Hamilton fires Perez warning shot in Verstappen runner-up fight

Lewis Hamilton believes that the fight with Sergio Perez for runner-up in the Drivers' championship is "swings and roundabouts" as he is in in "shooting range" of the Red Bull.

Perez headed into his home Mexico City Grand Prix 39 points ahead of Hamilton following his disqualification from the United States GP, but retired on the first lap after a clumsy collision with Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton would go onto finish second behind Verstappen, and also bank the fastest lap bonus point for a haul of 19 to reduce the gap to 20 points with three rounds plus a Sprint to go in the campaign.

Hamilton has finished second three times in 2007, 2016 and 2021 while Perez has a best result of third in the standings, achieved last season.

While he concedes it is not overly important, Hamilton says he can now see an opening that he thought closed after the US race.

Hamilton's Perez warning

"It's mostly dependent on Checo's weekends really," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 of the fight to finish runner-up.

"They have the championship-winning car, and he's just been unfortunate in some scenarios.

"Obviously, I've lost quite a lot of points in the last two races (in Qatar and the United States), but he lost points [in Mexico].

"It is swings and roundabouts, and coming into the weekend, having lost points last week, I didn't think I would really be in shooting range particularly.

"But we'll just give it our best shot. Honestly, it's not going to make a big difference to my life, whether I come second or third.

"It's more important to get the team second in the Constructors' and so that's what I'm focused on. It's a bonus if we get second in the Drivers'."

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