American stage of the season of Formula 1 — Grand Prix in Austin — could decide the fate of the title. Yes that there to hide — decided. Pilot Mercedes Lewis Hamilton for the third time became the champion and now he is in the number of titles rose by one notch with these legends — Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Wow company?
But the true fans know that it's not the number of titles, and how they won. And this is the main question.
Austin Grand Prix 2015 started badly — as a fan (or cheerleaders — who will disassemble) the track was declared typhoon Patricia. The riders had to skate first of Friday's training session on a wet track, and then began a tropical downpour and thunderstorms.
The second training session even started — an hour after the moment when she had to start her at all abolished.
A third training session was held in the rain — riders do not particularly want to get wet, but they had no choice. In the paddock talking about the possible cancellation of the qualifying rounds, and in this case, the starting grid was formed as a result of the very Saturday training.
On Saturday qualifications still canceled — after three hours of waiting and delays. Riders and teams and spectators entertained themselves as best they could, but the participants of the Grand Prix and the fans would be more than glad arrivals, not this initiative...
But, to the delight of all those present, qualifying races were held on Sunday. And it's a lot like — Kimi Raikkonen even called the organizers of the championship to make this format permanent. But there has not been without problems — in just five minutes after the start of the first segment of an accident Carlos Sainz stopped the session the red flags (repeat the situation that occurred in Sochi). A third session of the first postponed and then canceled altogether — the results were announced at the end of the two segments.
The first line of the grid has settled two familiar Mercedes — Nico Rosberg took the pole, championship leader Lewis Hamilton took second place at the start. On the second row — is this season was not often — there were two Red Bull Daniel Riccardo and Daniil Kvyat. Showed the fifth time Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel became the eighth and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen due to the replacement of elements of the power plant have lost ten positions. As a result, in the top ten appeared Sergio Perez, Nico, Felipe Massa, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean.
As if tired of the «work» for most of the race weekend and a half hours before the start of the race rain finally stopped. The track was drying quickly, and at the start of automobiles of all participants wore intermediate rubber.
From the start — given the fact that the head of the peloton were Rosberg and Hamilton — waiting for a hard confrontation. And wait! The German made a slip, and the Briton was gone «with shoes» almost perfectly to the first turn and two Mercedes came up side by side. In this scenario, Lewis was in a better position — he was on the inner path — and full advantage of it. Pushed back (or rather even displacing) Nico out — while preventing blow the front wheels — the Briton took the lead, and the German went off the road and missed not only his team-mate, but also Kvyat, and Ricardo Perez!
Yes, Kvyat the fourth position at the start took off for second place — a great breakthrough! Moreover, at some point, the rate of the Russians allowed him to attack even in the lead of Hamilton.
But not for long music played. Due to the scattered debris on the track has been declared the Virtual Vehicle Safety. And during the restart Rosberg, as they say, a slight movement of the hand left behind, and Riccardo, and Kvyat! This troubles the Russian rider is not over. Rushing to catch Nico Danya cut the gap and went on the attack, but did not keep the car on the trajectory and in turn flew straight over the track. Fortunately there was no gravel and asphalt and Kvyat quickly came back, but he slipped past both Rosberg and Riccardo.
The Australian also did something that had not managed to make the Russian. At first, he was ahead of Rosberg, then caught up and overtook Hamilton and went out to the leaders even went to White Castle!
Speed Hamilton has missed Ricardo, and later Rosberg clearly shows — the time has come change rubber. And Lewis rushed into the pits. They have already visited some of the rivals to change the intermediate tires to slicks.
Following the Briton in the pit-stop, and drove the rest of the leaders, who managed to stay ahead of Lewis! Still, he drove too early — only one round, and this effect: Riccardo, Rosberg and Kvyat were able to get the most out of the situation.
But on slicks car team Red Bull Racing went not so provocatively as on intermediate tires. After a couple of laps after the pit stop ahead of Rosberg and Hamilton, respectively, Riccardo and Kvyat. Daniel laps later passed ahead of Sebastian Vettel. And after three laps Lewis «ate» and Riccardo — two Mercedes came to their «legitimate» first and second place.
At this point of the race because of problems with the suspension has dropped, both pilots Williams — and Valtteri Bottas, and Felipe Massa were forced to lay down their arms.
Gathering Marcus Eriksson, whose Sauber stopped on the roadside due to engine failure led to another change of position. On the track left the safety car and taking advantage of this, some riders — among whom there was also Sebastian Vettel — change tires.
On the restart ahead of first German Daniil Kvyat and then Daniel Ricardo, pushing the pilot of Red Bull from the podium — it's all in one single round! On the next lap Kvyat missed Max Verstappen, and then because of the departure of the track also came forward Nico...
Later, the German was caught and went to overtake Riccardo, but as a result of their cars collided and Nico came. Because the debris was again declared Mode virtual machine security. That's when Rosberg, Kvyat and miss after an accident ahead of his partner Riccardo change tires, rolled back.
After arrival in the pit lane Russians stayed in the race just three laps — travel outside the tracks, turning, hitting the rails, and the gathering went back on the track the safety car, which allowed to change tires remaining participants. Because of this Nico Rosberg took the lead of the race.
Restart not affected the situation in the group of leaders — the German leadership not only preserved, but also managed one lap off the Hamilton... around later to go abroad and skip tracks forward Brit! And it's less than ten laps to go!
In this struggle the top three was completed. Lewis Hamilton won the tenth victory of the season, and Nico finish in second place brought Briton coveted third world title. Sebastian Vettel until recently tried to get ahead of the Germans — if he managed to do it, then the Germans would have remained a mathematical chance to continue the fight for the championship.
After the race razobizhenny Rosberg — very much he did not like the behavior of Hamilton — began to criticize the manner of driving of his fellow Mercedes. This fuss going on day after day, and she can not see any end or edge. Instead of fighting on the track Nico chose to duel in the media.
Oh, Lermontov was right, right...
