Hamilton becomes five-time F1 title winner - equalling great Fangio
Hamilton 4th, Verstappen wins
Alonso, Sainz, Perez, Ricciardo out
Christian Horner is back to the serious stuff: "They know 100% what is expected of them. It's a team sport, the drivers are part of the team and it's important as a team that we convert these two grid positions into a haul of points today."
Image source, Getty ImagesWhy would those ingredients ever go together in one pot?!
Image source, BBC SportMexican Sergio Perez says: "It is very special, the way these people support me throughout this weekend, it is the most special feeling a driver can have and it is a big motivation for today."
Image source, Getty ImagesChristian Horner said yesterday he's quite married to his beard, but maybe if one of his boys wins today, he might swap it for a mustache?
I'd like to see that.
Image source, BBC SportIt's not Mexico without some of this...
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Our very own Jennie Gow is out in the paddock...
Image source, BBC SportOn the cusp of a fifth world championship and trying to go incognito in the paddock.
We know it's you, Lewis...
Image source, F1 TwitterDaniel Ricciardo, who starts on pole, has just spoken to 5 live during the drivers' parade: "It is my favourite drivers' parade of the year - it's crazy and starting on pole makes it even more sweeter and it is an amazing feeling.
"I'm excited for the race, we have put ourselves in a good position so we're going to have a good day."
Image source, Getty ImagesFernando Alonso says: "There is a lot of support here and mini Fernandos so I'm very thankful. It is an emotional day and hopefully we put on a good show for the Mexican fans."
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat's going on in the paddock, I hear you ask?
Let me tell you...
I'll just leave this here. Because we should all know this by now.
He could match Juan Manuel Fangio with five, and if he's willing to continue after 12 years already, he could have seven like the legendary Michael Schumacher - who was in Formula 1 for 19 years.
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Bob McFeil: Best Hamilton memory? Battling away with Alonso. No specific race but those were the glorious days for me...
Dan Culyer: Best memory? Nothing will ever top the Brazilian Grand Prix 2008. Can remember watching it in the living room with the family as if it were yesterday. Still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it back. Worst memory? Either China 07 or Malaysia 16. Probably the latter.
Karen Waddy: Malaysia 2016 "Oh no, no...." Head in hands moment for all Hamilton fans.
Gavin Williams: Best has to be the first title and the way it unfolded. All gone going into the final corner. The look on Massa’s dads face!
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
Sebastian Vettel has much to ponder this winter about the way his season unravelled when he looked to have a strong chance of becoming Ferrari’s first world champion for 11 years. And when he looks in the mirror, as he says he will, he will surely accept that a lot of the blame for that lies at his own door.
Right now, though, his target is simple - win the race. If he doesn’t do that, his title hopes - however slim they may already be - are over. He starts fourth, and has an opportunity to prove he has not forgotten how to race, after spinning when battling alongside another car three times in the last five races, and two of the last three.
His key weapon will be Ferrari’s straight-line speed, caused by a lack of downforce which means they are struggling relatively in the corners. “It is a long way down to Turn One,” Vettel said. “We have higher speed on the straights so maybe it helps us. After that it comes down to the tyres. The Red Bulls are very fast. They will be hard to beat. Maybe they beat themselves.”
Before we start The Hamilton Show, I want to suppress the Vettel hateage for a little while.
He says: "Arriving here with the deficit in points we have… Surely we could have had more. But are the end of the day you need to ask yourself whether you have always been in a position to get the result you needed or wanted.
"We had races where we were very competitive but also races where we were not. In the end of the season, you look at the points and add them up and know yourself first what has been missing or not."
Hamilton defends him by saying: "He has been a great competitor this year and it has been so hard for both of us and I thoroughly enjoy racing with him and I am looking forward to hopefully many more years of racing and competing together right at the top."
Image source, Getty ImagesFive years ago yesterday, Sebastian Vettel won the the championship in India.
As it stands now, Hamilton and Vettel have the same number of world titles, and Vettel has a very slim chance of rescuing that today.
Vettel started the season strong - dominating the first few races, but now he's falling short, and making to many mistakes which we're all well aware of.
But let's not forget the good moments he's had - he is a four-time world champion after all.
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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
Max Verstappen did not trouble to hide his disappointment after missing out on the chance to be the youngest pole-sitter in history by 0.026 seconds to team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. The Dutchman blamed driveability problems with the Renault engine, complaining of “a lot of rear locking on the downshifting and when I come off the throttle it is like a handbrake into the corners so the engine is doing it is own engine braking”.
But Ricciardo, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko told Auto Motor und Sport, “had similar problems but coped better”. The pressure on both to keep it clean during the race is going to be high. But then the same goes for their desire to win.
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio 5 live
More from Jackie Stewart's interview with BBC Radio 5 live. He is asked where Lewis Hamilton rates in the all-time greats list and says: “It’s so difficult to assess that, because they were different times, different technologies, different safety, different number of races."
Stewart was then asked if Hamilton can equal or beat Michael Schumacher's seven titles.
"I think it’s possible but you have to be with the right team," said Stewart. "From five to nine is five more years - that’s a long time in racing.
"A driver has a window of time, you have to be careful. Lewis may decide to retire. I retired after only three because it was time to retire, but I was burned out. But he’s not doing the number of races I did.”
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Since today is largely about Hamilton we're asking for you to share your best and worst memories of Lewis Hamilton over the years.
However, since it's a big weekend for Red Bull too (and who doesn't love the pair of them?) you can share your favourite Max and Daniel moments too.
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BBC Radio 5 live
Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart has been talking to BBC Radio 5 live and is asked if he expects Lewis Hamilton to win the world title today. He said: “Oh, yes. It would only be a mechanical failure where the car would not finish would he be robbed of getting the championship today.
"Mercedes have been reliable for a long time now so I don’t anticipate that happening so I think it will be a big day for Lewis.
"The British motorsport industry is the leader of the world so to have a British driver winning that number of races with a German car that is built in Britain, and its engine is built in Britain, we should be very proud of motorsport as a country."