How the Mexican GP unfolded

1. Rosberg wins, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd
2. Kvyat 4th, Ricciardo 5th, Massa 6th
3. Hamilton confused after Mercedes insist he pits whilst "comfortable" on tyres
4. Vettel crashes out causing safety car
5. Bottas and Raikkonen collide for second time in three races
6. Alonso, Raikkonen, Nasr out

Where does the time go?

There are just two races remaining this season, starting with the Brazilian GP, where there is always the chance of a bit of this...

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...or a bit of this...

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...the title race may be over, but there's always the potential for drama and excitement on the track. Join us again in two weeks. 

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BBC One

OK, we are just about done here but there's not long to wait for the highlights, which will be on BBC One at 22:30 GMT.

You can also read Andrew Benson's full race report here.

I was not surprised at Bottas crash - Raikkonen

Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen have been talking about the collision that saw Raikkonen's race end.

"I was never going to back off," said Bottas.

"I lost a wheel," added Raikkonen. "You can ask many different people and there will be different views. I was not very surprised. Our weekend was pretty poor and for our team it was very difficult."

Pub quiz question?

Nigel Mansell, 1992 Mexican Grand Prix winner, interviewed Nico Rosberg - the 2015 winner on the podium.

How may times has the winner of the previous edition of a race interviewed the latest winner? Got to be a question for future pub quizzes...

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With his fourth win of the season, Nico Rosberg returns to second in the standings, 21 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel with two races to go.

'One of the most difficult races of my life'

Mexican Sergio Perez only had one pit stop while the rest of the drivers that finished had two, and he came eighth in his home grand prix.

"We were very unlucky with the safety car and it came out at the wrong time. We were on a one-stop strategy and were looking strong," Perez tells BBC Sport. "I was the only one on old tyres and it was a big challenge to make it to the end of the race.

"Sometimes you are lucky or unlucky and today we were very unlucky. This was one of the most difficult races of my life but I'm happy to get some points in my country.

"This is the biggest moment of my career and I'm so proud of what we have achieved. I'm sure Mexico is now one of the most popular races in the calendar."

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Speaking of Lewis Hamilton, he sat down for a 10-minute chat with Suzi Perry this weekend.

In a wide-ranging interview, Hamilton admitted that he is feeling "pretty mellow" now but describes some of the anxieties he had during the US Grand Prix, whilst complimenting team-mate Nico Rosberg on how hard he has pushed him this season.

Watch the full interview here and you can also catch it on the Mexican GP highlights show on BBC One at 22:30 GMT.

Here's a bit more from Lewis Hamilton on his battle with Nico Rosberg: "It was fun. I was pushing so hard and I was giving it everything I had. I had more pace than him."

Hats off to Rosberg

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I'm not proud of mistake - Vettel

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel had an eventful race as he was involved in a first corner collision with Daniel Ricciardo, recovered, but then crashed out of the race in lap 50.

"I had a bad start. - these things happen it is racing," Vettel tells BBC Sport. "The race was pretty much lost. I tried to come back, but two mistakes did not help.

"The last mistake was my mistake, so I'm not proud of it. We were very close to Mercedes in terms of pace, as close as we have been for a while. We were forcing it."

On the incident with Ricciardo, Vettel adds: "Turn one, start of the race. He was closing the door, but he was not next to me. But it was too late and I had a bad feeling into turn two and three. This kind of stuff you can't do on purpose, so I'm not blaming him. Obviously it is a pain when it hits you in turn one."

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Sebastian Vettel's crash threatened to make things interesting in the closing stages but in the end a cool and calm drive by Nico Rosberg saw him home.

However, Lewis Hamilton was evidently irked when he was called to stop for a second pit. He resisted the call to box for one lap, before relenting. Just a couple of laps later the safety car came out. 

How he will have wished he'd stayed out for just a few more laps and pitted under the safety car.

Record out of reach for Hamilton

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Missing out on victory in Mexico means there's a record Lewis Hamilton can no longer equal.

He needed to win all three remaining races to equal the most amount of wins in a season (13). The most he can get to now is 12.

Kimi Raikkonen, whose race ended after 21 laps, says: "Our weekend was pretty poor. We are still a strong team."

Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso all retiring. Three former world champions. Needless to say, the return of the Mexican Grand Prix was not a moment to remember for those three.

What a picture! Hands up who would love to be there right now?

Full Mexican GP result

1) Rosberg 2) Hamilton 3) Bottas 4) Kvyat 5) Ricciardo 6) Massa 7) Hulkenberg 8) Perez 9) Verstappen 10) Grosjean  

11) Maldonado 12) Ericsson 13) Sainz 14) Button 15) Rossi 16) Stevens

Ret: Nasr, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso

Mexico president Enrique Pena Nieto is quick to send his congratulations to Rosberg.

