Updated October 29, 2018 10:08:42

Lewis Hamilton has clinched a remarkable fifth Formula One driver's championship after finishing fourth in the Mexico Grand Prix, in a day to forget for Daniel Ricciardo.

The Mercedes driver equalled the five titles of late 1950s Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio, with only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher ahead of them.

Hamilton, 33, had needed only five points to be sure of the title while four times champion Vettel had to win to have any hope of denying the Briton. He finished second.

"That's how you do it, just like that," Hamilton heard Hollywood actor Will Smith say over the radio at the chequered flag, ignoring the fact that Hamilton had a far from comfortable afternoon at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.

Australian Red Bull driver Ricciardo started the day on pole but immediately lost ground after a dud start, before apparent engine failure eight laps from the finish ended his race.

Photo: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton is embraced by team physiotherapist Angela Cullen after winning his fifth driver's championship. (AP: Alfredo Estrella)

It was an eighth DNF for Ricciardo in his final season with Red Bull before a move to Renault.

Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen won the race for a second year in a row, ahead of Ferrari pair Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

Ferrari clinching second and third in Mexico meant the constructors' championship remained open at least until the Brazilian Grand Prix in two weeks' time with Mercedes' lead trimmed.

"It wasn't won here, just throughout the season and a lot of hard work," said Hamilton after doing "donuts" at the finish of an unusual race without a Mercedes driver on the podium.

"To complete this when Fangio did it with Mercedes is an incredible feeling and very surreal," he said.

In a nice sporting gesture, the Briton hugged Vettel and then ran back to the Mercedes garage to embrace his teammates one by one.

Photo: Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the Mexico GP to secure a fifth F1 driver's championship. (AP: Marco Ugarte)

ABC/Reuters

Topics: formula-1, motor-sports, sport, mexico

First posted October 29, 2018 07:54:47