Lewis Hamilton Wins Fifth World Formula One Title at Mexico Grand Prix | sport

Measured by the exceptional standard that he imposed in dominating Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, who won his fifth title in Mexico, undoubtedly set the bar higher. We, like him, should rejoice in his achievements. If the history of motor racing is defined by the drivers, it must surely now be considered the Hamilton era. Delivering the championship was a proof, if need be, that not only was he at the top of his powers but that in the current state of things, no one can match him.

Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, but Hamilton's fourth place was enough to seal the title. The Brit knew what he had to do and deliver, as he has so often done this season.

A celebration victory might have been welcome, but Hamilton's outstanding performance in the title has always been defined by his ability to play the long game, exercise the champions' judgment to optimize each situation. Bold and committed when needed, but ruthlessly controlling when asked. At Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, he faced a tough race, subject to tire wear and vibration, but he was calm and thoughtful when he gave way to the need and brought his car home carefully.

each race as it stands and the British driver insisted that he run normally from third place on the grid. They were unable to do so because Mercedes ended up wondering where their performance had gone. Still, Hamilton and his team wanted to close their doors in Mexico and did so with disciplined attention. He did not need more than a seventh place or better to win the title and make sure to do it.

When the celebrations in Mexico City finally end, Hamilton may consider his fifth title, equaling the great Juan Manuel Fangio and only two behind Michael Schumacher's record. , perhaps the most satisfying of his career. His first participation for McLaren in 2008 will never be forgotten, but it was the culmination of a season when the 33-year-old admitted Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel had presented a unique challenge to which he had been confronted with.

Two remaining races may be a disservice to the hard work. The season started with Ferrari and Mercedes tied, but the Scuderia took advantage in the development war, giving Vettel the fastest car of the British Grand Prix. With the points gap that separates them today, it is interesting to note that until the German Grand Prix, the 11th meeting of the season and only eight races before, the lead had changed hands five times. Before Germany, at Silverstone, Vettel led by eight points.

Hockenheim may have summarized the difference between the two and started the race that took an almost inexorable momentum, which culminated in Mexico. Hamilton defeated Vettel in Germany in 14th place after a mistake in the wet. On the podium, the British pilot was standing with arms outstretched, his head raised to the sky, in a radiant sky, thunder, lightning and torrential rain. If a volley of valkyries had swept the track, that would have been almost the case while Hamilton enjoyed the blow that he had carried.

It was the first of what turned into a dam. He left Germany with a 17-point lead, a win that would no longer win and has won six of eight races since. Indeed, the numbers do not compete. He won nine out of five victories and nine out of five poles for Vettel. He had a mechanical retirement, where Vettel had none and until Mexico had only twice failed on the podium.

Which explains why it is he, and not Vettel, who wins the crown. Where Hamilton was almost irreproachable, after a series of erroneous judgments by the German and Ferrari throughout the season, their chances were practically non-existent. Vettel had to win in Mexico and had only second place ahead of teammate Kimi Räikkönen.

Verstappen's victory was a good training, taking the lead in turn one and keeping it throughout the race. It's his fifth win and his second this year is twice in a row in Mexico after winning the flag here last year. In a race where tire wear dominated, the Dutchman had the measure of his gum and his opponent, with a compound performance that once again proves his enormous potential.

Hamilton had a good start in second place but with the Mercedes struggling for rhythm and heavy on his tires, he could not hold the place. A nervous barrage that sent him back to Daniel Ricciardo's pbadage was the most dangerous moment of a race while he was extremely circumspect to make sure that he did not did not fight too much at the expense of war.

The fact that Hamilton won the championship in the last round in the United States has not been denied. It's only a postponement. Hamilton, like all great champions, was able to turn the screw and finish with a clinical end in Mexico, a race that was ultimately the coda of a unique collection of performances. A fifth title deserved to be claimed from a Hamilton season will keep a precious treasure and a just warning that he has more to come.