The Mexican Grand Prix could be the scene where Lewis Hamilton wins his sixth F1 title on Sunday. After putting in good first practice, the signs were good for him on Friday. But the Mercedes team are still expected to come under big pressure from the fancied Ferrari’s.
Mexican Grand Prix Winner Odds*
Charles Leclerc 6/4
Lewis Hamilton 11/4
Max Verstappen 7/2
Sebastian Vettel 4/1
Valtteri Bottas 10/1
Alexander Albon 50/1
*(betting odds taken on October 25th, 2019 at 7:12 pm)
Table of Contents
Hamilton’s Title Push
Hamilton holds a 64-point lead over his teammate Valtteri Bottas going into action in Mexico. Lewis Hamilton needs to beat Bottas by fourteen points to pick up the title this weekend. He would only need a podium finish if Bottas finished 10th or lower.
Mexico is the place where Hamilton has secured his last two F1 Drivers Championship titles. The British driver has only taken the one win in his career in Mexico which was back in 2016. He hasn’t been on a pole or taken a win in his last two appearances at the race. Because of those stats, that is why there is some favouritism on Leclerc taking the race win on the weekend.
The other factor, of course, is that Hamilton doesn’t exactly have to push hard. There are only three races left after this one and the title would come in due course, even if it doesn’t happen this weekend. Hamilton is at 11/4 to take the win*(betting odds taken on October 25th, 2019 at 7:12 pm)
Max the man in Mexico
Max Verstappen has won twice at the Mexican Grand Prix and returns as the titleholder. He went from second on the grid last season to claim the win. That followed up his 2017 successes and Verstappen is just one of four men in the history of the sport to have won twice in Mexico. So he has form behind him and he will be looking for his first race win since Germany this year. The Red Bull team locked out the front row of the grid last season. Current teammate Alexander Albon had a fantastic outing in Japan last time out, taking a career-high fourth.
Can Leclerc regain composure
It was an error by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc which took him out of the Japanese Grand Prix last time out. There were indications on Friday that he is going to be quick in Mexico. That’s understandable because of the long straight into the super-fast right-hand stretch. So he will gain some time there and because of his mistake in Japan, will probably look for a calmer, more steady approach, the kind of which he has delivered time and time again this season. He is the 6/4 outright favourite*(betting odds taken on October 25th, 2019 at 7:12 pm)
Predictions
Of course, Hamilton would love to seal the title this weekend and with a win. But the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc is probably going to be a challenge for the Mercedes to stick with on race day. There is the threat of Verstappen as well. So this is by no means a cut and dry affair at all. The straight-line speed of Ferrari may just win out. Leclerc to win.
