29/11/2015
NEWS STORY
As early as last weekend our editor was tipping Sebastian Vettel to end the season in style, giving Ferrari its fourth win of the year. However, not for the first time, a strategic error by the Italian team appears to have put paid to that.
The theory was that Vettel would make one of his superb starts, taking advantage of the duelling Mercedes, taking teammate Kimi Raikkonen along for the ride, the Finn spending the next 55 laps riding shotgun.
Starting from sixteenth the German should still bag a decent points haul, however, for the most part the Scuderia looks likely to have to rely on Raikkonen this afternoon.
That's no bad thing, for the Finn has looked good for much of the weekend, and we can't help feel that he would dearly love to deny countryman Valtteri Bottas fourth place in the standings... as long as it doesn't involve attending the FIA's end of season ball.
Talking of Mercedes, the Rosberg resurgence continues, whilst teammate Lewis Hamilton has not looked entirely convincing this weekend. Then again, he does have his third title in the bag.
Rather than Rosberg rediscovering his form, Hamilton insists that much of the cause of the turnaround in recent races is due to the car, the Briton insisting that the balance has been "wrong for a few races".
Whatever the reason, and we like to think Rosberg has dug deep, it's good to see Hamilton being challenged, and whilst it would have been great if the German had found this sort of form earlier in the year let's hope he can carry it into 2016.
Indeed, what better way to head into the off-season than an out-and-out duel between the Silvers Arrows pair, after all, both titles are won so the team can afford to take a few risks.
The dark horses today have to be the Force India pair, Sergio Perez, in particular, having looked very good all weekend. Then there's Daniel Ricciardo, whose Q3 lap is widely seen as one of the best of his career.
The Williams pair are also in the top ten, and whilst Felipe Massa has had a difficult weekend thus far, clearly unhappy with his car, teammate Bottas looks a lot more settled. A scrap with Raikkonen for fourth in the standings would be great, as long as they keep it clean.
At Toro Rosso, one can only hope that Carlos Sainz' car goes the distance, the Spaniard having suffered some appalling bad luck this season. Teammate Max Verstappen, has received almost all the plaudits this year, much of the praise well deserved, but Sainz too has been a true revelation.
Lotus will no doubt have mixed feelings about this being the season finale, the name - if not the entire team - likely to be missing from the grid in 2016.
Romain Grosjean would dearly love to sign off with a few points but the car hasn't looked good this weekend, added to which a late gearbox change, and resultant grid penalty, means the Enstone outfit will need to rely on Pastor Maldonado.
At the back it's the usual suspects, Sauber, McLaren and Manor, though in all fairness the Swiss outfit is (relatively) in a different league to the two British teams.
Manor will return with a new engine, new technical partner, management and (probably) driver line-up in 2016, McLaren will merely be hoping for a resurgence of Rosberg-style proportions.
Over the years we have seen that for the most part street circuits do little, if anything, to promote thrilling racing. Whilst the run-offs here are far more forgiving than the barriers at Monaco, Charlie Whiting and his colleagues will be keeping a close watch to see that drivers keep to the limits.
Talking of barriers, this morning's GP2 race was cancelled following an accident which left the barriers "substantially damaged" after an accident on the first lap. Unable to repair the extensive damage within the allotted timeframe it was decided to abandon the final race of the season.
A few years back we saw Alonso lose the title after falling behind Vitaly Petrov and being unable to pass the Russian. If one of the best drivers the sport has seen, can't overtake here, with the world championship title up for grabs, what hope lesser mortals?
Indeed, with no hope of divine intervention from the weather gods, we must rely on the grim determination of certain drivers to provide the thrills this afternoon.
Then again, this being a street track, the whole thing could be decided on the first lap, the first corner, should over enthusiasm get the better of some of the participants on what is effectively the last day of term... they've even assembled for the end of term picture for the family album.
Tyres are soft (prime) and supersoft (option). Most drivers are expected to stop twice, the mostly likely strategy being to start on supersofts, then change to soft on laps 10 and 32.
A three-stopper is theoretically the quickest option (start on supersoft, then change to softs on laps seven, 23 and 39) but this depends on having a car that is quick enough to overtake and gain track position, in case of traffic.
