Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix.

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12:57 We are just minutes away from the start. Can Vettel claim his first F1 win since the summer break? And will Hamilton be crowned champion? Keep it here with ESPN to find out.

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12:52 Ricciardo struggled in qualifying and could only manage seventh, but starts 16th due to an engine penalty. Hartley, Alonso, Vandoorne and Gasly complete the starting grid -- and have all been hit by grid penalties for taking on various new engine components.

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12:49 Outside of the top 10 come Stroll and the Sauber duo of Ericsson and Wehrlein. The Sauber's enjoy a lofty grid position start due to a number of grid penalties for engine penalties, but managed to genuinely out-pace the Haas pairing of Magnussen (who starts 14th) and Grosjean (15th) on Saturday. Haas will be hoping for a stronger result today, after enduring a difficult home U.S. Grand Prix.

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12:47 The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez falls into silence for a minute, as F1 pays its respects and remembers the victims of last month's devastating earthquake in Mexico. The national anthem follows.

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12:45 Raikkonen is the next up in fifth, having failed to get near Vettel during qualifying. He is joined on the third row by Ocon, who continues to impress for Force India. Hulkenberg and Sainz start seventh and eighth, with Perez and Massa rounding out the top 10.

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12:43 Hamilton has Bottas alongside him, who will surely act as protection for his teammate during the course of this race, despite looking the quicker of the two drivers at times this weekend. Hamilton's pace on the ultra-soft tyres on Friday looked very strong, and could help make for what will hopefully prove to be an exciting and close battle for the race win.

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12:39 Hamilton needs to finish within 16 points of Vettel if he is to wrap up his fourth world title today in Mexico. All he needs to do is finish fifth or higher, regardless of where Vettel finishes. If Vettel is second, Hamilton needs to finish inside the top nine. If Vettel is third or lower, Hamilton will be world champion even if he fails to finish.

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12:35 The last time Vettel and Verstappen shared the front-row was in Singapore, and both drivers will be keen to avoid a similar outcome this time around. Vettel will be doing everything to win this race, which is all he can do to keep himself in title contention -- which is now out of his hands -- but Verstappen and Red Bull have nothing to lose. With Hamilton starting just behind in third, we could be in for a thrilling dash down into Turn 1. Keep your eyes peeled on those three, in particular.

---- 12:33 Vettel starts on pole after a fantastic lap in qualifying saw him pip Verstappen to pole position by just 0.086s, denying the Ducthman the opportunity to become F1's youngest ever pole sitter.

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12:31 Today could be the day that the 2017 world championship is finally decided, despite there being two races still to go after this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix.

Lap 1

Lights out!

Verstappen takes the lead and Vettel and Hamilton make contact! Bottas is up to second and Vettel is down to third.

Lap 2

It was a fantastic start from Verstappen who moved around the outside of Turn 2 to move into the lead. Vettel also has to pit to complete a nose change! Hamilton has completed his pit stop after suffering a punture and is back out at the very back of the field in 20th.

Lap 3

Vettel has rejoined just one place ahead of Hamilton. What a dramatic start here in Mexico. Vettel is up to 18th and 10s clear of Hamilton in last place.

Lap 4

Verstappen leads by 2.2s from Bottas. Ocon avoided all the drama and sits third, ahead of Hulkenberg and Perez in fifth. Raikkonen has dropped a position and is sixth, with Ricciardo making a storming start to move up to seventh.

Lap 5

Verstappen sets a new fastest lap of the race as he extends his lead at the front. "Simply, simply lovely," says Verstappen over team radio.

Lap 6

Ricciardo pits from seventh. Has he got an issue?

It looks that way. What a shame for the Australian, who becomes the first retirement of the race. He had made a wonderful start to move up from his lowly grid position.

Lap 7

Another new fastest lap from Verstappen, who is cruising out in front at this early stage. He's 3.5s clear of Bottas.

Hamilton asks: "Did he hit me deliberately?". We don't know if the reply from Mercedes.

Lap 8

Hamilton remains in 19th, while Vettel has moved himself up to 16th following his early pit stop for a new front wing.

Lap 9

Stroll has enjoyed a strong start and is running in seventh, while Williams teammate Massa is down in 15th after an early puncture -- presumably from running over debris -- forced him to stop.

Lap 10

The first corner incident between Verstappen, Hamilton and Vettel has been noted by the stewards. Alonso goes wheel-to-wheel with Grosjean into Turn 1 and moves up to 11th.

Lap 11

Raikkonen is all over the back of local hero Perez but cannot find away past on this occasion on the run to turn 1.

The news from the F1 stewards room is good news for all F1 fans, with no investigation deemed necessary.

Lap 12

Verstappen continues to charge clear in this opening stint. He opens up a 5.2s buffer over Bottas, who is 10s clear of Ocon.

