Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff described Lewis Hamilton's title win in Mexico a "big relief" after a difficult race in which the Briton found himself in last place, a result which could have seen the title decider drag on another fortnight to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Title protagonists Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel made contact at the start of the race, which saw them both drop to the back. Wolff feels it was a punishable offence on Vettel's behalf, but believes the fact it was a title decider meant the incident was ignored.
"I hated every bit of that race," said Wolff. "It was really bad and too long.
"I think we were rattled after the beginning, after the crash. The championship is at stake and I think in normal conditions there would have been a penalty. But it's the final race and the [title] decider."
Although Hamilton held a healthy points lead heading into the race, with title success almost guaranteed barring a disaster in the final three races, Wolff said it was a "big relief" to wrap things up early.
"You have this massive gap in points and people say 'it's done' but it's not. It's motor racing and then you have this incident and Sebastian could have won and we could have not finished.
"Max knew there was so much at stake for the other two. For Lewis and Sebastian it's extremely difficult because you have to win the race and if you bail out of everything then it's not what we are here for.
"The relief is huge. During the race you have mixed feelings, it's bittersweet because you're not where you should be. You could lose it and then it drags to Sao Paulo. It's a big relief now."
