Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) wins the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The brit wins again on American soil and gets closer to the title, followed by Sebastian Vettel (Scuderia Ferrari) and Kimi Raïkkönen (Scuderia Ferrari) completes the podium.
It’s a good start for Sebastian Vettel, who gets in the lead straight away in front of title rival Lewis Hamilton. The German managed a great start, taking the advantage and immediately trying to create a gap. Daniel Ricciardo is up in 4th, right behind Valtteri Bottas. The Aussie fighting real hard for 3rd position, pushing the Mercedes slightly off track into turn 1. The Finn manages to keep the advantage though.
Further back we have the Spaniards, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, fighting for 7th position. We also see a strong Max Verstappen, who started 16th, already up in 10th position. The duel between Bottas and Ricciardo is still happening and absolutely beautiful, but the Aussi doesn’t find a way past the Finn. Another great starter is Stoffel Vandoorne, the Belgian who started dead last on the grid is already in 15th, chasing down Lance Stroll’s Williams.
Nico Hülkenberg and Pascal Wehrlein are the first to pit, due to problems, both of them will eventually retire the car. Back at the front Hamilton is quickly getting closer to Vettel again, he manages a great pass on the German and takes the lead. While Verstappen continues his ascent through the field and is already ip in 7th position. Bottas managed to create a small gap on Ricciardo, the Aussie is now being chased down by Raïkkonen for 4th position but then decides to pit. Unfortunately, the RBR driver will have to abandon due to an engine failure.
Sebastian Vettel is the first to pit from the leaders, Lewis Hamilton pitting some laps later getting out of the pits just ahead of the Ferrari. It is Max Verstappen, who started 16th, we find now in the lead. The Dutchman on the other strategy and still managing great lap times. Fernando Alonso who is running in 7th and fighting for points, suddenly suffer from another engine failure. Though luck for the Spaniard who abandons from yet another Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz now chasing down both Force India, attacking Sergio Perez first and managing to pass the Mexican with a beautiful move now ready to chase down Esteban Ocon. Daniil Kvyat who was right behind Sainz now also attacking Perez for 8th position. More up front Raïkkönen now on the tail of Bottas, it’s the battle of the Finns. The Ferrari driver will eventually win the battle.
Max Verstappen stops for new tyres, choosing for an alternate strategy. Vettel who currently runs in 2nd follows this example as he is suffering with his tyres and hopes the alternate strategy will work. The Red Bull and Ferrari are almost 2 seconds quicker than the Mercedes and Ferrari at the front, both easily closing the gap to the front.
Magnussen and Ericsson come together, which will result in a 5 seconds time penalty for the latter one. Sainz is now back on the tail of Ocon, clearly quicker than the Frenchman, but the Spaniard doesn’t find a way past. Vettel has come back like a cannonball on Bottas and manages a beautiful pass on the Finn, to them be let past by teammate Raïkkönen.
It is an absolute crazy last lap, with Max Verstappen coming back like crazy on Kimi Raïkkönen. The Dutchman trying to find a way past and finally doing so in one of the last corners. He crosses the finish line in third, but will get a 5 seconds time penalty for “gaining an advantage by crossing the track limits”. It is Kimi Raïkkönen who will take the last podium spot.
Lewis Hamilton wins again in Austin, bringing home the constructor’s championship for Mercedes AMG. Sebastian Vettel finishes in 2nd, keeping the title battle open for at least the next race in Mexico and it is Kimi Raïkkönen who takes home 3rd position after Max Verstappen’s time penalty. Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat and Felipe Massa complete the top 10.