Formula1

"This is the best podium of the year," adds Nico Rosberg. "What a place to win!"

Nico Rosberg, speaker of a gazillion languages, butters up the crowd by finishing off the podium interviews with a bit of Spanish: "Que tal hoy Mexico!"

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Third-placed Valtteri Bottas: "A big thanks to the team, we did a mega job. We were racing like a race-winning team."

Talking about the incident with Kimi Raikkonen, Bottas added: "There was nowhere for me to go, it is a shame it ended like that."

@F1

Second-placed Lewis Hamilton: "Nico drove a fantastic race. Just fantastic to be here in Mexico. This crowd is like being at a football game. The fans have been amazing. I've never seen anything like this."

@F1

Race-winner Nico Rosberg says: "Amazing day, a great battle with Lewis, who drove really well. I'm really happy with the win, what a place to do it.

"An absolutely awesome crowd."

"Ole, ole, ole, Nico, Nico," sing the fans in the stadium section.

As Lewis Hamilton has just said, this crowd is like something from a football match.

Nigel Mansell, the winner of the last Mexican Grand Prix back in 1992, is the man to conduct the podium interviews. Let's see what they have to say...

Sombreros on, the drivers emerge onto the podium, Nico Rosberg taking a long-overdue leap onto the top step. That's his first win since Austria in June.

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Bernie Austin: This was a brilliant weekend for Nico. Hopefully he do more of this next season.

Isaac Mares: Couldn't agree with DC more - great to see the aggression from Nico and he has to maintain that going forward.

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No first, second or third place caps here, avoiding any concerns about cap-gate: the sequel. Instead, it is sombreros. Of course.

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In the excitement it looks like Nico Rosberg left his helmet in his car, leading to a bit of a wait in the weighing in room as someone goes to find it.

While they wait, Rosberg shakes Lewis Hamilton's hand after a good battle well fought.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Nico has carried over an aggressive stance from last week and that has inspired him. Every session he has been on the money.

"It is a thoroughly deserved victory, but Hamilton will have a few questions of his team about strategy."

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A grandstand location for Parc ferme as the top three cruise into the stadium section and come to a stop in front of the cheering fans. Nico Rosberg climbs on top of his Mercedes and laps up the applause.

That win, Rosberg's fourth of the season, is a great response after the disappointment of losing out on the title to Lewis Hamilton last weekend.

Mexican GP result

1) Rosberg 2) Hamilton 3) Bottas 4) Kvyat 5) Ricciardo 6) Massa 7) Hulkenberg 8) Perez 9) Verstappen 10) Grosjean

Lewis Hamilton crosses the line second, with Valtteri Bottas taking third. 

Meanwhile, a huge cheer erupts as Sergio Perez comes home eighth.

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Chequered flag

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NICO ROSBERG WINS THE MEXICAN GRAND PRIX

FINAL LAP

Here we go. Final lap and Nico Rosberg is looking good for the win here. The crowd cheers as he roars through the stadium section...

AP

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Rosberg has one hand on the cup"

A slow lap from Lewis Hamilton after a mistake through the stadium section, faultless from Nico Rosberg with his latest effort and that gap increases to 1.6s...

AP

A 1:20.7 and Lewis Hamilton brings that gap down to 1.1s, but Nico Rosberg responds by going faster, a 1:20.5s. 

Two laps to go and the gap is currently 1.2s. This is going to be close!

Lewis Hamilton is struggling to bring that gap down, with Nico Rosberg 1.4s ahead, but he has just gone fastest all through the middle sector.

Meanwhile, after nipping into third after the restart, Valtteri Bottas is pulling away from the Red Bulls and is three seconds ahead of Daniil Kvyat.

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Maldonado on the edge

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"That looked like a sure thing that Maldonado was going into the wall. He is a man who lives on the edge."

Ooof! Great save Pastor Maldonado! The Lotus driver uses every ounce of his strength to keep his car out of the barrier at Turn 12.

Stand down hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com

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Fissuh Hailu: Hamilton might need to be aggressive if he is to beat Rosberg here.

Grapevine Grand Prix: I can feel some contact coming between Kvyat/ Ricciardo or Pérez/ Verstappen.

Daniel Brown: Mexico Grand Prix is special. Incredible how a racing track can encapsulate the essence of a culture, an incredible country. Vamos!

Nico Rosberg is doing just enough to hold off Lewis Hamilton. He is 1.1s down the road and has just gone fastest through the middle sector.

Ten laps to go

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Felipe Massa is 1.3s seconds behind fifth-place Daniel Ricciardo and he is urged to attack...

