Disappointed Vettel says 'Hamilton was the better man'

Sebastian Vettel knew going in that keeping the world championship battle going beyond Mexico would be a tall order.

But that didn't stop the Ferrari driver from being clearly downhearted as the reality that this year's title fight was over, and that Lewis Hamilton has clinched the honours.

"It's disappointing, obviously," Vettel admitted after finishing in fourth place. He had needed to be at least the runner-up this weekend to keep his title hopes alive heading to Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

"Lewis has done a superb job all year and deserves to win the title, so congratulations to him," Vettel told Sky Sports F1. "It's not about anybody else today - it's about him, it's his day.

"I don't fear him. I like racing with him, but obviously I would have liked a little bit more of that this year. But overall they were just the better bunch."

Asked if there was anything that Vettel would have done differently this season, Vettel said he had no regrets.

"What does it matter now?" he shrugged.

"I'm down, obviously," he later told NBC. "It's tough to cross the line and realise that you're not in the fight anymore. That sums it up.

• Hamilton crowned champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico

"Obviously we're left with whatever is left," he sighed. "Next year will be a different story, as we all start again.

"But right now, in these moments, you need to give credit to the best man and that is him this year."

His team mate Kimi Raikkonen at least had the compensation of finishing on the podium in Mexico.

"The start was not too bad, but then the cars in front formed one lane," he said. "I was left to the side of it with zero tow. The cars behind me got a tow.

"I lost many places in the first two corners and then obviously had to wait until the cars in front of us stopped. Then had the speed enough to jump them, but I was so far behing [the leaders] there was nothing I could do."

Raikkonen would probably have been ordered by the Ferrari pit wall to cede third place to his team mate. However, Vettel was too far behind - and it would have made no difference to the championship battle anyway.

"I had a decent similar size [gap] in the front and the back so it was not really hopeful or on the cards for me other than finishing the race."

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