Hamilton wins third F1 titleposted in F125 | 10 | 2015
LEWIS HAMILTON WON his third Formula 1 World Championship after winning what, at times, was a chaotic United States Grand Prix. The Englishman's win means he is the first Briton to win back-to-back titles, and joins Scot Jackie Stewart as a three-time world champ.
Just 12 drivers saw the flag, with eight retiring through mechanical failure or after on-track incidents.
Hamilton, who was forced to race hard throughout the 56-lap race at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, eventually finished 2.8s clear of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.
But the German essentially gifted Hamilton the title when he ran wide with only a few laps remaining, allowing his bitter rival through to clinch the 43rd win of his F1 career and ensure the title battle didn't extend to Mexico.
There was action right from the start. Lining up second on the grid alongside polesitter Rosberg, Hamilton got a better run up the hill to the tight right-angle left-hander and, holding the inside line forced Rosberg wide and off track after they had bumped wheels. The incident demoted the German to fifth.
The virtual safety car made an 'appearance' after Sauber's Felipe Nasr lost most of his front wing at Turn 1 on lap two after clipping the rear-left tyre of team-mate Marcus Ericsson: not the best way for the team to celebrate its 400th grand prix.
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At the restart, Hamilton did what he could to aid Rosberg, backing the field up tightly. As soon as the race restarted, the German romped past the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat.
With the greasy conditions not yet suitable for slicks, the front four became locked in a titanic battle as their intermediate tyres began to lose grip. Ricciardo took the lead on lap 15 from Hamilton, with Rosberg through for second shortly after.
At the end of lap 18, Hamilton darted into the pits for soft slicks, and was followed on the next laps by the remainder of the leading four.
With moves on Kvyat and Ricciardo, with the latter duo not as strong on slick rubber, Hamilton and Rosberg made their way up fourth and second respectively, to third and first.
The safety car made a second appearance after Ericsson was forced to stop his Sauber on-track on lap 28: its appearance wiped out a 10.6s lead for Rosberg over Hamilton, who had passed Ricciardo for second just before Ericsson's exit.
The field — with the exception of Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Kvyat — took advantage of the safety car to pit for another change of tyres, with fifth-placed Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari taking on a new set of mediums in an attempt to get to the end without another stop.
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With the fresh rubber fitted, four-times world champ Vettel powered his Ferrari past Kvyat and Ricciardo to move up to third. But on lap 37 the safety car appeared for the third time after Force India's Nico Hulkenberg ran into the side of Ricciardo in a bid to claim fifth.
This time, Rosberg took advantage of the safety car to pit, dropping to fourth, with Hamilton opting to stay out.
Rosberg's charge to catch Hamilton had reduced the Englishman's lead to six seconds before the safety car was forced on-track for the fourth time. This time it was Kvyat who lost his car on the approach to the final turn, pitching him into a barrier.
Instantly Hamilton darted into the pits for his second stop, rejoining behind Rosberg who new he had to finish ahead of his rival to extend the title race into Mexico in seven days.
But as Hamilton clawed his way back towards the rear of Rosberg's Mercedes, the German inexplicably got out of shape at Turn 15 on the power and ran off track at Turn 16-17.
That error allowed Hamilton to coast past and cruise comfortably to an emotional win, with Rosberg just holding off Vettel for second. Fourth went to Max Vertsappen after a long final stint in his Toro Rosso.
F1 — US Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas (Result):
1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 56 laps
2. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes +2.8s
3. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari +3.3s
4. Max Verstappen NED Toro Rosso-Renault +22.3s
5. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes +24.4s
6. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda +28.0s
7.Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Renault +30.6s
8. Pastor Maldonado VEN Lotus-Mercedes +32.2s
9. Felipe Nasr BRZ Sauber-Ferrari +40.2s
10. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-Renault +53.3s
11. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda +54.8s
12. Alexander Rossi USA Manor Marussia-Ferrari +75.2s
Retired:
Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull-Renault
Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes
Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari
Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes
Romain Grosjean FRA Lotus-Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes
Will Stevens GBR Manor Marussia-Ferrari
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Jim McGill