Hamilton denies Rosberg claim
With his fifth F1 title all but in the bag, Lewis Hamilton has taken aim at former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for suggesting that victory has been handed to him on a plate this year.
There have been claims that Ferrari’s inconsistency has made it easy for Mercedes in the second half of the season - and Rosberg appears to subscribe to that view.
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“It’s been so one-sided since the summer, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “And it’s just the result of mistakes, and you’re never going to beat Lewis like that, because Lewis doesn’t make mistakes.”
Hamilton does not agree, saying: “I see a lot of people saying things have been handed to us, which is taking away from the job the team and I have done.
“When I won my first, one of the ex-champions said it would get harder to win a second. And every one after that has got harder and harder, even though you are improving.
“But I would say this one is one of my most enjoyable years given the things I faced. It would be the one I am most proud of and appreciate more.”
Criticism ‘fair’, says Vettel
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel says he accepts the criticism that has come his way after spinning to the back of the field in each of the past two races, reports ESPN.
“I spun. If you are the one spinning then something didn’t go right, so I think it is fair,” said the German.
“Obviously, inside the car things look a little bit different, then you look from 13 different angles and in slow-motion and by that time even the last person in the paddock might have an opinion, so it is obviously different.
“The main thing is that fundamentally I didn’t try to do anything silly or stupid, I wasn’t hard-headed or trying to do something that would never work.”
Vettel suggested that the recent spins, which all happened while attempting to overtake, could be down to a problem with the car.
“The spins I had were all quite weird, because there was not much I could have done. It is not like I had gone in too fast or would have spun on my own at that speed.”
Other drivers defend Vettel
Other drivers have sprung to Vettel’s defence, reports Planet F1.
Daniel Ricciardo said the Ferrari driver could be feeling “slightly hesitant” after his recent mistakes but was not driving erratically. “So, in a way I’ll defend him - in terms of I didn’t see anything out of character,” Ricciardo said.
Fernando Alonso chipped in and suggested the incidents had been overblown. “This kinds of analysis brings a lot of attention and a lot of repercussion on any little issue, but I think has been a coincidence more than a pure mistakes,” he said.
Alonso explains his exit... again
As the season approaches its climax, departing F1 driver Alonso has once again insisted that his decision to quit the sport is “not rooted in the lack of a competitive drive”, reports F1i.com.
“Four the past four years, the Spaniard has been a mere also-ran on the grid, the victim of McLaren’s inability to field a competitive car... However, failing to get his hands on race-winning equipment isn't the reason for leaving the F1 paddock,” according to the site.
Speaking ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Alonso said: “I’m stopping because I did everything I wanted in Formula 1.
“I arrived in Formula 1, I won Grands Prix in Formula 1, I won world championships in Formula 1, I break records in Formula 1. I drove for McLaren, for Renault, for Ferrari - I am 37 years old, and I cannot do more in Formula 1.
“All the things that I dreamt of in Formula 1 are done. There are new things in motorsport that are bigger than Formula 1.”
Verstappen hoping for victory
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who won the Mexican Grand Prix in 2017, is hoping to prevent Lewis Hamilton’s coronation by claiming back-to-back victories in Mexico City.
“This is definitely the best chance for us,” Verstappen said of the 19th round of the 21-race season, reports Reuters.
“We’ll try to set up the car in the best way possible and we’ll find out how we’re going to perform. I don’t think in qualifying we have a chance but in the race we anyway seem to be working a lot better.”
