Max Verstappen kept his hopes of a top three finish in the Formula One drivers’ championship alive with a commanding win in Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton sealed his fifth world title.

Starting from second on the grid, Verstappen overtook his team-mate Daniele Ricciardo on the first corner and never looked back, finishing the 71 laps 17 seconds ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton, who needed to finish in the top seven to retain his title, settled for fourth behind Kimi Räikkönen.

The win was the second in a row for the Dutchman at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit and the fifth of his Grand Prix career. ‘The start was very good, and after that I was able to conserve my tyres and we dominated the race,’ said Verstappen.

‘Two wins in a row here is fantastic. This is a special circuit, it’s a very good place to achieve this.’

Verstappen had so much time in hand in the latter stages that he was able to ask his pit crew to tone down his engine after seeing Ricciardo retire 10 laps from the end while in second place.

The Australian, who has failed to finish seven races this season because of technical problems, said afterwards: ‘I’m not superstitious or any of this bullshit, but the car’s cursed. I don’t have any more words.’

Ricciardo’s late retirement was a boost for Räikkönen, who moved up from fourth to third in the race and remains 20 points ahead of Verstappen in the drivers’ championship. The Dutchman, in fifth on 216 points, is also 11 behind Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas.