Mercedes have been backed by a former world champion over their tyre strategy decision which left Lewis Hamilton unable to challenge Max Verstappen for the win in Mexico City.
The Dutchman cruised to victory in the Mexican Grand Prix, but in the opening stages of the race it did not look likely to play out that way. A tense tactical battle was promised as Mercedes and Red Bull started on different tyres in what was expected to be a two-stop race.
Verstappen was on the softs, which are faster but less durable than the mediums on Hamilton's car. So when the Red Bull driver was unable to pull away from his rival, eventually ducking into the pits for a pair of his own mediums, it looked like the Brit had the upper hand.
