Vettel: No point worrying about Hamilton's race in Mexico

Sebastian Vettel says he will not be paying close attention to how Lewis Hamilton's race is unfolding in Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix as he prepares to concede defeat in the Formula 1 drivers' championship.

Vettel stormed to his fourth pole position of the season on Saturday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton finished four-tenths of a second off the pace in P3.

While Vettel is in the box seat for victory in Mexico, Hamilton only requires a top-five finish to clinch his fourth world title with two races to spare regardless of where his rival ends up.

Fully aware of his slim title odds, Vettel said he will simply focus on his own race and doing all he can to win in Mexico without wasting energy worrying about Hamilton's race.

"For us, it’s pretty straightforward. I don’t think it’s much point looking at what others are doing, what Lewis is doing," Vettel said.

"I think the position we are in, we need to try and maximise everything we can and then, depends on him. It’s pretty straightforward.

'This is a very nice race, a very nice atmosphere and I think tomorrow there will be even more people than today.

"Last year I think we were fighting for the podium and weren’t sure who was supposed to be there, so this year I hope that, you know..."