Lewis Hamilton will chase the Formula One world championship from the No. 2 position at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday after Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg grabbed pole in a rain-shortened qualifying session.
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Needing to finish ahead of Rosberg and closest rival Vettel to secure the title in Austin, it looked as if Hamilton would have to wait at least another week for his third title. “The greatest moment of my life” said an emotional Hamilton as he drew level with his boyhood hero Ayrton Senna for title victories and also matched fellow Briton Jackie Stewart.
And he thanked the crowd for staying through the rain to watch the race, adding: “I think we put a good show on for you today”.
After further drama in the pit lane Hamilton would somehow find himself emerge in first position with just a quarter of this race remaining – that as a result of Rosberg choosing the wrong time to swap out his tyres. Rosberg took the opportunity to pit, handing Hamilton the lead ahead of Vettel, but in the knowledge that his team-mate would have to pit again.
Lewis Hamilton became the first ever British driver to defend the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship on Sunday.
He said: “Lewis Hamilton’s performance this year has been the best of his career”. He led the championship by 12 points with two races remaining, but would narrowly miss out on becoming the first driver to win the championship in his rookie season after faltering displays in China and then Brazil.
Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe praised Hamilton afterwards.
Daniel Ricciardo qualified third behind pole man Rosberg and Hamilton in the rain-delayed and rain-shortened qualifying session, while Vettel qualified fifth but will start 15th by dint of a penalty for an engine change.
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, of Germany, leads ahead of the Red…
He was handed a break on lap 42 when Kvyat crashed heavily, smashing the front of his Red Bull into the Armco barrier, which brought out the second Safety vehicle. Rosberg easily sliced his way back through the field while Hamilton struggled to get the gap he needed for a comfortable stop.
Red Bull placed both of its cars near the front.
The German was leading when he ran wide with seven laps to go, a mistake that allowed Hamilton to blast past and take the victory. After restart Vettel managed to edge past Verstappen into third and 5s behind Hamilton who was less than 1.5s behind Rosberg.
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He held that lead to the finish line for his 10th victory of the season, to claim his third world drivers’ championship and a place in the sport’s pantheon.