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are pushing. Pushing very hard and both make mistakes, Hamilton coming off briefly going into the stadium section, with Rosberg running wide through the esses section.

Meanwhile Felipe Nasr, whose Sauber Jenson Button said earlier had a brake fire has retired, coming to a stop in the stadium section.

Go! Go! Go!

Safety car comes in and we are back racing again and Valtteri Bottas takes full advantage of the restart, getting the jump on Daniil Kvyat and he is into third. Up ahead, Nico Rosberg stays in front of Lewis Hamilton. The German wins that battle, but Hamilton will have to wait for the next chance to pounce.

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Jenson Button reports that Felipe Nasr has a brake fire as the safety car prepares to come in on this lap.

The safety car prompted a flurry of stops. Daniil Kvyat, in third, and Daniel Ricciardo, fifth, have switched to softs. 

Kvyat was a massive 22s behind the Mercedes before the safety car, but the field is now bunched up as we wait for the safety car to head in.

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Lewis Hamilton was flying before Sebastian Vettel's crash, having just done a 1:20.815. 

Nico Rosberg will once again be cursing the appearance of the safety car. His 3.5s advantage is wiped out, and this sets things up for a thrilling battle between the two Mercedes.

Meanwhile, replays show Vettel locking up going into Turn 7 and he goes straight ahead and into the barrier.

AFP

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"When was the last time you saw Sebastian Vettel make three mistakes in the same race?"

Sebastian Vettel over team radio: "OK, I crashed. I'm OK. Sorry."

Safety car

Cameras cut to Sebastian Vettel, who has planted his Ferrari into a barrier. He climbs out and is OK, but he's had a shocker today.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"When a team mention safety in any message, you are playing with a drivers' mind. That's why it will be fascinating to see the report on Lewis's tyres."

Lewis Hamilton returns on fresh medium rubber and is 3.5s behind Nico Rosberg in second.

"Check those tyres and let me know," says Hamilton after returning to the circuit.

Hamilton clearly felt he could have got to the end of that race on those tyres, even though Rosberg had stopped, and therefore won if he could have held on on older tyres. Which is why he's so confused.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Full respect to Lewis for using the opportunity to say 'look at his tyres'. You can be sure Lewis will demand to see his tyres at the end of his race." 

"Can I ask why," Lewis Hamilton says.

"It is down to wear on the tyre. They are down to the canvas. It is down to safety reasons. Box this lap."

Hamilton replies: "You need to check his (Rosberg's) tyres, but mine feel good."

Hamilton clearly is not happy with this call, but he relents and pits. 

Very interesting...

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The Mercedes crew are out and ready for Lewis Hamilton...but he is not stopping!

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Well, I thought Mercedes were going to get to the end of this race on one stop but in comes Nico Rosberg, coming back out on a fresh pair of medium tyres.

Lewis Hamilton, I suspect, will do the same now...

Get involved #BBCF1

TheBassist: What's the likelihood of Williams getting a car on the podium? Come on Massa.

Sam & guidedog Tango: Drivers unlapping themselves is so rare in F1 but if anyone can do it it's Vettel.

'Don't tell me about Lewis'

Great radio exchange between Nico Rosberg and his engineer.

"OK, Lewis is...."

"Don't tell me any more, don't tell me."

"OK," is the rather sheepish response.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It feels like we are waiting for something to happen."

If I could turn back time

How Nico Rosberg will wish he could have had a race like this in Austin. He is 2.4s ahead of Lewis Hamilton and looking pretty comfortable, although Hamilton has just set the fastest lap.

Where's the home favourite? Sergio Perez is currently ninth - where he started the race - and 1.7s behind Max Verstappen.

AP

"Let him by, let him by, otherwise we get a penalty," Sebastian Vettel is told and he finally does just that, letting Lewis Hamilton through. But not without saying: "But I'm faster than him." Yes, Seb, but you're a lap down, mate.

Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat is still third, but way, way down the road from the Mercedes pair. He is 23 seconds behind second-place Hamilton.

Mercedes lapping a Ferrari? We thought there would be some surprises in Mexico...

Reports of debris at Turn 10, although not sure where that has come from just yet.

Out in front, Nico Rosberg is 2.6 ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but Hamilton still has the lapped Sebastian Vettel ahead of him.

AFP

Celeb spot!

Naomie Harris, who appeared in the last James Bond film Skyfall and who is also in the latest Bond movie Spectre, is among those in Mexico City.

Second stop for Sebastian Vettel. Having rattled off 35 laps on medium tyres after an early puncture on softs, he pits from 13th for more mediums. 

He resumes between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. "Vettel ahead, he is a lapped car," Hamilton is told.

