Mexican GP 'carnage' a concern for Mercedes, Hamilton

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is concerned that the opening lap of the Mexican Grand Prix will be "carnage" – with Lewis Hamilton set to be right in the middle of things. Hamilton will start the race third on the grid, with title rival Sebastian Vettel alongside him and the Red Bull pair ahead.

Daniel Ricciardo trumped Max Verstappen in a qualifying dominated by Red Bull, but their engine deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari could come into play off the line for the race.

Hamilton dropped down the field in Mexico a year ago after making contact with Vettel – but still went on to win his fourth championship with a ninth-place finish.

A year on, Hamilton once again can win the championship with a minor finish – seventh or higher.

But it does not put Wolff's mind at ease, with Mercedes also chasing crucial points in the constructors' championship race with Ferrari.

He told Sky Sports: "Well the grid has the potential for carnage on the straight and through the first corners, because you have the two Red Bulls who have the least straight line speed on the front row, and then it's us and then the Ferraris are obviously almost 10 kph up on everyone else.

"I try to visualise how that could like down the straight [opens arms out wide] and through the first corner, I just hope we come out of it with two cars intact."

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