Lewis Hamilton: Bottas ‘Left The Door Open’ For Verstappen

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton wasn’t too impressed with Valtteri Bottas‘ start at the Mexican Grand Prix, saying that he had “obviously” left the door open for Max Verstappen. The Mercedes drivers secured the top two spots in qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Bottas ahead of Hamilton. However, Max Verstappen passed them both on the opening lap, and would hold the lead all the way to the chequered flag.

Lewis Hamilton

“I had envisaged it differently, naturally, in the sense that Valtteri maybe would get a better start and I would have tried to get into his tow. I was obviously alongside him, which was good, and then I was just covering my side of the track trying to make sure no one could come up the inside. So I was trying to keep whichever Red Bull I could see in my mirror behind. I thought Valtteri would be doing the same but obviously he left the door open for Max.

Max was on the racing line so he did a mega job braking into turn one and because I’m on the inside in the dirt there was no hope for me. It made the race a lot harder, naturally. I think having one car ahead one car there means they can play on strategy.

Sergio was super close in that first stint and I couldn’t really pull away, it was a moment where they’re either going to undercut us or we undercut them. We stopped, did a great job, but didn’t have much left on the tyres at the end. Where there’s a will there’s a way and we managed to just keep them behind. One more lap I think it would have been over! But I’m happy I still got second.”

With just four races remaining Hamilton departs Mexico trailing Verstappen by 19 points.