The Azerbaijan State News Agency

SPORTS

Hamilton wins in Mexico as Vettel takes last-gasp podium

Baku, October 31, AZERTAC

Lewis Hamilton took another seven points out of Nico Rosberg’s championship lead on Sunday with a superb win over his Mercedes team mate in the Formula 1 Gran Premio de Mexico 2016, according to the official website of Formula 1. Hamilton, who now trails by 19 points with two rounds remaining, was 8.3s clear at the chequered flag, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel completing the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez podium, despite finishing fourth on the road.

Vettel was eventually given third place after Verstappen was penalised post-race for an incident on the 68th lap when the Dutchman ran wide in Turn 1 and then over the grass in Turn 2 to stay ahead of the Ferrari - a move Hamilton had already performed there on his own while leading on the opening lap, thanks to a glazed brake. Verstappen was told by Red Bull to give up the place but chose not to, and his intransigence enabled Ricciardo to close on to Vettel’s tail.

The supersoft tyres didn’t help the way Red Bull had expected at the start - and Verstappen was lucky to hold on to third as Nico Hulkenberg nearly got by in his Force India going into Turn 1. The Dutchman then dived inside Rosberg and they made reasonably heavy contact before the German managed to keep the place despite having to go on to the grass. Meanwhile, Ricciardo pitted to ditch his supersofts for mediums as early as the first lap, because of a safety car deployment, and began a doughty fight back from 17th place to contention. His race was aided by a second stop, for softs on the 50th lap, which set up his dramatic chase after Vettel and Verstappen.

Verstappen had always been in podium contention, but it was Vettel who took over the lead after Rosberg pitted to switch from softs to mediums on the 14th lap and Hamilton did likewise on the 17th. The Ferrari then ran another remarkable 15 laps before the former champion finally pitted for mediums on the 32nd. That set up his chase after the Red Bull youngster.

Verstappen himself had had an opportunistic go at Rosberg on the 49th lap when the German had lost time going over a kerb, and as the Red Bull got out of shape at the apex Rosberg got the place back, and the incident enabled a lapped Jenson Button in the McLaren to make his own opportunistic pass on Carlos Sainz’s Toro Rosso.

As the three contenders closed right up because of Verstappen’s off-road incident, and Vettel complained long and loud to his crew, Ricciardo got alongside the red car going into Turn 4, but couldn’t quite get the job done as Vettel was moving over towards the apex.

Thereafter the three, who had been nose-to-tail, spread out, and Verstappen crossed the line 0.9s ahead of the Ferrari to Vettel’s chagrin. The two men then exchanged gestures after the finish line. Back in parc ferme, Verstappen headed to the podium room, only to be told that he had received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which dropped him to fifth. He was escorted from the room as Vettel took his place.

Hamilton’s 51st career victory thus saw him tie Alain Prost for second in the all-time stakes, but with two races left Rosberg’s 19-point standings lead means he is still on target for the crown even if he finishes second to his team mate in both of them.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

PKK bomber gets 7 life terms for Istanbul attack

British man tests first personalised melanoma vaccine

Azerbaijani, Kazakh military specialists hold meetings

President Ilham Aliyev held meeting with UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of Turkic States’ Parliaments visit Azerbaijan’s city of Shusha

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held expanded meeting with President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier

President Ilham Aliyev held one-on-one meeting with President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Kazakh delegation visits Azerbaijan Air Force Central Command Post

President Ilham Aliyev held meeting with Foreign Minister of Germany in Berlin

Baku Higher Oil School increases number of admission places for MBA specialties

AZAL introduces exclusive airfare deals to Bucharest and Sofia

Press release of Office of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev

Azerbaijani judoka Hidayat Heydarov advances to final of European championships

Gaza pier: US begins building floating base to boost aid

Spanish Football Federation appoints Pedro Rocha as new president and successor to Luis Rubiales

President Ilham Aliyev participated in High Level Segment of 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin VIDEO

Kyrgyz Minister of Digital Development informed about "ASAN Xidmet" center

Azerbaijani judoka captures European silver

Azerbaijani boxers claim two European bronzes in Serbia

Deepwater Gunashli planned turnaround programme

Xi meets Blinken, stresses major country responsibilities for China, U.S.