There are two DRS zones. The first detection point will is before T7 with the activation just after. The second detection point is after T9 with the activation point at the apex of T10.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers make their way to the grid.
The air temperature is 27 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 29 degrees. It is approaching 17:00.
Following changes to the suspension set-up of his car under parc ferme, Merhi will start from the pitlane.
Though this Grand prix has only once been won from pole, all the winners since the inaugural race in 2009 have started from the front row.
All are starting on the option rubber bar Vettel, Ericsson, Grosjean, Stevens and Merhi who have gone for the primes. Of the front couple of rows don't forget that Raikkonen has a brand new set of options having not used them in Q1.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap. All get away cleanly.
At the end of the lap Hamilton slows, backing up the field, leaving his teammate alone on the grid for as long as possible.
They're away. A strong start from Rosberg, whilst Hamilton is slightly slower off the line. Nonetheless, under pressure from Raikkonen and Perez he hold his position into T1.
All get through the first couple of corners bar Maldonado and Alonso who have gone off at T1 but it is not clear why.
A strong start from Sainz who is battling Kvyat, the Russian running wide in the process, whilst the Williams duo are either side of Verstappen... three abreast!
As Bottas now challenges Kvyat, Vettel appears to bang wheels with Button. Some very, very aggressive driving.
At the end of lap 1, it's Rosberg, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Sainz, Bottas and Massa. Vettel is up to thirteenth.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 1 following that first corner clash with Maldonado, the Venezuelan out on the spot. Indeed, replay reveals Maldonado to be the innocent victim after Alonso, given a nudge by Nasr, locked-up and T-boned the Lotus driver. "Suspension is broken," reports Maldonado.
After 2 laps, Rosberg leads by 1.7s with Hamilton a similar distance ahead of Raikkonen. Bottas finally passes Kvyat, but runs too deep in T8 and hands the place back to the Russian.
Grosjean passes Nasr to take fourteenth, however, the Brazilian isn't happy and tries to fight back but the Sauber is now match for the Mercedes-powered Sauber. Indeed, the Brazilian subsequently pits.
The stewards announce they are investigating the first lap incident involving Alonso at the start, which saw the Spaniard clash with hit Maldonado.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 5, rejoining in 16th as Ricciardo makes short work of Hulkenberg to take fifth. The German briefly retakes the position only for the Australian to take it straight back.
Alonso is handed a drive-through for the first lap incident.
Perez, Ricciardo and Massa all pit at the end of lap 6, as Vettel passes Verstappen to take 7th.
On lap 7, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (46.889), the German saying he is happy with his tyres. Elsewhere, Hulkenberg and Sainz both pit, a poor stop for the Spaniard.
At the end of lap 8, Bottas, Verstappen and Button pit. However, the Williams and McLaren clash in the pitlane after the Finn is released into the path of the Briton, leaving the Williams minus a front-left wing and the rear wing of the McLaren damaged. Disaster for the Grove outfit and its Finnish driver
Next time around Bottas, who is now under investigation, pits for a new nose, dropping him to 18th.
Rosberg and Raikkonen both pit at the end of lap 10, rejoining in second and fourth, Vettel is now up to third.
Next time around Hamilton pits, as Perez battles with Grosjean for fifth. Hamilton changes to the harder rubber meaning that everyone is now on the yellow-banded tyre. He rejoins in third, behind Vettel.
Bottas is handed a 5s time penalty for the unsafe release.
All have stopped bar Vettel, Grosjean, Ericsson and the Manors.
"Alright mate, time to get stuck in," Ricciardo is told, "tyres are fine."
After 12 laps, it's Rosberg, Vettel, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Perez, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Massa and Kvyat, the Russian having just passed Ericsson who had previously been left for dead by Massa.
Hamilton has to take to the marbles in order to pass Vettel and begin closing the 5.889s gap to Rosberg.
Perez is told that his tyre degradation is low.
Verstappen closes on his Toro Rosso teammate, who is shadowing (eleventh-placed) Ericsson.
Ericsson pits at the end of lap 15, leaving the Toro Rosso duo free to battle it out.
Vettel allows his Ferrari teammate through, the Finn now 3.3s behind Hamilton. Perez, in fourth, is 9.2s down on Vettel.
Another decent battle is that for ninth involving Masa and Kvyat.
