Sunday: Mercedes strengthens its 2nd place in the Constructors’ Championship

Lewis Hamilton – 4th:

« It was nice this afternoon and I’m really happy with this 4th place. It was so nice to have a race where I could fight for positions and make progress. The car felt much better today than recently, so the chassis change clearly made a difference, so a big thank you to the guys in the garage for their efforts. I got a great start today and it was crucial for my race. We gave up third place to Mark [Webber] too easily to ensure our tire management, and the strategy worked because it was important for the team to finish ahead of Ferrari. There was no way I was going to let Fernando pass at the end; I was ready for his attack and had a few tenths in reserve to use if he did! We’ve had some tough races, and I’m so proud of the team for all the efforts they’ve made. We are all determined to maintain our second place [in the constructors’ championship, Ed] at the final race in Brazil next weekend. »

Nico Rosberg – 9th:

« I didn’t have a great weekend here in Austin unfortunately. It really started yesterday in qualifying where I struggled to get the tires up to temperature, and starting from 12th place really complicates the race, especially in a one-stop race. I made some good overtakes but we weren’t able to do more with the strategy today because of the single stop, so it’s disappointing to finish 9th because our car was faster today. Overall though, as a team, we managed to extend the gap with Ferrari, and that’s a good result. After such a tough weekend, I’d love to get back in the car in Brazil tomorrow and not have to wait seven days! We’re going to work hard to finish the season with a good result. »