Hamilton: 'You can't overtake, so it's going to be a train'

Lewis Hamilton believes Turn 1 at the start or a pit-stop undercut will likely deliver the only opportunities of moving up in tomorrow's Mexican GP.

The Mercedes driver who could clinch his fourth world championship on Sunday qualified off the front row, in third place behind title rival Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Hamilton praised his competitors performance and sees a difficult race ahead given the rare overtake opportunities generally associated with Mexico City's track.

"Those guys did a great job, they are obviously very quick," said Hamilton after qualifying.

• Vettel snatches pole from Verstappen in Mexico

"I gave it everything I could, the last lap could have been a couple of tenths quicker but I still wouldn't have been able to match these guys.

"It just wasn't a clean session and they were quicker. The car's balance was fine, I just think we needed more."

Hamilton will only have to finish fifth to earn himself the world title, but won't go out of his way to secure the crown.

"At the moment there is no risk to take. If I get a good start and get in a position, I'll go for it. But at the moment that's an unknown."

The Briton will likely rely on Turn 1 to provide himself with potential overtaking opportunities, but a potential undercut will also be in the works. He fears "a train" could form in the race however.

"Generally that's the only place where you can do it. It's an easy one-stop strategy here," he said.

"You can't overtake, so it's going to be a train. But if I get a good start or if I'm close enough at a pit-stop, who knows..?

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