Having allowed Raikkonen through, Vettel is told his pace is good and at his current pace, sticking with "Plan A" he is in the fight for decent points.
After a number of laps shadowing his teammate, Verstappen makes what appears a very easy pass on the Spaniard to take 11th. Indeed, radio replay reveals that Sainz was told to allow Verstappen through in order that he could challenge Massa and Kvyat. "Do it now, do it now," Sainz is told.
Having served his drive-through (unseen), Alonso makes his third stop of the afternoon, the Spaniard slightly overshooting his box.
Complaining about "nothing but flat-spot" which are causing a vibration, Verstappen pits at the end of lap 20. He rejoins in 15th.
"Raikkonen doing a very good job to keep pressure on the Mercedes," says Pirelli. "Timing of pit stops could make an important difference."
Currently 4.6s down on the race leader, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (46.744) on lap 22. Raikkonen is now 6.020s adrift of the world champion.
The only real battles at present are those involving Grosjean and Ricciardo for sixth, Massa and Kvyat for ninth and Ericsson and Verstappen for fourteenth.
Told to "box" at the end of lap 23, Vettel says "I can squeeze one more", but stops nevertheless. Still on the harder rubber he rejoins in sixth. Grosjean also pits, rejoining in eleventh.
Alonso passes countryman Merhi to take eighteenth.
Button passes Grosjean for eleventh but the Mercedes-powered Frenchman soon re-takes the place.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 24.
Verstappen squeezes past Ericsson to take 14th, as Hamilton posts another fastest lap (46.574). The Briton is now just 2.318s behind his teammate.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 24, as Alonso warns "if we don't have a safety car I will retire the car". And who can blame him.
Ricciardo and Massa both pits at the end of lap 26, leaving fifth-placed Vettel in clear air.
Now 1.566 down on Rosberg, Hamilton is told that it appears German is suffering front-right graining.
As Perez pits, promoting Vettel to fourth, the German posts a new fastest lap (46.078). As Button pits, Perez rejoins in sixth, just ahead of Ricciardo.
Sainz pits from seventh at the end of lap 28, rejoining 3s behind his teammate.
Bottas is told to pit at the end of lap 29 when he will also serve his 5s penalty. The Finn duly pits, serves the penalty, and rejoins in sixteenth.
Another fastest lap from Vettel (45.965), but next time around it is Perez who sets the pace, the Mexican stopping the clock at 45.892.
Rosberg makes what should be his final stop at the end of lap 31, the German rejoining in third. "RS only in the pitlane," the German is told, "RS only in the pitlane".
On track, it's "Hammer-time", the world champion going quickest in S1 but only posting a PB. Elsewhere, Raikkonen pits, the Finn rejoining in fourth following a problem with his front-right. He is behind Vettel who still has to stop for the option rubber.
"We're going to try and extend this stint," Hamilton is told.
Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (45.450) as he maintains a 18.446s gap to Hamilton. Vettel, in third, is 17.692s behind with Raikkonen in hot pursuit.
Hulkenberg and Kvyat are battling for eighth, whilst the Toto Rosso duo are at it again, Verstappen hard on the heels of Sainz.
From out of nowhere, Massa, currently tenth, goes quickest in S1.
"If you can, pick the pace up," Rosberg is told, "we need to close the gap to Lewis." The German duly obliges, going quickest in S1.
"Sebastian has been told," Raikkonen is told, as the German moves aside for his teammate for the second time this afternoon.
Hamilton asks what tyre "the other car" is on. "Prime at the moment," is the intriguing reply.
Indeed, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (45.356) as he closes the gap to 14.145. Moments later Raikkonen posts 45.352.
"If you were to stop you would be 6s behind Nico," Hamilton is told. He responds that his rears are "going off". The Briton is told that if he does stop he should stick with the primes.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 39, Vettel stopping a lap later. The German emerges on the option rubber 21.628s later in sixth position, just behind Ricciardo.
How the German manages on the softer rubber, with 15 laps remaining, should help Mercedes with its decision regarding Hamilton.
"If I was to back off and go to the end on these tyres, how slow can I go," asks Hamilton. He is told that it is not worth considering such an option. "Impossible," he is warned.
