Rosberg dominates in Austriaposted in F122 | 06 | 2014

    NICO ROSBERG LED another dominant Mercedes 1-2 when he held off team-mate Lewis Hamilton to win the Austrian Grand Prix.

    And Williams claimed its best result of the season, despite Felipe Massa not being able to capitalise from his pole position. The Brazilian fourth, one place behind his team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

    Rosberg's win saw him extend his lead in the title race: the German heads to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone leading Hamilton by 29 points.

    Massa initially led the race from the first Williams one-two on the grid since 2003, while team-mate Bottas was passed by the fast-starting Mercedes of Rosberg.

    But Bottas used Williams' superior straightline speed to retake second on the run up the hill to Turn 2.

    Hamilton made up for his disastrous performance in qualifying — he started ninth — by powering through to fourth by the end of the opening lap.

    Related: Ricciardo takes first F1 win

    A superb start and opening lap from Rosberg's team-mate Hamilton made up for his disastrous showing in qualifying on Saturday, launching him up from row five of the grid to fourth place by the end of the lap, which included a brave pass on Fernando Alonso's Ferrari at Turn 8.

    Rosberg pitted for the first time on lap 11 of 71, releasing Hamilton to attack the two Williams. Hamilton pitted two laps later, while Williams waited an extra tour before bringing leader Massa in.

    The Brazilian lost out during this first round of stops. He was jumped by Rosberg in the pits and passed by Hamilton at Turn 2 on his out-lap.

    By contrast, a great in-lap from Bottas, who was last of the leading group to pit on lap 15, kept him ahead of Hamilton and allowed the Finn to jump his Williams team-mate.

    F1 Austrian Grand Prix — Result:

    1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1h27m54.967s;

    2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1.932s;

    3. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes +8.172s;

    4. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes +17.358s;

    5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari +18.553s;

    6. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes +28.546s;

    7. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes +32.031s;

    8. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault +43.522s;

    9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes +44.137s;

    10. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari +47.777s;

    11. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes +50.966s;

    12. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault -1 lap;

    13. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari -1 lap;

    14. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault -1 lap;

    15. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari -2 laps;

    16. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault -2 laps;

    17. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari -2 laps;

    18. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault -2 laps;

    19. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari -2 laps.

    Retirements:

    Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 59 laps

    Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 34 laps

    Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 24 laps

    Championship standings

    Drivers':

    1. Nico Rosberg 165

    2. Lewis Hamilton 136

    3. Daniel Ricciardo 83

    4. Fernando Alonso 79

    5. Sebastian Vettel 60

    6. Nico Hulkenberg 59

    7. Valtteri Bottas 55

    8. Jenson Button 43

    9. Felipe Massa 30

    10. Kevin Magnussen 29

    11. Sergio Perez 28

    12. Kimi Raikkonen 19

    13. Romain Grosjean 8

    14. Jean-Eric Vergne 8

    15. Daniil Kvyat 4

    16. Jules Bianchi 2

    Constructors':

    1. Mercedes 301

    2. Red Bull/Renault 143

    3. Ferrari 98

    4. Force India/Mercedes 87

    5. Williams/Mercedes 85

    6. McLaren/Mercedes 72

    7. Toro Rosso/Renault 12

    8. Lotus/Renault 8

    9. Marussia/Ferrari 2

    10. Sauber/Ferrari 0

    11. Caterham/Renault 0

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    Jim McGill

     

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