Lewis Hamilton secured victory in a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by less than two seconds after 71 laps, while Mercedes secured their fifth consecutive constructors’ title.
Hamilton led into turn one following a strong launch and duly controlled the first stint ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas as the Red Bulls made rapid progress behind.
Verstappen, who started the race on the same super-soft tires as the two Mercedes, quickly hunted down the two soft-shod Ferraris and moved into third.
The Dutchman then closed onto the back of Bottas, eventually moving past the Finn into second and in a position to chase down Hamilton.
Hamilton, however, pitted to head on to the medium compound rubber just under a thirds distance, leaving Verstappen out in front.
The Red Bull driver kept up a stunning pace on aging tyres and re-emerged just five-seconds behind the Brit when he made his own stop for softs 14 laps later.
Verstappen rapidly closed down Hamilton’s advantage, and just after the halfway point moved ahead of the Mercedes into turn one with the help of DRS.
A few laps later he collided with Esteban Ocon at the Senna S and spun. Despite driving away from the scene he lost the lead to Hamilton, with Kimi Raikkonen just behind.
He did his best to catch the 2018 world champion but had to settle for second at the flag just ahead of Raikkonen.
Daniel Ricciardo had pitted a few laps after his team-mate following a strong opening stint, and after several laps of pressurising moved ahead of Sebastian Vettel through the Senna S.
He then got stuck behind the slower Mercedes of Bottas, and by the time he had made his way into fourth it was too late to do anything about Raikkonen ahead, so he had to make do with fourth.
Both Bottas and Vettel pitted for a second time in the closing stages – taking advantage of an opportunity for a free pitstop – but could only secure fifth and sixth respectively.
Charles Leclerc secured a strong seventh for Sauber, while Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen made it a double points score for Haas in eighth and ninth.
The final point went to Sergio Perez for Racing Point Force India.
