Sebastian Vettel set a new lap record during the Mexican Grand Prix with a time which would almost have been quick enough for pole position in last year’s race.
Both drivers were left on the back foot following their first-lap clash and pit stops. Vettel made good progress but the extra pace he needed to catch up to the likes of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas was simply achievable. Hamilton lost more time in the incident and suffered greater damage, putting him at an even bigger disadvantage.
Verstappen took a shot at setting the fastest lap late in the race but Vettel took it off him with three laps to go. But it was the smallest of consolations on the day the world championship finally got away from him.
2017 Mexican Grand Prix lap times
All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded). Scroll to zoom, drag to pan and toggle drivers using the control below:
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2017 Mexican Grand Prix fastest laps
Each driver’s fastest lap:
| Rank | Driver | Car | Fastest lap | Gap | On lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1’18.785 | 68 | |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-TAG Heuer | 1’18.892 | 0.107 | 65 |
| 3 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1’19.374 | 0.589 | 70 |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | Force India-Mercedes | 1’19.929 | 1.144 | 54 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’19.945 | 1.160 | 69 |
| 6 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1’20.054 | 1.269 | 59 |
| 7 | Romain Grosjean | Haas-Ferrari | 1’20.345 | 1.560 | 64 |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso-Renault | 1’20.859 | 2.074 | 70 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Force India-Mercedes | 1’20.946 | 2.161 | 67 |
| 10 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren-Honda | 1’20.972 | 2.187 | 66 |
| 11 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren-Honda | 1’21.014 | 2.229 | 50 |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | Williams-Mercedes | 1’21.062 | 2.277 | 53 |
| 13 | Felipe Massa | Williams-Mercedes | 1’21.136 | 2.351 | 55 |
| 14 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’21.214 | 2.429 | 68 |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Renault | 1’21.360 | 2.575 | 34 |
| 16 | Pascal Wehrlein | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’21.638 | 2.853 | 56 |
| 17 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’21.686 | 2.901 | 54 |
| 18 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 1’21.691 | 2.906 | 18 |
| 19 | Brendon Hartley | Toro Rosso-Renault | 1’22.572 | 3.787 | 28 |
| 20 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull-TAG Heuer | 1’22.789 | 4.004 | 4 |
2017 Mexican Grand Prix
- Alonso “cries like a baby” and the stewards always listen – Steiner
- 2017 Mexican Grand Prix team radio transcript
- 2017 Mexican Grand Prix weekend Star Performers
- Top ten pictures from the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix
- ‘Race director, look at the race please’: Mexican GP team radio highlights
Henrik
30th October 2017, 4:29
Both Hamilton and Vettel were outclassed today. They even hit Verstappen, was this frustration? It was a very symbolic race. There’s a new sheriff in town boys.
Tim
31st October 2017, 22:44
No chance. Hamilton was crowned a 4 times WDC how many does verstappen have again ?
nickfrog (@nickfrog)
30th October 2017, 8:12
@Henrik – we probably didn’t watch the same GP.
I am a big fan of Max but yesterday’s race was not conclusive as to whether he will be the dominating force against these two. He’ll probably match them but it’s too early to say if he will beat them, fortunately.
bosyber (@bosyber)
30th October 2017, 11:22
That move by Max into the first corner was a great one @nickfrog, but Hamilton actually also had a great move, without mistakes – he was unlucky that Vettel was struggling to make the corner and being clumsy with his car there. You are right that a final conclusion on how Max would have fared against Hamilton or Vettel is still outstanding, though a good fight looks certain for next year. Henrik seems to have let his fanboy side for Max out a bit too much!
nickfrog (@nickfrog)
30th October 2017, 11:36
Indeed – 2018 could be a special year if Renault can find a few more reliable ponnies !