Mexico could be the venue for the coronation.
The British Lewis Hamilton has the possibility of regaining the crown of Formula One at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, after losing it last year to his former teammate at Mercedes, the German Nico Rosberg, who retired after achieving the feat.
Last week, in the United States, the Englishman needed his only rival in the championship fight, the German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), to finish sixth in order to confirm his fourth title in the top category. However, Vettel finished second despite Hamilton's victory in the number 44 car.
This afternoon, everything is in Hamilton's hands. He only needs to finish among the top five, something he has done in 16 of the previous 17 races this season, to celebrate, as he wants, with a sombrero and tequila, his entry into the Olympus of the Great Circus, as one of the five drivers in history with four titles or more.
"I lost the championship last year and dedicated myself to improving in every area and not letting anything pass in order to win. I communicated more with the team, was consistent, didn't make mistakes, and if you review my year, I didn't have many failures," he analyzed upon arriving in Mexico.
So far, he has won nine Grand Prix, has scored points in every race he has participated in, and has no retirements, unlike Vettel, who couldn't finish in two of the last four races, giving Hamilton the trophy on a silver platter.
"At the middle of the season, I thought it would be decided on the last race, but then I won five out of the last six. It could happen here in Mexico, although I don't care where it happens as long as it does," he pointed out.
In its return to the Formula One calendar in 2015, Mexico had not been decisive in the world championship. Two years ago, Hamilton celebrated his title at the Hermanos Rodriguez after winning the previous week in Austin, and in 2016, the local fans witnessed Lewis's victory, in his desperate pursuit of Rosberg, which he couldn't achieve.
However, the situation is not new for the track. The historic venue has crowned three champions in the top category, including two British drivers, John Surtees in 1964 and Graham Hill in 1968, as well as the New Zealander Denny Hulme in 1967.
But the big difference is that at that time, Mexico was the last race of the calendar, so the outcome was mandatory. This time it is the penultimate race, an example of Mercedes' dominance, despite the rule changes in the Great Circus this season, with the aim of having more teams fighting for the championship.
"Formula One is much better now. In the three years from 2013 to 2015, there were good cars, but now we have powerful cars with aerodynamic grip. There are still things that we need to improve, but it feels better," said Frenchman Romain Grosjean from Haas. "Ideally, I would like to see more teams fighting for wins and four or five different winners, because now there are only two, Ferrari and Mercedes. But in the previous season, there was only one, so it has made progress."
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Last year, Rosberg finished just five points ahead of Hamilton, although the German had a lead of 173 points over Vettel, who finished fourth. Meanwhile, the British driver was 168 points behind his Ferrari rival, a big difference compared to the 66 points by which he currently leads coming into Mexico.
"This year is more exciting, with Mercedes and Ferrari fighting for the championship throughout 2017. The competition is high, the midfield is very close this year, so there is not much space, and the top teams are closer to each other," analyzed Canadian Lance Stroll from Williams.
As for the constructors, the Silver Arrows arrived at the Hermanos Rodriguez with their fourth consecutive title, being 147 points ahead of Ferrari, although the German team had surpassed the second-place Red Bull by 297 points and the Scuderia by 367 points the previous year.
"I am not surprised (by Mercedes' dominance), but Ferrari has also been there this year. They have had bad luck, but their pace is good, they have a great car, and it is more interesting this time," assured Danish driver Kevin Magnussen from Haas, regarding the Italian brand's progress after the rule change. "It's good, Formula One needs to be extreme and spectacular, and now it is very fast and entertaining. There is still room for improvement, but it is heading in the right direction."
For now, not even the rule change has been able to stop Hamilton's ambition. He saw his two-year streak with the drivers' championship interrupted by the appearance of his former teammate in 2016, and now, nine seasons after winning his first title in the Great Circus, he is on the verge of regaining it.
Mexico could be the ideal setting for the coronation, in front of thousands of people at the Foro Sol, as long as the British driver avoids the mistakes he hasn't made throughout the season.