Raikkonen victory keeps Hamilton waiting for fifth title
KIMI Raikkonen in a Ferrari won the US Grand Prix yesterday while championship leader Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes was third as the Formula One title fight goes to Mexico next week.
Raikkonen enjoyed his first F1 win since the Australian Grand Prix in 2013, and his first since returning to Ferrari from Lotus four years ago, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen came from 18th on the grid to finish second.
Hamilton had to make do with third at the Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas, one place ahead of Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton, however, took another step towards levelling Juan Manuel Fangio on five world titles, behind only German great Michael Schumacher on seven, with a lead of 70 points over Vettel with a maximum 75 to win from the last three races of the season.
Texas was meant to be the stage for Hamilton to triumph on a race he has dominated in the past, but 39-year-old Raikkonen stole his thunder, while Verstappen’s place on the podium was another unexpected twist.
“Maybe the fans are happier, it’s been a great weekend, the car has been good all the time,” Raikkonen said.
“It was obviously coming in to pit at the right time and having enough tyres, so it was a balancing act but we did it well, well enough to win and good.”
Hamilton started from pole, needing eight more points than Vettel who began fifth on the grid.
The race began well for Ferrari with Raikkonen on ultra-soft tyres getting past Hamilton at the start.
However, Vettel spun off before lap two after he had overtaken Daniel Ricciardo but then touched the Red Bull while trying to defend a counter-attack, an incident which shoved him back to 15th.
Ricciardo’s race was soon over following an engine failure on lap 11. Hamilton then darted in during the subsequent virtual safety car phase to change the durable soft tyres, while Raikkonen stayed out, a decision which initially appeared to be a strategic mistake.
By this time Vettel had worked his way back up to fifth, a place behind Verstappen, who had started 18th following a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.
Hamilton closed in on Raikkonen and took the lead when the Finn pitted for new tyres on lap 21. Vettel pitted six laps later, leaving him fifth at the halfway stage.
With blistering tyres, Hamilton was in the pits again on lap 37 for fresh softs to emerge fourth, but with teammate Bottas soon making way for him.
The race and the title was fully in the balance as it went into a tense last 10 laps, with Raikkonen, Verstappen and Hamilton close together, and Vettel moving up on Bottas.
Hamilton made an attempt to get past Verstappen with three laps to go but had to abort and run wide, while Vettel was successful in overtaking Bottas,
Raikkonen then held on for his 21st Grand Prix victory, ending a winless run of 113 races. | DPA