Great move by Perez [on Sainz] in the stadium section in front of all the fans

Jack Nicholls5 live commentator

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A tussle between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez, with the former making a move at Turn 4 but he runs wide, cutting out the corner, before rejoining ahead of Perez. He is surely going to have to give up the position?

Yep, and he does so in a brilliant place - the stadium section - allowing Perez to enjoy a huge cheer as he retakes ninth. 

AP

Jenson Button pits - the final driver to do so - but takes on soft tyres. He is the only driver out there now on the faster tyre. 

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Grapevine Grand Prix: Rosberg is showing the kind of intelligent and dominant form that he needed to find back in May.

Abu Ali: Bottas outbraked himself and was behind. Strange that Kimi got penalised in Russia but Bottas gets away,that was purely revenge.

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It's been a tough race so far for Ferrari. Here's a picture of Sebastian Vettel's lap one puncture. Ouch.

As it stands

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Lewis Hamilton goes even faster! He sails around the circuit in 1:22.100 and he has taken a fair old chunk out of Nico Rosberg's advantage. The German's lead is now 2.4s.

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Waѕiyullah Budye: Hamilton & Rosberg turning out to be amazing rivals! Awesome to watch.

Rossouw: They should give Bottas a penalty.

So far so good for Nico Rosberg after those stops. He has a three-second lead over Lewis Hamilton, although the Briton has just set the fastest lap of the race so far - a 1:22.441

Everyone except for Jenson Button, in 11th, have been in for their first stops now.

'Quite remarkable'

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Hamilton is playing the longer game here. They send him out with a 2.4second pit stop - quite remarkable."

AP

Two laps after his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton pits to make the switch to medium tyres. A trouble-free stop but he returns to the circuit behind Nico Rosberg.

Smooth as you like from Nico Rosberg. 

In, medium boots bolted on, and back out in 2.5s and he returns to the circuit in second as Lewis Hamilton is elevated into the lead. The world champion is, of course, still to make his first stop.

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Shohidur Rahman: Really hope Bottas doesn't get penalised for that. He was entitled to go for that and had the racing line.

Bishop Yinkus: Going from bad to worse for Ferrari as Kimi just collided with Bottas. I'm loving the Mexican GP right now. Lots of poor decision making.  

Nico Rosberg, with a 2.1s lead over Lewis Hamilton, is being told to come in on this lap. "Your brakes are reasonable, push hard," he is told. 

Memories of Russia when Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas collided on the last lap, allowing Mexican Sergio Perez to go on to claim his only podium finish of the season.

'Bottas was fairly alongside Raikkonen'

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"That is what you call payback. It will be interesting to see if the stewards have anything to say on that.

"Even if there is damage to Bottas's car, Frank Williams is a racer and would rather see his guy get stuck in and have a go.

"I think Bottas was fairly alongside Raikkonen. If you are alongside, you can't just expect someone to disappear."

Crash!

Contact! Wheel-to-wheel racing between Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen but they touch turning into Turn 4, with Bottas' front left hitting Raikkonen's rear right. No chance Raikkonen can continue with his suspension smashed. Race over.

Daniil Kvyat blinks first out of the top four drivers, making his first stop of the race from third to take on medium boots.

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Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton had been trading fastest laps but Rosberg is slowly building up an advantage now over his team-mate now. The gap between the two is 2.6s.

Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen, on the medium tyres and looking at one-stop strategy, is up to sixth now.

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Mistake from Vettel

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"That was in the middle sector of the lap. He had just done the fastest first sector. It was just a mistake from Vettel and the momentum saw him lose the rear of the car.

"Vettel is frustrated and angry at the contact with Daniel Ricciardo at the first corner. You don't often see Vettel make back-to-back mistakes."

Spin!

A spin for Sebastian Vettel. He'd just passed Jenson Button down the main straight to get into 11th but was perhaps pushing too hard as he spins before resuming in 15th. All that hard work undone.

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James Morgan: Sad to see McLaren's struggles continuing. Can only hope they have a productive winter.

Kristine Kirby: Lewis will want to get past Nico so he gets first bite at box, or hope Nico cracks having him so close in the mirrors, & slips up.

Andy Roberts: Would Rosberg be worried for his seat if he comes third in the drivers championship? I would be.

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Carlos's opportunity

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"This is an opportunity for Carlos Sainz to make a name for himself."

As it stands

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"Some people are two-stopping, but we are going to stick with our plan," Daniel Ricciardo is told over team radio. One stop on the cards for Red Bull then.

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg has worked up some distance between himself and Lewis Hamilton, the gap between the two is 1.5s now.