Lap 13

Vettel and Massa go wheel-to-wheel at Turn 4 as Vettel is run out wide by the Brazilian. The German returns to the track and moves ahead of Massa. He is now up to 15th. He is told to remain calm by his engineer.

Lap 14

Hamilton is still in 19th but begining to close on Sainz's 18th place.

Lap 15

This time around it is Bottas who sets the fastest lap of the race. Can the Finn start to eek his way back into contention?

Lap 16

Grosjean is handed a five second time penalty for being adjudged to have gained an advantage.

Lap 17

Vettel surges down the inside of Gasly to snatch 14th.

The opening lap drama has presented a fantastic opportunity for the lower ranked teams to score a strong result. Magnussen is currently occupying eighth, while Ericsson is ninth for Sauber.

Lap 18

Hamilton is now within DRS range of Sainz, who in turn is getting DRS from Wehrlein's Sauber.

Vettel makes another move -- this time on Grosjean -- to take 13th place.

Lap 19

Perez pits on this lap, while Hamilton says he is finding it difficult to pass Sainz.

Lap 20

Raikkonen is now up to fourth as Hulkenberg peels into the pitlane. That has created a chain reaction down at Force India, as Ocon is told to pit next time around.

Lap 21

Verstappen is now right behind Hamilton and is set to lap him.

Lap 22

Hamilton is now being shown blue flags to let Verstappen past.

The Briton does indeed move out of Verstappen's way. That is the first time Hamilton has been lapped in a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, when he finished 12th.

Lap 23

Vettel dispatches Hartley and gets himself up to 12th. He needs to finish in the top two to prevent Hamilton from taking the title today.

Lap 24

Vettel makes another move as he charges past Vandoorne. He is now 11th and just one place outside of the points.

"I can't get close to the car," Hamilton reports.

Lap 25

Bottas has now lapped Hamilton. Nobody would have been expecting that order of change down at Mercedes today.

Lap 26

Hulkenberg has pulled over and is getting out of his Renault. Another retirement for the German, who had been in a decent position to challenge for a potential first podium in F1.

Lap 27

Hulkenberg managed to find an escape road, meaning there is no need for a Safety car.

Lap 28

Next up for Vettel is Alonso. This could be tasty...

Alonso defends his line from Vettel to deny the German a move into Turn 1.

Hamilton has finally found a way past Sainz, sweeping around the outside of the Renault at Turn 1.

Lap 29

Alonso continues to make life difficult for Vettel, as the pair run in ninth and 10th.

Lap 30

Vettel is unable to get past Alonso once more into Turn 1, meanwhile Hamilton gets up to 16th with an easy pass on Wehrlein.

Perez dives down the inside of Magnussen into Turn 1 and snatches sixth place.

Lap 31

Vettel has finally found a way past Alonso into eighth place. Vettel used DRS to comfortably sail past the Spaniard along the main straight.

Lap 32

Hartley's car is slowing with tonnes of smoke pouring out of the back of his Toro Rosso. The Virtual Safety Car is out.

Lap 33

Lots of drivers head into the pitlane to make stops, including race leader Verstappen and Hamilton, who has switched onto the super-soft tyres.

Lap 34

Vettel is the latest man to pit -- locking up on his way into the pitlane. The German has gone onto the ultra-softs, as the Virtual Safety Car ends.

Lap 35

Stroll is enjoying a fantastic run so far on what is his 19th Birthday. The Canadian rookie is currently occupying fifth place and is on course to record his best finish since his podium in Baku.

Lap 36

Bottas and Raikkonen trade new fastest laps in the mid 1:20s. Both drivers are flying on fresh rubber. Vettel sets a new fastest lap with a 1:20.1 -- smashing the track record -- while Hamilton completes a move on Grosjean to move into 15th.

Lap 37

Verstappen puts in a sensational lap to smash Vettel's previous best. He posts a 1:19.5! Stunning pace from the race leader.

Lap 38

Vettel's breezes past Magnussen and is up to seventh. His next target is Perez, who sits 18s further up the road.

Hamilton is also on the move, passing Wehrlein for 14th. That move was also completed along the main straight.

Lap 39

Verstappen has opened up a 10s advantage over Bottas in second place. He looks in a comfortable position to take his third F1 victory, providing his car holds together.

Lap 40

Raikkonen is 13s behind Bottas in third and comfortably clear of Ocon in fourth.

Lap 41

Hamilton is now closing onto the back of Gasly's gearbox. If Hamilton is able to get himself up to ninth, Vettel would have to win the race to keep his title hopes alive.

Lap 42

Hamilton is unable to make a pass on this lap, but is well within DRS range of Gasly's Toro Rosso. .

Lap 43

Hamilton pulls out from behind Gasly and dives down the inside at Turn 1 to move himself up to 13th. He is 25s behind Alonso's ninth-placed McLaren.

Lap 44

Verstappen is lapping around 0.3s a lap quicker than Bottas as he extends his lead to over 14s.

