Grand Prix

“Made no mistakes”, Hamilton said.

“It’s the best podium of the year, I think, to be in a stadium like that and the atmosphere and the energy was just unbelievable”, said Rosberg, after addressing the crowd in Spanish.

Team-mate Fernando Alonso, who also has engine penalties – although fewer than Button – could manage only 16th place and will also drop to the back, starting 19th ahead of his team-mate. When asked about Mercedes’ strategy he added: “It doesn’t matter now”.

But Rosberg immdiately reposnded with a fastest lap of his own to show Hamilton he was not going to be bossed again.

“Nico drove very well today”. His pole-winning lap on Saturday was down to “anger” according to Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff. That’s where Hamilton had hoped to catch Rosberg at the start.

“There is quite a big difference between our set-ups this weekend”. From there, Rosberg controlled the race – including through a late Safety vehicle. For me the most important thing is these two guys push each other and if one does not push anymore the other one doesn’t go as quick.

But Rosberg came out on top this time for his fourth win of the season after claiming pole and getting clean away at the start. After a recent string of closely contested battles between Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel and a series of other contenders applying pressure, the degree to which this simply was a Nico Rosberg Race was nearly impressive. Vettel had already lost third place to the Red Bull of Daniil Kvyat and in his bid to hold off Daniel Ricciardo in the sister Red Bull, the pair touched. Local hero Sergio Pérez was eighth in front of an ecstatic 100,000 crowd.

“It’s three more races to go, great to be here in Mexico, great track, I really enjoy driving here so business as usual”. Not that Ferrari would see it that way.

It was the first time Ferrari had both cars not finish a race since 2006.

Vettel’s tale of woe was completed on lap 52, when he spun off at the same corner as earlier. Nasr acknowledged on the radio that his “brakes are done”, retiring soon after – the fourth and final retirement of the race.

Hamilton pitted from the lead on lap 28 for Primes, slotting back into second place behind Rosberg. All the drivers started on the soft tire compound, apart from the two McLarens as well as Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, who started on the medium compound.

But his race came to an end when he crashed with Bottas. Williams’ Vatteri Bottas finished third. In any case, he was cleared by the stewards after an investigation. The world champions’ drivers are now also back in formation at the head of the Drivers’ Championship as Rosberg moved back ahead of Vettel. However, a crash in lap 53 forced him out for good.