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It was a fleeting moment of high-speed magic, a controlled piece of machismo in Mexico City – and it might just symbolise the beginning of the end of Lewis Hamilton’s dreams of an eighth world title.
The perpetrator of the move at the first corner was, of course, Max Verstappen, the 24-year-old Red Bull hotshot, who took the victory, a place ahead of Hamilton, and now leads the standings by 19 points with four races – and 107 points – remaining.
While acknowledging Verstappen’s bravura dart at the right-hander, we must alas, finger a culprit: Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started on pole and then forgot to do the job he is paid £8million a year to carry out. Namely to perform as the perfect No 2 to Hamilton and, at the crucial juncture yesterday, to fulfil the role of rear gunner.
No, he gifted the racing line to Verstappen. It was an opportunity the Dutchman had dreamed of when he stated rather hopefully on Saturday night that starting third was preferable to the second spot occupied by Hamilton.
Beforehand, members of the F1 travelling circus had stood on the pit straight gawping at the long run into Turn 1 – the longest opening drag in the world, literally half-a-mile long. It offered a tow but not as good a one as the layout might suggest. Being stuck 8,000ft above sea level, thin air mitigated the possibilities.
Off they went. Hamilton reacted fast. He was on the right-hand of the road. Bottas had got himself stuck in the middle – his error – as the three frontrunners went wheel to wheel for 200 yards or so. Verstappen did not blink. He broke so ludicrously late it was clearly evident to the naked eye, as if rewriting the rules of physics. He zoomed through as if on rails and powered on to his ninth victory of the season.
Who can begrudge him his maiden title if this captivating season of twists and turns finally honours his talent?
No sooner was Verstappen in front that he was immediately handed another test when Bottas clipped McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo front wing at Turn 2. Those behind took evasive action. The participation of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’ Michael Schumacher ended on the spot. Bottas was plunged down the field and set about an ignominious climb up the field, one that was hampered by a 12-second stop later on while lying 11th.
The safety car came out to clear up the debris and this left Verstappen needing to defend his lead once the race restarted four laps later. He did this expertly, launching himself out of the slow Foro Sol Stadium section and into the straight. By the time he crossed the line, he was nine-tenths ahead of Hamilton. Goodnight, sweetheart.
Verstappen roared away, only to be denied the fastest lap at the death by Bottas, who finished 15th.
‘These guys are obviously too fast for us,’ said Hamilton, who fell 10 seconds back during his first stint. Big in his mirrors was the second Red Bull, of Perez, the local favourite whose cause was nosily cheered by the jumping and joyful 140,000 crowd.
With Red Bull proving as fast as pre-race predictions had suggested, Mercedes were in a pickle. They brought Hamilton in on lap 29 of 71, the first of the top three to pit. It acted as an undercut on Perez and amounted to damage limitation.
Verstappen came in four laps later and retook the lead when Perez finally pitted, leaving the asphalt clear for the championship leader to press on relentlessly.
Hamilton came over the radio again: ‘Let me know where they are quicker, man? Where Verstappen is quicker.’ Well, the track is 2.67 miles long and that about covered it. The actual response was: the exits of turns 11 and 13.
For the last 10 laps, Perez was harrying him once more. The fans clapped their thundersticks in encouragement, albeit unavailingly. Finishing third, he became the first Mexican to reach the podium on home soil, which sent the throng home happy.
In truth, it was a largely dull race, jeopardy mostly absent, but after a year of so much gripping drama we can hardly complain.
If there is one thing we have learned over 15 seasons is that Lewis never gives up. He is as tough a competitor was you could ever imagine, but it now looks increasingly likely that even his remarkable abilities will be no match to Verstappen and his machinery.
His defeat a fortnight ago in Austin, where Mercedes were meant to be strong, was telling if not fatal. Next up, on Sunday, is the undulating Interlagos track in Sao Paulo, 2,500ft above sea level and also well-suited to the Red Bulls. If Hamilton should fail to win there what hope has he in final three rounds in the Middle East of springing an unforgettable act of escapology?
The Briton has won just one race since the summer break, in Russia, and ‘only’ five times all season. The maths and the momentum are ganging up on him.
RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED…
Valtteri Bottas starts today’s Mexico City Grand Prix in pole position while Lewis Hamilton has the slight edge over championship rival Max Verstappen by making it a front-row lockout.
With just five races left, there promises to be plenty of twists and turns in the fight to become world champion, with Verstappen just 12 points ahead of Hamilton in the standings.
Follow Sportsmail’s Dan Ripley for live Formula One coverage of the Mexico City Grand Prix, including build-up, updates and the final result.
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