Lap 45

Hamilton is right on the back of Ericsson's Sauber, but once again is struggling to find a way past.

Lap 46

Ericsson tries to make life difficult for Hamilton, but the Mercedes driver is able to squeeze past into Turn 1. He is now up to 12th and 7.5s behind Vandoorne.

Lap 47

Vettel continues to close in on Perez in sixth place, sitting just under 4s behind the Force India.

Lap 48

17 runners remain in this race. We have lost just three drivers so far today, with Ricciardo, Hulkenberg and Hartley all forced into retirement.

Lap 49

Vettel is within 1.5s of Perez, while Hamilton has closed to within 4s of Vandoorne.

Lap 50

Mercedes is projecting an eighth place finish for Hamilton, if he is able to continue at his current pace. That would seal the title for the Briton, unless Vettel is able to win.

Lap 51

Vettel dives down the inside of Perez into Turn 4 to move up to sixth. He just about managed to keep all four wheels on the black tarmac, having locked up. Another great move from Vettel in this race.

Lap 52

Perez pits to take on a set of ultra-softs, and is able to come back out in seventh place.

Lap 53

Hamilton charges past Vandoorne with an easy-DRS assisted pass as he moves up to 11th.

Lap 54

Vettel is pushing hard. He corrects a big sideways moment coming out of Turn 4 as he continues to chase down Stroll in fifth.

Lap 55

Stroll does not pick a fight with Vettel, who eases past into Turn 1 to pick up fifth place. Vettel is 50s behind Bottas as things stand with 16 laps remaining. Second place looks out of reach for Vettel at this stage.

Lap 56

Vettel sets a new lap record here in Mexico thanks to a low 1:19s.

Lap 57

Hamilton has to sweep around the outside of Massa into Turn 1 to move into the points.

Lap 58

Vettel breezes past Ocon to take fourth, while Ericsson is out of the race with what looks to be an engine failure. His Sauber was slow and smoking as he trundled into the pit lane.

Lap 59

It's another new lap record from Vettel with a 1:19.2. Verstappen continues on his merry way to what is looking to be a comfortable race win. He is over 17s clear of Bottas in second.

Lap 60

Vettel is 24s behind Raikkonen. When told of the gap, Vettel responds: "Oh mamma mia, that's a bit too much."

Lap 61

Just ahead of Hamilton a battle is brewing between Magnussen and Alonso over eighth place -- which is the target Mercedes thinks is achievable for Hamilton.

Lap 62

Hamilton has now caught up to the back of the squabbling Alonso-Magnussen battle. Sainz is out of the race -- the latest Renault-powered driver to hit issues in Mexico.

Lap 63

Hamilton is somewhat stuck behind Alonso's McLaren, with the Spaniard benefiting from being in DRS range of Magnussen.

Lap 64

Magnussen is doing a fine job to hold his eighth place, despite having no DRS at his disposal. The Dane is on course for his fifth points finish of the season.

Lap 65

Alonso has a look up the inside of Magnussen, but is unable to make a pass into Turn 1.

Lap 66

Verstappen sets a new lap record having posted a 1:18.892s. He is charging towards the race win, 19s clear of Bottas.

Lap 67

Hamilton and Alonso go wheel-to-wheel but cannot make the move stick. Great stuff from Alonso, who holds his position.

That battle has allowed Magnussen to move clear and out of the DRS threat from Alonso.

Lap 68

Replays show just how close Alonso and Hamilton came to colliding at Turn 1. A close call for Hamilton, who sensibly backed out of the move.

Lap 69

Hamilton and Alonso go wheel-to-wheel again and this time Hamilton gets the job done with a pass around the outside of Turn 4. The pair made contact into Turn 1 -- it looks like Hamilton may have some slight damage to his floor.

It's been a long time since we have been able to say that, but what an exciting duel that was between Alonso and Hamilton. Let's have some more of that next year, please?

Lap 70

Verstappen is 20s clear as he nears onto starting his final lap.

Lap 71

Verstappen has now started his final lap. He is course for the win and Hamilton is on course for the championship.

Verstappen takes the chequered flag to claim his third race win in F1, while Bottas comes home in second, ahead of Raikkonen, who completes the podium.

Vettel is fourth, ahead of Ocon and Stroll. Perez finishes seventh with Magnussen. Hamilton crosses the line in eighth -- which is all he needs to do. Hamilton is the 2017 world champion, sealing his fourth F1 title!

Alonso rounds out the top 10 and the points scoring places.

Verstappen celebrates in the fantastic stadium section, while Hamilton has located a union jack and waves it from his Mercedes as he heads back to par ferme.

Hamilton completes some celebratory doughnuts in the stadium section, before getting out of his car and running around in jubilation.

Thanks for joining us for this race, we'll see you next time out in Brazil in a fortnight's time.