US racing icon Danica Patrick has backed Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to bounce back from the disappointment at the US Grand Prix and to keep challenging for the world championship right up until the final race.

Hamilton saw Max Verstappen extend his lead in the Drivers' standings as Formula 1 went Stateside at the weekend and he'll now be eager to try and close the gap of twelve points back down when we head to Mexico in just under two weeks from now.

It will be tough, of course, with the circuit in Mexico often seen as a stronghold for Red Bull, but Patrick is backing the reigning champions to still have plenty of say in the final rounds of this epic campaign.

“True champions know how to come back,” said Patrick on Sky Sports. “I feel like Mercedes still had a great attitude – both Toto [Wolff, team principal] and Lewis seemed really cool and calm and I think that will pay off.

“They’ve been around, they’ve accomplished a ton and this one race won’t faze them with five to go.

“I thought Toto seemed calm, Lewis seemed calm and at the end of the day there’s basically a quarter of the season left,” she said. “That’s a lot of season left and a lot can happen.

“At this point in time you have to look at the positives, and that’s five races left. DNFs are possible and being exceptional, just as they have done in history, is totally possible.”

The Silver Arrows certainly won't be giving up yet and there are bound to be more twists and turns in the final weeks of this season that befit this most enthralling of campaigns.

Hopefully, we'll see the last few races play out with just as much drama as the first 17 of the year.