Azerbaijani Paralympic swimmer secures his third European medal in Portugal

® The latest digital trends to be discussed at GSMA M360 Eurasia 2024 in Baku

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz held joint press conference VIDEO

Another 39 families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys

President of Azerbaijan: We must protect our media landscape from external negative influences, just like any other country

President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan will continue to be an important partner for Europe for many years to come

President Ilham Aliyev: COP29 will not be an arena of confrontation

President of Azerbaijan: 6,000 former IDPs have already returned to their ancestral lands

President Ilham Aliyev: We highly value ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia

President: Azerbaijan, a supplier of natural gas, will also become a supplier of green energy to Europe

Third edition of Lunar Festival of Light to transform Sofia facades and parks, present 4.5-km walking route, new festival area

President Ilham Aliyev: There are very good opportunities to achieve peace

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of Turkic States’ Parliaments visit Khankendi city

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for Germany's support regarding COP29 in Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev: Recently, Germany-Azerbaijan relations have been experiencing a period of rapid development

Olaf Scholz: We welcome initial demarcation agreements

President Ilham Aliyev held expanded meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin

Closing ceremony of Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center held

President: All these green energy projects I mentioned are financed by foreign investors

U.S. Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Climate: Azerbaijan has a very impressive COP29 team - INTERVIEW

President Ilham Aliyev: Energy security should definitely be treated as a matter of national security of countries

President Ilham Aliyev held one-on-one meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Berlin

Azerbaijani President: Our green agenda started to materialize prior to being awarded COP29

Aramco and FIFA announce global partnership

President of Azerbaijan: A country rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas, should be at forefront of those addressing issues of climate change

President Ilham Aliyev: COP29 will allow us to engage countries of the Global South

President: We do not only need to organize COP29 well but also to deliver good results

President of Azerbaijan: Election of Azerbaijan as COP29 host by unanimous decision is a big honor for us

President Ilham Aliyev: Our oil and gas will be needed for many more years including European markets VIDEO

Foreign Ministry: Resolution adopted by European Parliament openly misrepresents human rights situation in Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev: As the host country of COP29, Azerbaijan is in an active phase of preparation VIDEO

China's homegrown brain-machine interface system unveiled at Zhongguancun Forum

Some US troops set to depart Chad, at least temporarily

Meeting of SCO defense ministers to start in Astana today

Russian cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

Ancient Giant Tortoise Fossils Found In Colombian Andes

Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis embarks on official visit to Montenegro

Man City hammer Brighton 4-0 to be hot on English leaders Arsenal's trail

Venice introduces entrance fee for touristic old city

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry: Wave-2024 joint tactical exercise ends VIDEO

Oil prices surge in global markets

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan discuss prospects for development of military cooperation

Azeri Light crude dips to $88

China’s Shenzhou-18 crew arrive at Tiangong space station

Germany expresses readiness to support Azerbaijan in COP29

Azerbaijan relocates 140 more residents to Fuzuli city VIDEO

Azerbaijani writer awarded Chingiz Aitmatov medal

President Ilham Aliyev embarked on working visit to Germany VIDEO

Azerbaijani Speaker meets with Parliamentary Committee Chairs of Turkic States

China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou 18 mission

Press conference highlights outcomes of First Meeting of Committee Chairs of Turkic States’ Parliaments

Five short films to be shot about Wetlands on Northern Black Sea Coast

Azerbaijani judoka advances to final of 2024 European Championships in Croatia

Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan responds to the European Parliament’s resolution

® Kapital Bank participated in Azerbaijan’s banking mission’s inaugural visit to the United States

® Age of innovations kicks off with Bakcell!

Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Sadyr Zhaparov toured Shahbulag Fortress in Aghdam VIDEO

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan attended ground-breaking ceremony for secondary school of Khydyrly village in Aghdam VIDEO

LG Electronics’ operating profit falls 10.8 pct in Q1

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan visited Aghdam Conference Center VIDEO

Euronews TV channel airs reportage on Azerbaijan’s Port of Baku

President Ilham Aliyev and President Sadyr Zhaparov attended opening of Aghdam Juma Mosque after restoration VIDEO

Amy Adams to star in drama ‘At the Sea’ from ‘Pieces Of A Woman’ filmmakers Kornel Mundruczó & Kata Wéber

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan inspected ongoing works at Palace of Panahali Khan and Imarat complex in Aghdam VIDEO

Azerbaijani FIFA referee to control Panathinaikos vs Aris Greek Super League encounter

Press release of service of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev

Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnasts to fight for glory in international tournament in Bulgaria

Azerbaijani taekwondo fighters to compete in Presidents Cup Europe G2

155 dead, 236 injured as torrential rains hit Tanzania

Russia confirms readiness to facilitate Azerbaijani-Armenian border demarcation - diplomat

Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan sign Memorandum of Understanding

Philippines grapples with measles, pertussis outbreaks: UNICEF

China welcomes progress made in Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov concludes his state visit to Azerbaijan

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan had joint dinner VIDEO

Azerbaijani gymnast into final of 2024 Men’s Artistic Europeans

More than 100 inmates escape after rain damages Nigerian prison

Human remains found in Khojaly district VIDEO

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan visited the city of Aghdam VIDEO