Nico Rosberg beats Hamilton in the Mexican thriller
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg finally converted his pole to victory and beat his triple world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton tried all his best to beat his team mate but Rosberg kept his cool to take the chequered flag first from Hamilton while Bottas came in 3rd.
At the start, Rosberg held his nerves and kept his line into C1 even though Hamilton got a better launch and tried an attack. The drama began with Vettel in the Ferrari getting caught in between Redbull driver Kyat and Ricciardo which resulted in a bump between Vettel and Ricciardo resulting in a puncture for the Ferrari driver while Fernando Alonso retired on the first lap after making a mandatory start just for the fans.
As Vettel went to the back after a tyre change it seemed Kimi Raikkonen on the other Ferrari was fighting for the podium but Raikkonen and Bottas again came together in the esses but this time the Ferrari ended up with a broken right wheel.
Meanwhile, Hamilton tried to catch his team mate Rosberg but couldnt succeed and lost few more seconds due to a 2 lap delayed pitstop to Rosberg.
Vettel charged through the field upto 11th and spun immediately after overtaking Jenson Button citing tyre problems and brake issues on lap 17. But on the 52nd lap Vettel crashed bringing in the safety car for 6laps and also Ferrari´s first double DNF since 2006.
Hamilton got a chance to close on his team mate but he couldnt get closer to attack the German driver and the race went on till the last lap like a nail biting thriller.
Rosberg took the flag 1.9secs ahead of Hamilton making it another Mercedes 1-2, with Bottas finishing 3rd beating Kyvat instantly after the safety car period.
Daniil Kyvat who looked on for a sure podium position for most of the race finished 4th with his team Daniel Ricciardo, who was racing with a slightly damaged car after the first lap incident with his ex-team mate Sebastian Vettel, finished 5th.
Filepe Massa finished 6th ahead of both Force India´s of Hulkenberg and Perez while young rookie Max Verstappen on the Torro Rosso came in 9th ahead of Romain Grosjean on the Lotus rounding up the top 10.
Formula 1 - 2015 Mexican Grand Prix - Race Results
POS. | DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | TIME |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NICO ROSBERG | GER | MERCEDES | 1:42:35.038 |
2 | LEWIS HAMILTON | GBR | MERCEDES | +1.954s |
3 | VALTTERI BOTTAS | FIN | WILLIAMS | +14.592s |
4 | DANIIL KVYAT | RUS | RED BULL RACING | +16.572s |
5 | DANIEL RICCIARDO | AUS | RED BULL RACING | +19.682s |
6 | FELIPE MASSA | BRA | WILLIAMS | +21.493s |
7 | NICO HULKENBERG | GER | FORCE INDIA | +25.860s |
8 | SERGIO PEREZ | MEX | FORCE INDIA | +34.343s |
9 | MAX VERSTAPPEN | NED | TORO ROSSO | +35.229s |
10 | ROMAIN GROSJEAN | FRA | LOTUS | +37.934s |
11 | PASTOR MALDONADO | VEN | LOTUS | +38.538s |
12 | MARCUS ERICSSON | SWE | SAUBER | +40.180s |
13 | CARLOS SAINZ | ESP | TORO ROSSO | +48.772s |
14 | JENSON BUTTON | GBR | MCLAREN | +49.214s |
15 | ALEXANDER ROSSI | USA | MARUSSIA | +2 laps |
16 | WILL STEVENS | GBR | MARUSSIA | +2 laps |
NC | FELIPE NASR | BRA | SAUBER | DNF |
NC | SEBASTIAN VETTEL | GER | FERRARI | DNF |
NC | KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN | FIN | FERRARI | DNF |
NC | FERNANDO ALONSO | ESP | MCLAREN | DNF |