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Hamilton takes third title in Texas thriller

NEWS STORY
25/10/2015

You might not be aware, but following today's race, on a specially constructed stage between turns 11 and 12, Elton John will be performing with his band.

Far be it from us to ask; haven't these poor people already suffered enough?

Anyway, this having been the weekend from hell, certainly as far as the weather has been concerned, we go into today's race like a step into the unknown.

FP2 never took place, nor did FP3, while this morning's qualifying session was abandoned after Q2.

Earlier in the week we ran a story predicting that this weekend would involve a "major rain event" and so it proved to be.

Although conditions are not as bad as at some stages this weekend, they appear to be forever changing.

A historic race for two teams today, Red Bull is making its 200th appearance whilst Sauber is celebrating 400 Grands Prix.

As start time approaches the rain has stopped but the track remains very wet. That said, twenty F1 cars should soon help shift some of the water.

After what they've had to put up with for the last couple of days, the fans deserve better than the race starting behind the Safety Car, surely one of the biggest anti-climaxes in sport.

As we await the opening of the pitlane not only has the rain stopped, there are breaks in the cloud with patches of blue behind them. Though Inters will be the order of the day as the drivers make their way to the grid we could well see drivers start on slicks... the first time they've used them this weekend.

Tyres are medium (prime) and soft (option). The teams have not had any chance to formulate the ideal slick tyre strategy for the 56-lap race. However, theoretical calculations would indicate that a two-stop strategy is best, as was also the case last year. At the moment, it's hard to predict the timing of the pit stops as wear and degradation rates are unclear.

The sizeable rooster tails suggest we will see the race get underway on Inters.

The Ferrari duo, who qualified fifth (Vettel) and eighth (Raikkonen) were both hit with 10-place penalties after the team changed their engines, whilst Stevens was hit with a 20-place penalty. Following qualifying however, Williams changed the gearbox on Bottas' car, thereby dropping the Finn 5-places.

Speaking on the grid, Ricciardo says we "should see slicks by the end of the race".

Rosberg is unhappy with his tyres, complaining that he "can't get them to work" and that "there is something wrong with the front tyres" which are "juddering". "Nico, it sounds like they're cold," is the weary response.

Button says it is "a lot wetter than it looks".

Aon the grid, the national anthem having been sung, Rosberg doesn't look happy. Meanwhile, red, white and blue smoke envelops the grid.

With all the uncertainty, re tyres, set-up and just how wet it really is, one phrase springs to mind; the race cannot be won in Turn 1 but it can be lost.

As they prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, all the drivers are on inters. Air temperature is 17 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 19 degrees. Other than cool and damp it is quite blustery.

"Drying out really quickly," says Hamilton as he follows teammate Rosberg on the warm-up lap. Indeed, there does appear to be a distinct dry line.

They're away. It's 2014 all over again as Hamilton gets the better start and forces Rosberg wide in T1, the German losing positions to Kvyat, Ricciardo and Perez as he struggles to rejoin the track. Indeed, the Red Bull duo are all over Hamilton.

Rosberg passes Perez and closes in on Ricciardo with Hulkenberg sixth ahead of Vettel, Verstappen, Button and Raikkonen.

Bottas pits for a new nose as Alonso is told he has a rear-left puncture following a clash with Massa that sends both in to a spin. Grosjean also complains of a puncture after being "hit from behind", the Lotus having been shunted up the rear at the first corner. Meanwhile the two Saubers clash in T1, Ericsson running over Nasr's front wing and leaving debris all over the track. Massa, running behind the Sauber duo runs over the debris.

Grosjean, Rossi, Alonso and Stevens all pit. Massa meanwhile has run over the debris, which looks to be part of Nasr's front wing. The Sauber driver subsequently pits. Stevens appears to have retired having not left the pits.

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by karel, 28/10/2015 6:47

"This tittle is without value (maybe the cup is plastic 2), you had two cars outperforming every other car and you have some doubtfull things with Mercedes making you wonder. So any other driver in that car would have been word champion."

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2. Posted by Tweek, 27/10/2015 20:43

"Hamilton's win count is based on the performance of the car, not his innate ability. ( yes he outperformed Rosberg throughout the season.... I'm refering to the rest of the grid). Put Rossi, or even Maldonado, in the Mercedes and they would be obliterating the competition too. F1 may award a drivers champion, but it's a constructor's championship. A true driver's championship can only be awarded in a spec series like f2.
Had Hamilton hit another team's car there would have been a penalty, I blame Charlie for that oversight. If Lewis wants to claim to be the best driver on the planet he should be racing honorably. I guess that's why Hamilton idolizes Senna.....it's easier to run people off track and claim the championship by default than win fairly and earn it.
I do believe roll model is part of the job description. Sponsors don't want to align with cheaters and posers. They want winners who are above reproach selling their product. Why do you think f1 is having so much trouble attracting new sponsors and incurring so much legal drama...appearance of impropriety.
As for Rosberg's big sulk .... He did just lose the race. I would have been dispondant too.
rant concluded. "

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3. Posted by Kkiirmki, 26/10/2015 19:36

"Although I agree Hamilton was overly aggressive (I don't buy the 'I didn't mean to' for one second - Had the situation been reversed I'm sure Hamilton would have been on the radio complaining about his team mate, "Nico hit me") at the start Tweek, he had nothing to do with Rosberg running off the road near the end of the race. 10 (so far) race win's to 3; if that's not deserving of a championship then I don't know what is? I'm not sure whether 'role model' is a part of the racing driver job description? What about Rosberg anyway and his big sulk, not sure that's being a great role model either?

"

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4. Posted by Tweek, 26/10/2015 17:34

"I disagree Kkiirmki. Hamilton ran Rosberg off at turn 1 and hit him. Lewis has been unbelievably fast all year thanks to the car, but, he started that race with poor sportsmanship and finished it with unprofessional treatment of his team mate before the podium. He may have won the title but he is proving to be a poor role model. Too bad about Rosberg's errors, he really did lose that race. Hey Nico, glue some razor blades to your front wing and clip Lewis' rear tire next race..... Ohh wait you did that last year didn't ya!?! Hahahahaha"

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5. Posted by Kkiirmki, 25/10/2015 23:44

"Hamilton's been untouchable this season, thoroughly deserved third title. However, we should have had to wait until at least the next race in Mexico, terrible driving from Rosberg. Reminds me of Monza, when he had 2 unforced errors going into turn 1 and threw away a race win. As long as Hamilton is his team mate, he'll (most likely) never win the championship."

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6. Posted by rghawk, 25/10/2015 22:16

"Congratz to Hamilton, but what a drive from Vettel (from P13 to P3) and too bad for Kimi. I hope next year more F1 cars will be in equal grounds so we could enjoy battles like this..."

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