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'A very frustrating season'

Some quotes from Fernando Alonso, whose race was over inside the first lap. He says: "Yesterday night we spotted a speed problem and this morning we confirmed it. 

"For respect of the fans we will try to improve next time. It has been a very frustrating season, not even being able to participate with this amazing crowd is really sad."

Kimi Raikkonen, who started the race 19th, is all the way up to eighth, his leap up the field aided by some early pit stops, with Pastor Maldonado and Marcus Ericsson having also taken their cars in for a switch to the medium tyres.

Felipe Massa follows his team-mate's lead soon after, switching to the harder compound, with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg also pitting for medium tyres.

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Leslie Rogers: I remember a time Alonso was at Ferrari. Very rare to hear "Oh and Alonso is out of the race. That's an unusual sight." Oh well.

JavelBleach: Lewis will probably be happy just to stay there & annoy Nico all race. Nothing to lose.

James Morgan: Steward investigation into Ricciardo & Vettel contact is exactly what's wrong with F1 spectacle. Contact happens in racing.

A very early stop for Williams as Valtteri Bottas heads in to swap softs for mediums. A long way to go on those tyres, so you'd imagine a two-stop strategy is the order of the day for Bottas now.

Jenson Button started dead last, but he is up to 16th now, Alexander Rossi, Will Stevens and Sebastian Vettel behind him. Button has some work to do to close in on Felipe Nasr ahead of him. The Sauber is four seconds down the road.

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Rachel T: I would not like Lewis in my mirrors all race long, Nico will be under pressure the whole time.

And race control determines that no further action is warranted after that first-lap contact between Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel clearly feels Ricciardo was in the wrong over team radio: "Where the heck was he supposed to go?" 

Lewis Hamilton is in his groove now as he sets the fastest lap so far with 1:24.889s, slicing a couple of tenths of a second off of Nico Rosberg's lead. It is down to 0.8s now.

Meanwhile, race control confirms that the incident involving Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel on the first lap is under investigation.

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Get involved #BBCF1

CörnishDarrenFewins: I remember a decent driver called Alonso.

Sebastian Vettel pits and switches to medium tyres after that early puncture before rejoining in 19th.

Meanwhile, out in front Nico Rosberg leads Lewis Hamilton by a second, with Daniil Kvyat third and Daniel Ricciardo fourth.

Alonso retires

Ah, terrible start for Fernando Alonso on a weekend that just never got going. Two laps in and he is going to have to retire. "Lack of power," he reports before heading into the pits.

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Trouble for Sebastian Vettel at the start, he is dropping back and its a puncture for the Ferrari after contact with Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull and he is going to have to pit.

Go! Go! Go!

LIGHTS OUT!!

We are off and great start by Nico Rosberg as he stays out in front of Lewis Hamilton, who tries to attack approaching the first corner, but no joy as Rosberg stays out in front.

Brilliant atmosphere as the cars snake through the stadium section. A lot of love for that section of the circuit.

Watch out

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"I think there is going to be an incident/accident in that first corner."

Nico Rosberg leads the field away for the formation lap and everyone except for Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button are on the soft tyres.

Three former world champions at the back of the grid. Amazing scenes.

THE GRID

1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Sebastian Vettel 4) Daniil Kvyat 5) Daniel Ricciardo 6) Valtteri Bottas 7) Felipe Massa 8) Max Verstappen 9) Sergio Perez 10) Nico Hulkenberg 

11) Carlos Sainz 12) Romain Grosjean 13) Pastor Maldonado 14) Marcus Ericsson 15) Felipe Nasr 16) Alexander Rossi 17) Will Stevens 18) Fernando Alonso  19) Kimi Raikkonen 20) Jenson Button

An incredible year of growth - Hamilton

Suzi Perry sits down with new world champion Lewis Hamilton in today's highlights show (22:30 GMT, BBC One) but you see the whole version here now.

Hamilton talks about what it feels like to be a three-time world champion, and also suggests he would prefer Michael Schumacher to stay as the only man to win seven titles.

You can watch the interview here.

Get involved #bbcf1

Start crucial for Rosberg

Formula 1

If Nico Rosberg is to win today, he is going to have to do much better on the run to the first corner than he did in Austin.

The German started on pole in that race but lost out to Lewis Hamilton on the 363m run from the start to Turn 1.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez features a run to the first corner that is almost triple that, with Rosberg going to have to hold off his team-mate for 900m...

Circuit stats

Laps: 71

Circuit distance: 4.304km

Corners: 17

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

EPA

“Uncertainty about Red Bull’s future in F1 continues this weekend, with no confirmation of which engine their two teams will use next year. It emerged in Austin last weekend that they had approached Honda, and the Japanese company’s F1 boss Yasuhisa Arai said this weekend in Mexico that the situation was still open, despite it being well known that McLaren have exercised their contractual veto against the idea.

