F1: ten talking points from the Mexican GP

A week on from the mistake which handed teammate Lewis Hamilton the championship in the US Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg proved that he is still a superb driver with a dominant lights-to-flag victory in Mexico’s first race in 23 years.

The German held off his teammate in the long run down to the first corner and didn’t look back thereafter, claiming a hat-trick of pole, race win and fastest lap for the first time in his F1 career.

“That was the best podium of my life!” exclaimed a delighted Nico, who also regained second place in the drivers’ standings from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. “Thousands and thousands of people singing your name after winning on a great track... it's unbelievable!

“In that moment you feel like a rock star on stage and I enjoyed every second. Thank you so much to all the Mexican fans who made my win here so special.”

Although the race was far from a classic, the astonishing atmosphere rivalled that of Monza, Spa and Silverstone, raising the question of why it took nearly a quarter of a century to get Mexico back on F1’s calendar.

Improvement work at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was only completed a fortnight ago, with the slippery new asphalt providing an additional challenge as the drivers also battled a lack of downforce at the high-altitude venue.

That took nothing away from the occasion though, with a reported attendance in the region of 130,000 on race day alone.

The entire grid was full of praise after the chequered flag had fallen, with 13^th placed Carlos Sainz saying: “I have to say that I’m amazed with the Mexican fans and the big crowds here at the track throughout the whole weekend. They definitely give you an extra push, it’s really great and it’s just what Formula 1 needs!”

Who thinks Baku will be just as good next year?

As Daniil Kvyat discovered at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi a few weeks ago, home races can be extremely demanding for native drivers as PR and media commitments fill up the schedule.

Spare a thought then for Sergio Perez, who was the focal point for the entire crowd in a weekend which must have been 5% racing, 15% waving and 80% selfie taking.

In truth the 25-year-old took it all in his stride, pulling off a couple of passes inside the baseball stadium before clinging on to eighth place on old tyres in the final stages.

“What a week this has been here in Mexico!” said the Force India shortly after crossing the line. “The atmosphere has been amazing and there were so many special moments.

“I am very lucky to have this huge support from my country and I will remember this weekend forever. I think everybody has enjoyed the energy of the crowd and this must surely be one of the most popular races on the calendar now.”

F1’s two Finns came together for the second time in three races on lap 22, with Kimi Raikkonen coming off worst on this occasion after the Ferrari driver had ended Valtteri Bottas’s podium challenge in Russia last month.

The Williams racer had got alongside his fellow countryman and appeared to have the inside line at Turn 5, but Kimi refused to yield and broke his rear suspension as the two cars came together.

“There was not much room, but if he'd gone a bit more over the kerb on the inside there would be enough room,” said Raikkonen. “What has happened, has happened. Maybe now he feels better about what happened in Russia, I have nothing against anybody.”

Bottas responded by denying that the collision was personal, saying it was just unlucky that they’d touched again so soon after the incident in Sochi.

“For me we were racing hard,” he added. “There should be space for two cars in a place like that.”

Ferrari’s weekend got worse on lap 52 when Sebastian Vettel crashed out of the race, having made a number of uncharacteristic errors throughout the course of the grand prix.

The four-time world champion was initially hampered by a puncture on the first lap caused by the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo, but his woe continued as he span at Turn 7 and locked up passing Pastor Maldonado before finally hitting the barriers in the same place as his earlier spin.

The German was asked if there was a mechanical problem with the car, but conceded that the crucial mistake was indeed his own fault.

"There was nothing wrong with the car, I went in with more or less the same speed and very suddenly lost the car. It was similar to the first time when I lost control.

"In the end it's my mistake and probably just asking or wanting a little bit too much.”

Seb’s first non-classification of the season allowed Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg to regain second in the championship, with a 21-point gap separating the drivers with two races left to run.

Fresh from sealing his third world title last week, Lewis Hamilton provided one of the more interesting moments of the grand prix as he challenged his team over a change in strategy.

The 30-year-old was told “We are going to convert to Plan B,” over the radio on lap 47, but Hamilton resisted the call as he questioned the need to copy Nico Rosberg in pitting for fresh tyres.

The Mercedes crew were seemingly caught unawares as Lewis stayed out to fight his case, but he eventually relented a lap later.

The Brit later said that he had “full confidence” in his team despite the disagreement, while Merc boss Toto Wolff praised his driver for trying to find an advantage out on track.

“If he didn't do that, he wouldn't be a racing driver.”

For all the wrong reasons, that is.

Jenson Button endured another miserable weekend at the back of the field, accumulating a record demotion of 70 places after mechanical issues forced him to miss qualifying on Saturday.

The 2009 champion fared little better in the race itself, only finishing above the Manor-Marussia cars, as the McLaren’s dreadful top speed was repeatedly exposed on the main straight.

Fernando Alonso meanwhile knew his race was over hours before the start, after the team discovered a problem which they didn’t have time to fix.

To his credit the Spaniard opted to line up anyway “out of respect for the amazing fans”, but as he admitted afterwards: "One or two laps was the maximum I could achieve."

Away from the track the powers that be are at loggerheads over the future of engines in F1, with Ferrari and Mercedes arguing against the introduction of an independent supplier.

In a separate development the Italian team used special powers afforded to them as a historically important asset to the sport to veto attempts to cap the cost of engines bought by customer teams just last week.

Both Mauricio Arrivabene and Toto Wolff pointed out that they already lose “substantial” sums on the power units they supply to other outfits, although Christian Horner argued it was “crucial” that teams had a competitive and affordable alternative.

Bernie Ecclestone meanwhile dislikes the direction F1 has taken by pursuing quieter hybrid V6s, and is believed to want a return to the V8 era to help allay the “dip” the sport has suffered in recent years.

The prospects of a Cosworth-style supply deal by 2017 look bleak given that Honda remain well off the pace after three years of, um, progress, and few inside the sport want to see a two-tier championship.

However, many recognise that Ferrari and Mercedes’ current domination needs to be curtailed, or else the likes of Red Bull could move on and take a large chunk of the grid with them.

It’s like House of Cards, but with more petrol.

The minnows of F1 will be searching for new management after it was revealed that team principal John Booth and sporting director Graeme Lowdon are set to leave at the end of the season.

It has been reported that the pair – who were key to the team’s survival as they sought new investment last winter – have grown frustrated with owner Stephen Fitzpatrick, the businessman who bought the outfit ahead of the 2015 season.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that “John Booth is Manor” and that “Graeme has done an awesome job in picking the team up.”

He added: "It is not a good situation and it is unfortunate because these guys are real racers.”

Manor-Marussia’s prospects were looking good after they announced an engine deal with Mercedes and a technical partnership with Williams for 2016, although this news could prove to be an unwelcome setback.

As expected, Haas F1 have announced that Ferrari reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez will partner Romain Grosjean when the American team enters the sport next year, with the 24-year-old becoming the second Mexican on the grid alongside Sergio Perez.

Elsewhere it was confirmed that Daniil Kvyat, like teammate Daniel Ricciardo, would retain his seat at Red Bull, should – as Christian Horner put it – they still be in the sport in 2016.

The young Russian finished just shy of the podium on Sunday and said: “I think this weekend showed we can be champions if we get back on the path. I believe in this team, I believe in us and I believe in our future.”

It means that next year’s grid is almost complete, with only Toro Rosso and Manor-Marussia left to officially confirm their line-ups.

Red Bull’s sister team are expected to retain Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, although Manor-Marussia’s financial situation could well ensure their seats go to the highest bidders. Going once, going twice...