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Mexican Grand Prix: Story of the race

YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images

ESPN looks at the main talking points from a Mexican Grand Prix which exploded into life -- and controversy -- in the closing laps.

Shock: Hearing Sebastian Vettel having an absolute meltdown on the radio in the closing stages as he sat behind Max Verstappen, who he felt should have given up the position after running wide in their fight for third. Vettel eventually was promoted to third after Verstatppen incurred a five-second penalty.

But most shocking was Vettel's expletive-laden radio messages, especially those aimed at race director Charlie Whiting as he crossed the line. Expect the Vettel-Verstappen feud from earlier in the season to reignite in the coming days.

Shocker: The stewards not looking into multiple incidents during the race. Lewis Hamilton ran wide at Turn 1 at the start, as did Nico Rosberg while holding off Nico Rosberg, something which Max Verstappen was penalised for late on. Daniel Ricciardo questioned the lack of punishment for Hamilton immediately after the race and it's a valid question and another great example of inconsistency from the men dishing out the penalties. It's easy to understand why Vettel was so upset at the end.

Overtake of the race: Kimi Raikkonen rolled back the years for his pass around the outside of Nico Hulkenberg at Turn 4, which sent the Force India driver into a spin. Honourable mention for Kevin Magnussen on Jenson Button at Turn 1 and 2 early in the race.

Defend of the race: Jolyon Palmer is a man racing for his F1 future at the moment and turned in a great bit of defensive driving on Fernando Alonso late in the race. He eventually lost the battle for 13th but it showed the Englishman is going to go down fighting.

Fastest lap: Daniel Ricciardo's late switch to soft tyres saw him close right up on the battle for third position. A ballsy lunge down the inside of Vettel on the penultimate lap nearly ended in tears, but he ended fourth anyway following Verstappen's late penalty.

Driver of the Day: Hamilton turned in a comfortable win and the race was his as soon as he got into Turn 1 (grass and all) ahead. This one has to be split between a few drivers. Vettel should have earned this one for turning in a great drive from a poor grid position for third, though his radio demeanour left a lot to be desired. He later lost the position in the stewards' room.

That means this award is shared: Nico Hulkenberg for a great drive to seventh, which he kept despite that late spin, having done a miraculous job to qualify fifth on Sunday. Also getting the nod is Marcus Ericsson, who lost a front wing in the carnage at the start, deserved a point for after a mammoth 69-lap stint on mediums saw him finish 11th.

EDIT: This story has been amended to reflect Vettel's post-race time penalty, which dropped him from third to fifth.