Max Verstappen wins Mexican Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton takes F1 World Drivers' Championship

For the second year in succession, Hamilton completed the task in Mexico City having started the race knowing seventh place would be enough regardless of Sebastian Vettel's efforts.

As Hamilton struggled with degrading tyres throughout Sunday's grand prix there was a fleeting moment of hope for a charging Vettel, but not only was he short of winning as he needed to but the Mercedes man was able to coax his car home in fourth.

That meant Hamilton won the F1 drivers' title for a fifth time, his fourth success in five years. In doing so he moves level with Juan Manuel Fangio in the record books, with only Michael Schumacher's seven championships ahead of the pair.

"It's a very strange feeling right now," Hamilton said as he got out of his car and celebrated.

"I have been at Mercedes since I was 13 so to complete the title, and Fangio won two championships with Mercedes, is an incredible feeling. It feels very surreal."

Hamilton also paid tribute to his dad, Anthony, and the rest of his family, adding: "To my family back home, I love you, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all the hard work that my father did. It is a great moment."

With the focus elsewhere, Red Bull were able to control the race from the front, but it was Verstappen and not pole-sitting Daniel Ricciardo who went on to win.

Indeed, a miserable afternoon for Ricciardo - who started poorly and ceded first place to his younger team-mate on lap one - ended when his car came to a grinding halt on lap 61, an engine failure denying him second and Red Bull what would've been a welcome one-two.

Verstappen made an electric start, passing his team-mate before holding off Hamilton around the opening corners, and the Dutch youngster never looked back as he secured his fifth race win.

Having been disgusted with his team's performance in Saturday's qualifying, the 21-year-old could not have wished for a better Sunday, even if Red Bull wanted more than they ultimately were able to achieve as smoke billowed out of the back of Ricciardo's car.

After the Australian's departure, Vettel inherited second ahead of fellow Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen in third, with Hamilton a distant fourth and one place ahead of his team-mate, Valtteri Bottas.

Vettel had been able to breeze past Hamilton on lap 39 but it was a Pyrrhic victory in every sense. For a long time, the destination of the 2018 championship had been well known. On Sunday night, that was confirmed.

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