Race Report – Happy hunting ground

F12016 United States GP Thursday Press Conference Friday Practice 1 Results Practice 1 Report Practice 2 Results Practice 2 Report Quotes Press Conference Photos Saturday Practice 3 Results Practice 3 Report Qualifying Results Qualifying Report Quotes Press Conference Photos Sunday Race Notes Race Results Race Incidents Race Report Quotes Press Conference Photos Happy hunting ground

Podium, United States GP 2016 

 © Terry Griffin, Acitve Pictures

 

By Dan Knutson in Austin

When it comes to hunting down wins at the Formula 1 races at the Circuit of The Americas, Lewis Hamilton is the master. He won the 2016 edition of the United States Grand Prix at the track just outside Austin, Texas, making it his fourth win in the race’s five-year history. He also scored his 50th Formula 1 victory and cut seven points off the lead his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg (who finished second) has in the drivers’ world championship.

“This has always been a good hunting ground for me,” Hamilton said. “I love being here in the States. It very much feels like home, and we’ve had some incredible support this weekend which I’m so thankful for.”

Rosberg gunned for the win but ended up second.

“I lost out a bit at the start unfortunately and gave it everything to come back and second place is okay,” he said. “It’s damage limitation today of course. I wanted to win here in America, that would have been awesome but it wasn’t to be. Next time maybe.”

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo joined them on the podium.

Pole sitter Hamilton, Rosberg, who had qualified second, and Max Verstappen, who lined up fourth in his Red Bull, had all managed to set their best lap times in Q2 using Pirelli’s soft compound slicks, so they were able to start the 56-lap race on those tires.

Ricciardo, who put his Red Bull third on the grid, had Pirelli’s super soft compound tires on his car. So, too, did the rest of the drivers in the top 10 qualifying spots: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Felipe Massa (Williams) and Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso).

Ricciardo used the extra grip to jump ahead of Rosberg to take second place. Verstappen slipped back to fifth behind Raikkonen.

“The start went nearly to plan,” Ricciardo said. “The plan was to get both Mercedes, we at least got Nico, which was a positive.”

Rosberg’s view: “I had a good start and tried to overtake Lewis on the outside but ultimately it meant Daniel Ricciardo had a better line out of turn 1 and was able to capitalize on this.”

Hamilton pulled away from Ricciardo and by lap 3 he was 1.2 seconds in front and out of DRS range.

The order in the early going was: Hamilton, Ricciardo, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Vettel, Massa, Sainz, Alonso, Button, Gutierrez and Grosjean.

Ricciardo and Raikkonen both pitted for the soft compound tires at the end of lap 8. Verstappen stopped just one lap later for the soft compound Pirellis.

Mercedes told Hamilton and Rosberg to “box” at the end of lap 9. Hamilton did not pit, however, but Rosberg did for a set of the mediums. Hamilton came in a lap later for the soft Pirellis.

So Vettel, who had yet to pit, led lap 12 while others such as Massa and Sainz made their stops. Hamilton was second in front of Ricciardo, Rosberg, Raikkonen and Verstappen.

Mercedes radioed to Rosberg that he was the only car in the leading group on the medium tires, so they were playing the “long game” that would come back to them.

Vettel finally came in at the end of lap 14, and the mechanics fitted the soft tires to his Ferrari. He rejoined in sixth place, and eventually finished fourth.

“The start was not so good and into turn 1 I was quite lucky, given that somebody was hitting me,” Vettel said. “I …

continue reading in source www.grandprix.com