Downbeat Hamilton sees Championship deficit grow: "Gave it absolutely everything"

Mercedes started on the front row but at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton ended up salvaging second-place. The seven-time World Champion loses more ground to Max Verstappen in the F1 World Championship but kept a fighting Sergio Perez in his mirrors on the final lap to limit the damage.

Hamilton is now 19 points behind with four races remaining in the Championship. In the interviews after the race, Hamilton offered his congratulations to his rival and admitted there was nothing he or Mercedes could've done.

"Firstly congrats to Max, their car was far superior and nothing we can do about it. I gave it absolutely everything and had a great fight with Sergio at the end. But I'm grateful I could at least get second. I've had that pressure many times before, it was easy to hold on. It just shows how fast their car is, he did a great job and applied that pressure. I enjoyed the race still," Hamilton said.

Home favourite Sergio Perez hunted down Hamilton throughout the last quarter of the race. He got within DRS range on the final lap but couldn't make the overtake work.