Hamilton wins US Grand Prix, but Rosberg remains on course for title
Lewis Hamilton kept the Formula One championship battle alive with victory at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.
While Hamilton led from pole to flag in Austin, his Mercedes team-mate – and championship leader – Rosberg was overtaken by Daniel Ricciardo in the opening stages but he was able to recover and finish second.
That keeps him on course for the title, Rosberg having started the weekend knowing second place in the last four races would be enough to see him crowned champion for the first time.
Hamilton controlled the race well from the front after a solid start, leaving the battle behind him as Rosberg fought with both Red Bulls.
The straight-line speed of the Bull’s enabled Ricciardo to keep Rosberg at bay for long periods of the race, but eventually the German was able to retake the place.
Ricciardo’s team-mate Max Verstappen looked like being in the mix for the podium too until his engine gave out on lap 30, leaving Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso to complete the top five – the latter having overtaken Carlos Sainz on the last lap.
MORE RECORDS FOR HAMILTON
After already securing the 58th pole position of his career this weekend, Hamilton’s victory also sees him equal the record of five triumphs at the US Grand Prix – moving him alongside Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
With his win also sees the USA become the circuit he has enjoyed the most wins at, alongside Hungary and Canada.
JOY FOR MCLAREN
It has been a long hard season for McLaren in 2016 but for the fourth time this year both Alonso and Jenson Button were able to finish in the points.
Button snuck into ninth with a superb drive from 19th on the grid, while Alonso battled his way from 12th to fifth, overtaking Toro Rosso’s Sainz on the last lap with a daring manoeuvre.
HULKENBERG AND PEREZ FEEL THE FULL FORCE
After impressing during qualifying there was plenty of hope in the Force India garage as they looked to stay ahead of Williams in the fight for fourth in the constructors’ standings.
However, Nico Hulkenberg – who started seventh – was forced to retire inside two laps after being tagged by Vettel.
Team-mate Sergio Perez was also hit early on – by Daniil Kvyat – but he was able to finish eighth, earning his team valuable points given Williams’ Felipe Massa was a place ahead of him.
IN THE POINTS
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:38.12
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) +4.520s
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +19.692s
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +43.134s
Fernando Alonso (McLaren) +93.953s
Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) +96.124s
Felipe Massa (Williams) +1 lap
Sergio Perez (Force India) +1 lap
Jenson Button (McLaren) +1 lap
Romain Grosjean (Haas) +1 lap
TITLE STANDINGS
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 331
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 305 (-26)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 227 (-104)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 177 (-154)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 170 (-161)
Mercedes 636
Red Bull 400 (-236)
Ferrari 347 (-289)
Force India 138 (-498)
Williams 130 (-506)
NEXT UP
Rosberg’s title quest moves onto Mexico in a weeks’ time with the German knowing a repeat of the result in Austin will take him one step closer.