Next time around the Briton pits, sticking with the primes. Meanwhile, after a number of attempts that were firmly rejected, Vettel finally gets past Ricciardo to take fifth. In the process the German posts a new fastest lap (45.156).
Back on track, Hamilton is now 12.640s down on Rosberg, but 5.589s ahead of Raikkonen.
Elsewhere, Button nails Ericsson to take twelfth. "Nice job Jenson," the McLaren driver is told.
After 42 laps, it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Perez, Vettel, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Kvyat and Massa.
"This is critical and I mean it," Kvyat is told, "you have charge 14 for one straight." The Russian shadowing Hulkenberg whilst fending off Massa.
Grosjean pits at the d of lap 43, as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. As the Briton goes quickest (44.517), Rosberg is told that he'll be kept informed of his teammate's progress, the Briton now 10.451s behind with 11 laps remaining.
Vettel closes on Perez, however, the German will only have so many quick laps before the options begin to fall off the cliff. The four-time world champion doesn't wait for an invitation, sweeping around the outside of the Force India in T8 there is polite applause in the Ferrari garage.
Losing time in the back markers, Rosberg's lead is now down to 7.964, Hamilton continuing to set a blistering pace.
Verstappen runs wide in his efforts to pass Button, the McLaren driver, a wily old fox, refusing to make things easy. The Dutch youngster, who passes the Briton in the process, complains "he forced me off track".
Moments later, the stewards announce they are investigating the incident ,in the course of which the Toro Rosso driver gained a position.
Massa finally passes Kvyat to take eighth, on what has been a difficult afternoon for Williams. Replay shows the Russian didn't make it easy.
With 7 laps remaining, and 7.677s down on the leader, Hamilton is told "we need to go flat-out to the end".
Verstappen is handed a 5s penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Alonso pits and takes on a set of options.
Hamilton is quickest in S1, but now he has traffic to contend with and the gap to Rosberg remains around 6.7s. Losing time behind Verstappen, the Briton is clearly frustrated.
Now in clear air, Rosberg responds with a couple of strong laps, extending his advantage to 7.465s.
Grosjean is all over ninth-placed Kvyat, whilst trying to hold off Sainz. Elsewhere, Bottas is harrying thirteenth-placed Button.
A late charge from Ricciardo also as he sets about closing the 2.2s gap to fifth-placed Perez.
As the gap to Rosberg stands at 7.9s, there are sure to be questions over Mercedes strategy again, as far as Hamilton is concerned. Fact is however, the German has been strong all weekend... indeed, he's been strong since the disappointment of Austin.
Grosjean nails Kvyat for ninth, as Sainz takes up the fight with the Russian.
Verstappen is to be investigated for ignoring blue flags, no doubt when he was under pressure from Hamilton.
Rosberg takes the flag, his third successive win, the first time he has won three successive Grands Prix. The German ends his season on a high and, more importantly, proves what he is capable of.
Hamilton, though a distant 8.2s behind, has the consolation of a third title, though there are sure to be questions over the team's strategy.
As he takes the flag fireworks light the sky, the party begins. This being F1, the party wouldn't be complete without a few donuts and Rosberg is mong the first to fill the air with that wonderful smell of burning rubber. Perez, Ricciardo and others follow suit.
Verstappen, who crossed the line in twelfth, is handed a post-race drive through for the blue flag incident, thereby dropping him to sixteenth.
"Sorry it was such a tough race," Alonso is told, "better things next year, we're sure."
Taking third, Raikkonen also takes fourth in the driver standings, though probably not the way he wanted to do it.
Ferrari thanks Vettel for his debut season, the German no doubt hoping for a better car next year and improved strategy.
Great performances from Perez to take fifth and Ricciardo in sixth in a race which was a lot more entertaining than we'd imagined.
Ahead of the launches, and testing, which gets underway in late February - not forgetting the 12-hour test here on Tuesday, to which no media is allowed - attention, as ever, switched to activities away from the track, most notably Red Bull and Toro Rosso's engine supply, the 'will they, won't they' saga of Renault buying Lotus and the political manoeuvring in terms of the FIA's demand for cheaper engines or an independent supply. And then there's Fernando Alonso... and Haas... and...
Dull it isn't, not as far as F1 and politics is concerned.
And it's got to be better than 'driverless racing'.
Hasn't it?
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.