Hamilton takes fifth F1 title as Verstappen wins in Mexico

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton celebrated his fifth Formula One world championship with two races to spare on Sunday in a Mexican Grand Prix won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the second year in a row.

Mercedes driver Hamilton, who equalled the five titles of late 1950s Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio with only seven times champion Michael Schumacher ahead of them, finished fourth while Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel took second place.

Hamilton, 33, had needed to finish seventh at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit to be sure of the title while four times champion Vettel had to win to have any hope of denying the Briton.