 “McLaren racing director Eric Boullier was firm on the issue. ‘There is no debate on this,’ he said. ‘There is clearly an issue in Red Bull which was created by Red Bull, not by anybody else, and we are not a charity foundation, we are not here to help.’

"In any case, despite the gossip about Honda, informed insiders say it looks increasingly as if the lead team will continue with Renault after all, despite their very public falling-out this season, with Toro Rosso switching to Ferrari, likely with a 2015 engine as long as the rules, which currently forbid such a thing, are changed to allow it. On track this weekend, Red Bull have been looking racy, and Daniel Ricciardo in particular, who qualified fourth, could be a menace in the race.”

Hamilton and Rosberg can do what they want - Lauda

Triple world champion Niki Lauda, chairman of Mercedes F1, tells BBC Radio 5 live that the team have not given Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg any instructions after the controversy in Austin.

Lauda says: "They can do what they want. We can't get involved, so let's see what they do. Nico can only get back at him by beating Lewis."

Asked if he was going to be nervous watching the first corner, he replies. "Yes, admittedly, I am."

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The Mexico national anthem, or at least the rendition of it at the circuit, is erm...interesting. 

Everyone has stood proudly to await it as some fella kicks things off with a trumpet, but it sounds more like a kazoo than anything else.

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Think we can chalk off another win for the supplier this weekend though...

Newspaper round-up

Here are some of the stories from national newspapers before the Mexican Grand Prix.

The Sun: Jenson Button says Nico Rosberg should ask him for tips on beating Lewis Hamilton.

Sunday Mirror: Sebastian Vettel hopes Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton crash into each other on the first corner.

Star on Sunday: Lewis Hamilton is planning to pick up where Nigel Mansell left off in Mexico.

Sunday Express: World Champion Lewis Hamilton wants to end his career with Mercedes after ruling out Ferrari move.

The drivers have just completed their laps to the grid, with 20 minutes to go until lights out.

"The rears are very weak," reports Lewis Hamilton, before adding that "they are going to struggle today".

"Reliability is a big concern ahead of this race. The thinner air at over 2,000m puts an extra strain on engines and brakes. ‘It will be difficult with all these things - everything is on the edge, brakes, engine temperatures,’ said Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg. ‘We have prepared well and are comfortable but it will be on the edge.’ Meanwhile, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said he expected to see reliability problems.”

Reuters

'This is just awesome'

Nigel Mansell, who won the last time the race was staged 23 years ago, has just been talking on BBC Radio 5 live.

He says: "What they have put on this week is just awesome. We have an epic race on our hands.

"Rosberg just needs to do a solid job and not make a mistake. We have an extraordinary set of circumstances and a lot of cars were within one second of pole position."

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Get involved #bbcf1

It's a kind of magic

The most excited man in Mexico has been spotted. The anti-Raikkonen, if you will...

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Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

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“Struggling they might be, but there is still room at McLaren for some humour, and on Saturday it came courtesy of an Australian reporter and the Rugby World Cup final. 

"McLaren’s news conference took place a couple of hours after the All Blacks’ brilliant victory over the Wallabies, and upon hearing a questioner’s accent, Jenson Button said: ‘Where are you from?” ‘Australia,’ came the reply. ‘Tough day?’ said Button. Reporter: ’How did your team do?’ Touche.”

Move over, Daniel Ricciardo. Magnum PI, sorry, a random Mercedes engineer has stolen your mustachioed thunder.

Actually, on closer inspection I think it might just be fake...

Mercedes

I've not seen too many famous faces wandering around the paddock just yet. One person there is Carlos Slim Domit, who is the son of the second richest man in the world, and also was a key player in getting a Mexican GP back on the calendar.

Tequilas on Carlos later then?

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The challenge in Mexico

BBC

Want to know more about the challenges the teams and drivers face on the Mexican Grand Prix circuit?

Tom Clarkson has been speaking to Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, about just that, and you can watch the video here.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

“Sergio Perez has had an extraordinary weekend, to say the least. His every move cheered by the thousands of fans in the grandstands, the Mexican’s time out of the car has been a whirlwind of PR events promoting the race and his sponsors. Yet he seems to have handled it pretty well so far. 

"‘I felt very privileged to be driving at home,’ he said after qualifying ninth, ‘and to feel so much support from the fans. They have given me lots of energy and I’m extremely motivated to give them something to celebrate this weekend - that’s the best way to repay them."

AP

Sergio Perez starts from ninth today and having finished on the podium just two races ago, coupled with the crowd behind him, he'll surely fancy his chances of competing for another today?

