Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

There will be more nerves than usual up and down the pit lane in this race because the high altitude of Mexico City puts greater premium on cooling. “It’s certainly going to be difficult for all the competitors in terms of engine and brake cooling,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said.

“I think we have taken a bit of a margin.” It means drivers will be even less keen than usual to run right behind someone, and may need to drop back a little if they are racing hard to keep temperatures under control.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Baker: Hamilton has plenty of experience in fighting for titles in #F1 with some success, seven of 11 seasons he's battled for the title

Doc R: Hunt v Lauda in the rain in Japan 1976...best race ever as a small boy back then. Got me into F1.

David O'Reilly: Hamilton is a great, runs on the board and unlike Vettel his team mates get 100% team support. But don't forget what Rosberg managed

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Watching Max Verstappen chuck his Red Bull around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was like poetry in motion, so beautifully on top of the car did the Dutchman seem to be, especially through the Esses, where his controlled slides were breathtaking.

He was very disappointed not to be on pole, but was soon talking about the importance of the race - clearly believing in what would be a second victory in four races for him.

Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, though, who has been closely matched with Verstappen all year, was nowhere, the best part of a second off the pace, and admitting he was “super-frustrated and confused” about a general lack of grip.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sebastian Vettel on pole, Max Verstappen alongside him. Sound familiar?

It should because that was how the Singapore Grand Prix started just four races ago and it resulted in one of the defining moments of the 2017 season.

Verstappen, Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were all involved in a crash at the first corner which led to all three retiring from the race.

All three were called in front of the stewards after the race but no further punishment was given with the trio blaming each other as you might expect.

In the end, Lewis Hamilton took victory despite starting fifth and stretched his lead from three points to 28.

Image source, Getty Images

Today will be Sebastian Vettel's first pole in Mexico, coming at the third attempt.

In 2015 he qualified in P13, before retiring, while last year he gained two places in the race from a seventh-place start.

Sebastian Vettel brought up the big Five-O yesterday - reaching 50 poles in his career.

Just 15 more to go to catch the 65 of Ayrton Senna, while Lewis Hamilton is the man out in front with 72.

Image source, .

As always we are keen for you to get involved and we have two points of discussion for you to give us your thoughts on.

What are your memories of Formula 1 title deciders in the past?

Also, how does Lewis Hamilton compare to the best drivers of all time? Is he a great? Either way, give us your reasoning.

Tweet us using the hashtag #bbcf1 and we will stick your comments in this page throughout the evening.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Two more drivers have now joined Fernando Alonso, Stoffel Vandoorne and Pierre Gasly in the engine penalty gang at the back.

Toro Rosso needed to change Brendon Hartley’s engine after his failure in qualifying, and he has a new engine, turbo and MGU-H. Likewise Daniel Ricciardo, after Red Bull chose to change Daniel Ricciardo’s after his weak qualifying performance so he has a better power-unit for the final races of the season.

These are the bottom five on the grid and their grid penalties.

• Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull, 20-place grid penalty
• Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso, 20-place grid penalty)
• Fernando Alonso (McLaren, 20-place grid penalty)
• Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren, 35-place grid penalty)
• Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso, 5-place grid penalty, but did not take part in qualifying)

Image source, Getty Images

This is how the top 10 on the grid will look, after Sebastian Vettel snatched pole position out of Max Verstappen's hands late on yesterday.

You will notice Daniel Ricciardo is not among the top 10, despite qualifying in seventh place yesterday...

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Sebastian Vettel speaking at the track parade: "Turn one is key. We will try to get a good start, not worry about the others and see what we can do."

Lewis Hamilton, who starts third on the grid, has been speaking at the track parade and he said: "What a crowd. You have surrounded the whole track. You guys are what make this race what it is.

"I am the most excited for a race in the long time. I woke up wanting a good start so I can race these guys. Turn one will be the most exciting part but we will see. I want to win this race."

If only Sebastian Vettel hadn't had to retire from the races in Singapore and Japan then we would have the truly dramatic title race we had been hoping for.

Image source, .

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Hamilton has made no secret of his desire to win the title in “the right way”, ie by winning the race, but that is not going to be easy from third on the grid. Yes, Hamilton has the most powerful engine, but he doesn’t have the quickest car, at least over one lap.

And while his race-simulation run on Friday was “spectacular” in team boss Toto Wolff’s words, there was no real comparison because Vettel and Verstappen did not really do one - and Verstappen was about 0.5secs quicker on the two laps he did do; coincidentally or not, the same margin the Dutchman had over Hamilton in qualifying.

Hamilton said: “Easy one-stop, can’t overtake, need a 1.4-second delta (advantage per lap) to overtake but if get a good start and able to get close enough in the pit stop, who knows? we’ll see. The start’s going to be fun. In the race it’s going to be very, very tough but I hope that I will remain at least close if I’m not where I want to be in turn one.”

Image source, EPA

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

A brilliant pole position for Sebastian Vettel in Mexico inevitably raised questions about what might have been for the German and Ferrari. Had they not had their implosion in Asia, Vettel would still be very much in the title fight and this race would be a golden opportunity for him to gain some serious ground on Lewis Hamilton. As it is, he is effectively fighting for honour alone.

Does he think about an alternative vision of today? “Yes and no,” he said. “I don’t allow myself think about it that much but if you do then for sure you work so hard and if you don’t have the chance always to fight that is the worst thing. I prefer not to think about it. I am looking forward to race and then we see what happens.”

It’s not over until it’s over, as Vettel and Hamilton keep reminding everyone. But Vettel if effectively hoping for what would be the greatest turnaround in F1 history, and he can work out the odds as well as anyone else.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Miller: If he blows it from here, it would be the biggest sporting choke since.......well since he bottled the 2007 title.

PhilSlocombe: I can't see Lewis, barring a DNF, not finishing in the top five, but see Seb chopping across Max at the start, possible accident.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Lewis Hamilton has three races to score a fifth place to seal his fourth world title. In theory, he should be as relaxed as a bear with a big pot of honey. But was that a hint of tension and pressure in his voice after qualifying?

How was he feeling, BBC Sport’s Tom Clarkson asked him yesterday? “It doesn’t feel great that people keep talking about it because I still have three races to do the job,” the Mercedes driver said.

“Today wasn’t great and I hope tomorrow is a better day and I don’t care if it’s tomorrow. I really have no cares if we win it tomorrow or if we win it at the next race. I couldn’t care less, it is really about going out there and performing at your best and trying to win and that’s what I care about.”

As team boss Toto Wolff said: “If there wouldn’t be any pressure on him or us it wouldn’t be normal.” On paper, his task is easy. But pressure does funny things.

Image source, Getty Images

• Lewis Hamilton only needs to finish fifth in Mexico to win the world title, even if Sebastian Vettel wins the race
• If Vettel comes second in Mexico then Hamilton would only need to finish ninth
• If Vettel finishes third or worse in Mexico then Hamilton is the world champion, even if he fails to finish

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Hello everybody, thanks for joining us.

I'm Michael Emons and I will be guiding you through what promises to be a dramatic evening of Formula 1 action as Lewis Hamilton aims to become a four-time world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Image source, Reuters

Five wins in his last six races, Lewis Hamilton has been in sensational form and today he can clinch his fourth world title.

Is this going to be a memorable day for him? Fifth or better and the glory is his.

Image source, Getty Images