Hamilton, Mercedes feeling "bittersweet" after "horrible race"
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes Formula 1 team were left with a "bittersweet" feeling after the Mexican Grand Prix, with the Briton sealing his fifth world championship despite a "horrible race".
Hamilton started third and passed Daniel Ricciardo off the line, but neither he nor teammate Valtteri Bottas were competitive on race pace as they struggled to make their tyres last.
Fourth place was ultimately enough for Hamilton to seal the title, but it marked his worst result since July's Austrian Grand Prix, and he'd crossed the line over a minute and 18 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen.
“It was a horrible race,” Hamilton conceded in his post-race interview. “We were struggling. I was trying to hold on and bring the car home.”
The Briton was somewhat reserved in his post-race celebrations, but said this was because he couldn't wrap his head around becoming a five-time world champion.
“I don't really allow myself to be too emotional in public, but right now I just feel very very humbled by the whole experience,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
“It's very very hard to realise it at the moment. It's something that of course I dreamed of, but never in a million years did I think I'd be standing here today a five-time world champion. I never knew that was going to happen.
Bottas finished a lap down on Verstappen in fifth, as Mercedes' constructors' championship lead took a hit – albeit the Silver Arrows remain 55 points clear of Ferrari with two races left to run.
Team boss Toto Wolff said he was too “upset with the race performance” of his outfit to congratulate Hamilton over team radio.
“It is all a bit bittersweet,” Wolff told Sky. “We had a very bad race we need to understand and in our mind that plays such a big role, but we should be happy with the championship.”
Mercedes F1 tech chief James Allison likewise admitted it was difficult to fully enjoy Hamilton sealing the title after a poor showing by the team.
“It has been a topsy-turvy sort of weekend,” Allison told Sky. “We have to remember that what we have achieved today we have achieved as the result of a whole year of effort.
“Today was painful, painful indeed. But the overall achievement is magnificent and Lewis’ driving this year has been peerless so we have to be happy.
“You have to remind yourself to be happy when you just took a bit of a pasting like that.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, celebrates with his team after winning his fifth World Championship
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images
Previous article
Mexican GP: Hamilton champion, Verstappen takes dominant win
Next article
The 10 moments that decided the 2018 F1 title
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Mexican GP |
| Sub-event | Sunday race |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
The Silver Arrows Story: Mercedes W09
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
Why Haas is willing to sacrifice its 2021 F1 season
Every Formula 1 team is facing the same difficult decision this season: how do you split precious aero development time between the current car and the all-new 2022 project?
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