Reuters

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Drivers standings

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Lewis Hamilton holds an unassailable lead at the top of the standings, but the battle for second is very much alive. Sebastian Vettel is just four points ahead of Nico Rosberg.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

“What had promised through the practice sessions to be a close qualifying session fizzled out somewhat as the Mercedes stretched their legs when it mattered, as they usually do. But Sebastian Vettel, only 0.4secs behind in third, felt that things were a bit closer than normal, and predicted an entertaining race. ‘Sundays we are usually a bit closer to them,’ he said. 

‘We were all hoping for a close qualifying also with the Red Bulls and Williams but it could be a very close race with those teams and five to eight cars with a similar pace, which makes it tough. Should be an interesting race and not that easy to manage (the tyres).’”

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Keke Rosberg at the 1986 Mexico GP

Interestingly, Nico Rosberg's father Keke raced in Mexico the first time it returned to the F1 calendar after a long absence back in 1986.

On that occasion, Keke retired with a puncture while running outside the points.

Fair to say Nico will be hoping it won't be a case of like father like son today.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

“Lewis Hamilton’s world championship campaign this season was founded on 11 poles in the first 12 races, seven of which he converted into victories (and it should have been eight, had it not been for his bad luck in Monaco). So it is slightly odd that Hamilton clinched the title after three races in each of which he was beaten to pole by Nico Rosberg, who has made it four in a row this weekend in Mexico City. If Hamilton is perturbed by this turn of events, he is not showing it - and well he might not, given that he has won each one of those three races.

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"Hamilton said he was ‘fairly relaxed’ about being second. Why? It’s to do with the long run to the first corner, and the opportunity to slipstream Rosberg. ‘Actually it’s one of the best spots to start, second or third because it’s a long, long way down to Turn One,’ Hamilton said. ‘Just as in Russia.  I don’t know if it’s longer than Russia but I’m quite happy with my spot. The races have always been proved to be quite good ones for me so I’m excited.’

“What he did not mention, but might as well have, is that since starts were put more into the drivers’ hands at the Belgian Grand Prix in August, Hamilton has made consistently better starts than Rosberg. However, starting off line on a brand new track may well mean Hamilton has to look backwards rather than forwards.”

The sweet taste of success eh, Mercedes? Only one question: Who will pick up that trophy? 

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Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

Reuters

“It is nothing short of a sporting tragedy to see two world-class drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button continually starting from the back and with little chance of making progress. But the two of them have developed a sort of good-humoured, weary resignation about the situation now, which is only occasionally bubbling over into outward frustration. 

"They face another one in Mexico, starting together on the back row following a series of engine penalties. Button did not even make it out for qualifying because of repeated problems with his new-spec engine and has an academic 70-place penalty.

“Alonso said he was hoping for rain: ‘We have an interesting race with some rain around that hopefully help us recover some places. We need some chaos in the race, starting last it only helps and we see how many races we can recover.’ Button, extremely limited on mileage, said he would ‘just follow Fernando at the start and see how it goes’.”

Surtees stands alone

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John Surtees won the Mexican Grand Prix in a Cooper back in 1966, making him the last man to win grands prix for two different constructors in the same season, having won the 1966 Belgian GP in a Ferrari.

Get involved #bbcf1

THE GRID

Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have all had varying grid-place penalties applied for today.

Raikkonen has a 35-place penalty because of a gearbox and engine change, there's a 20-place penalty for Alonso but Button took the biggest hit, with 70. 

Taking that into consideration, I make it that Button starts just shy of the planet Mars...

1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Sebastian Vettel 4) Daniil Kvyat 5) Daniel Ricciardo 6) Valtteri Bottas 7) Felipe Massa 8) Max Verstappen 9) Sergio Perez 10) Nico Hulkenberg 

11) Carlos Sainz 12) Romain Grosjean 13) Pastor Maldonado 14) Marcus Ericsson 15) Felipe Nasr 16) Alexander Rossi 17) Will Stevens 18) Fernando Alonso  19) Kimi Raikkonen 

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The moon

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Jenson Button

'Wow'

There is a crowd of more than 100,000 in Mexico City.

Available for weddings, bah mitzvahs and grands prix...

'This is the best crowd I've ever seen'

World champion Lewis Hamilton says: "I've had the most amazing week and I'm loving it here.

"I'm just humbled to be here. I've never seen such an amazing crowd. I've been racing for a long time but this is the best crowd I've ever seen. I hope we put on a good show."

Mercedes

Get involved

Come with me now as we take a step into the unknown. 

No current driver has raced on this track before and with the low grip surface and high altitude, surely we are in for a few surprises? 

How do you see this race going? Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Mexico's amazing atmosphere.

I know I've already mentioned it, but the atmosphere is truly something. Maybe it is the acoustics of the stadium section but as Sergio Perez is introduced to the fans the noise is spine tingling. 

"CHECO,CHECO,CHECO," they chant as the Mariachi band is drowned out for a good five minutes until Perez eventually drives off, waving a Mexico flag.

Amazing, he must feel like a rock star.

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Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

“What is Mercedes’ view of the potential for a Turn One incident in Austin between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg? 

"Team boss Toto Wolff said: ‘It is always tricky when it is so close between team-mates or racing cars in general. We are here because we want to see them race and not to pre-agree who goes through the corner first and second. It is always a challenge for us as a team. It is important to have no controversy and if they collide or it gets too hard, it causes controversy. 

"'There is no need to discuss it again. We have had discussions before and after Austin and they are both absolutely aware of the situation.’”

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Meanwhile, this is how Lewis has left Roscoe. Strong look...

Force India

The locals are certainly backing Sergio Perez, but they are also at the circuit to see the new world champion.

Huge cheers greet Lewis Hamilton as he emerges for the drivers' parade. "Hola Mexico!" he shouts into a microphone before throwing a few caps up into the crowd.

Reuters

Sergio Perez slowed to wave at the fans during the stadium section in practice on Saturday

The locals have been loving Formula 1 being back in Mexico and have flocked in their thousands to the circuit.

No driver has got a bigger cheer so far this weekend than home favourite Sergio Perez. He finished on the podium at the Russian GP last month, and will be hopeful of becoming the first Mexican to finish higher than fourth in his home race.

"For the race expectations will be high, I know that, but it's a very positive pressure and I just need to say focused," he said. "The car is working well, we've done our homework and I want to move forward in the race."

There are a few clouds above the circuit, but none that look particularly threatening. Here's the latest forecast from BBC weather's Ian Fergusson:

"Increasingly cloudy. Perhaps a few light showers later but more likely wet post-race."  

'If it rains, no problem'

"I'm happy being in first and it's going to be an exciting race," says Nico Rosberg. "I've got a good car so it's going to be good. It's very important I get a good start.

"Our car is quick in any condition. I'm first so I would prefer it to stay dry but if it rains no problem."

Nico Rosberg's face in this picture is freaking my mind!

It is a truly superb atmosphere at the circuit, with the packed grandstands entertained by a Mariachi band while the drivers are driven round the circuit in a fine array of classic cars.

Sunshine at the moment, will it last for the race?

Mercedes, when not hooking up the fastest car on the grid, are a dab hand at history-making too. 

They've just tweeted this graphic of Mexico GP winners over the years, starting all the way back in 1963 with Jim Clark. There are some big names there, so illustrious company awaits for today's victor.

Mercedes

Coming up

BBC

BBC Radio 5 live's Jack Nicholls is ready, are you?

The race starts at 19:00 GMT with build-up on BBC Radio 5 live from 18:00 GMT. You can also listen online via this page too. 

Race highlights will then be on BBC One at 22:30 GMT.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer

“It has been a while since the Mercedes drivers had a proper coming together - 14 months, to be precise, since the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, when Nico Rosberg’s ill-judged attempt to say ‘enough is enough’ backfired spectacularly. 

"Rosberg was given a public and private dressing-down by the team after the collision with Lewis Hamilton he caused there, and since then he has been given painful lessons in race-craft time and time again by his team-mate. 

Reuters

"The latest of those was in Austin a week ago, when Hamilton pushed him wide at the first corner. If Rosberg is still smarting from that, he is hiding it well, although there has been the odd little hint of annoyance at Hamilton’s behaviour, and some of the things the new world champion has said. 

"And team boss Toto Wolff has basically admitted Rosberg is still upset. Is this race when he tries to get his own back and lay down a marker for the future?”

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Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Mexican Grand Prix.

After Lewis Hamilton wrapped up a third world championship in Austin last-time out, Nico Rosberg has little more than pride to play for in the final three races of the season. Well, second place also, but mostly pride.

Rosberg was hardly jumping for joy at his team-mate's latest triumph, what with cap-gate and having a pop at Hamilton's first-lap aggression, but he insists he that any anger he may have will not affect his driving today.

Will he stay true to his word? We shall see...

The (2016) season starts now for Rosberg

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For 23 years Nigel Mansell has stood as the last winner of a Mexican Grand Prix.

That honour, though, will today go to a different driver, with Nico Rosberg firmly in the driving seat.

reuter

The German may have lost out to Lewis Hamilton once again in the title race, but he needs to send out a message that he can be a bigger threat in 2016.

To do that, he needs to add to his three race wins so far this season, and there's no better time to do just that than today.