United States – Race: The Sheriff is Still Hamilton!

The show was unprecedented. As expected, Liberty Media pulled out all the stops for the 2017 United States Grand Prix. An exceptional showcase of the drivers, presented in a boxing style by the famous announcer Michael Buffer. The spectacle continued up to the start of the formation lap, initiated by the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt.

Time to crank the atmosphere up a notch with MC @Michael_Buffer 🙌#USGP #F1 @alo_oficial pic.twitter.com/3jTzsWysWM

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 octobre 2017

Faced with him, 20 machines ready to battle. Lewis Hamilton led the pack for the 72nd time in his career, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. A possibility loomed over the Texan circuit: the Briton could be crowned in case of a new victory combined with his great rival finishing outside the top.

Behind, a crowd of new developments with Carlos Sainz’s debut (7th on the grid) at Renault and Brendon Hartley’s very first appearance (19th) in Formula 1. On the track side, something new was also out, with the tarmac washed by a morning storm.

The range of strategies was therefore extremely uncertain by Cyril Abiteboul’s own admission.

The warm-up lap was therefore initiated by the “Lightning” himself. Two minutes later, the cars returned to the Texas grid for the start of a prime-time race, European time.

Clashes at the summit, right from the start!

Has he overdone it? After violently slowing down towards the grid, Hamilton lost the lead at the start! Sebastian Vettel powered through on the climb. 15 days after his Japanese performance, the good start was also for Esteban Ocon, fifth! #USGP2017 The start Vettel (Ferrari) moves ahead of Hamilton (Mercedes), Bottas (Mercedes), Ricciardo (Red Bull). 🏁 https://t.co/fv3JMSgHu2 — La F1® sur CANAL (@LaF1SurCanal) October 22, 2017

All drivers completed the first lap. Just after, Daniel Ricciardo attempted a bold maneuver on Bottas, without success. The Australian didn’t give up and delivered a quality “dive bomb” (understand a late braking move to overtake)!

Further back in the pack, Verstappen had moved from 16th… to 10th place. Potential opponent, Nico Hülkenberg, did not stand in his way. The German returned to the pit to retire. It is therefore his fourth consecutive retirement in Austin!

But it was necessary to return to the lead. Sixth loop, second sector: Hamilton attacking Vettel. The long straight was the weapon of choice. In the DRS, the Mercedes driver reclaimed his position.

A small consolation: Kimi Räikkönen had overtaken Esteban Ocon for P5. By the 10th lap, the top six were in their starting positions. A short-lived observation, as the Frenchman from Force India was now overtaken by Max Verstappen, “back in the game” according to his engineer.

Mercedes plays at scaring itself

Regarding strategy, Daniel Ricciardo took an aggressive approach, also pitting as early as the 13th lap. Threatened by Räikkönen, “The Honey Badger” struggled with his tires after putting on a show at the start of the race. He decided at that moment to switch to the super-softs.

Alas, his engine gave out in the thirteenth corner of the sixteenth lap! This was the third retirement of the day, after Hülkenberg and Pascal Wehrlein, who hadn’t gone further than the fourth lap.

LAP 19/56: Race leader HAM pits and emerges ahead of title rival VET – but only just 👀#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/0UwFkJM9qi

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 octobre 2017

A contender less for the podium. The race continued, and its two main protagonists chose slightly different strategies. Vettel entered the pit lane on the 17th lap. A “satisfied” Hamilton stayed a few more laps on his starting tires. The three-time world champion made his first pit stop on the 20th lap. It was more than time: he rejoined the track just ahead of the German!

His return to action was marked by overtaking Verstappen’s Red Bull, the fleeting leader of the race. Just after, number 44 also set the fastest lap, 1:39.233, on softs. After the Dutchman’s pit stop, the top ten were on soft tires, with the exception of Felipe Massa.

But in the game of similarities, the master is Fernando Alonso, much to his chagrin. As at the Indy 500, the Bull of Asturias encountered a new mechanical problem. Returning slowly to his pit, he didn’t hesitate to express his frustration over the radio.

16 drivers were still in the race by the 30th lap. Among them, the two Force India teammates were wheel to wheel. Restrained, Pérez remained calmly behind Ocon (6th and 7th). Carlos Sainz took advantage to catch up. The new Renault member didn’t wait to attempt an overtaking. Bingo after a nice maneuver in the penultimate corner.

Vettel changes his approach but benefits from team strategy.

Let’s return to the lead. Lewis Hamilton was not faltering in the slightest, with nearly a seven-second lead by lap 35. Even better, Vettel found himself at the mercy of Bottas in third position, with Kimi Räikkönen pursuing him. His teammate opted for an alternative strategy on lap 39 to switch to the super-soft tires. This was a way to preempt the potential threat from Verstappen, who had gone through his pit stop one lap earlier.

On the temporary podium, “Iceman” overtook Bottas on lap 42, at the braking of the main straight. By lap 45, the gap was 10 seconds between the two leading men. However, the 2007 champion had consumed too much fuel and had to reduce his engine power.

The main issue at the start of the 50th lap was actually the order of the podium. Four drivers were within five seconds, in this order: Räikkönen, Bottas, Vettel, and Verstappen. Just behind (in the standings), Ocon was finding it increasingly difficult to hold off a brilliant Carlos Sainz.

At the same time, the leader caught up with Bottas and passed him on the first attempt, towards the first corner, also overtaking the backmarker Vandoorne! Logically, Räikkönen conceded his second place to him with the world championship in mind.

The humiliation was real for Bottas, who was also passed by Verstappen! But this battle didn’t change the outcome.

Lewis Hamilton indeed secured the victory under the checkered flag!

English is indeed the ace of Texas and even in general in the United States. With this sixth success, here he is surpassing Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, no less. More down to earth, the ninth victory in 2017 further secures his position as leader in the drivers’ championship. Finishing second, Sebastian Vettel is now 66 points behind. A fifth place by the end of the season will be enough for the fourth title for the former McLaren driver.

Third in the race, a momentary surprise: Max Verstappen! Kimi Räikkönen succumbed during a final attack, three corners from the end. But the young driver made his move with all four wheels off the track! A five-second penalty was imposed on him. As in Mexico in 2016, the Dutchman loses his podium spot. Bottas, on the other hand, takes the fastest lap after stopping at the end of the race.

BREAKING: Max Verstappen given a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage

RAI now promoted to P3#USGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/AxTOM0GxYI

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 October 2017

INITIAL CLASSIFICATION: @LewisHamilton extends his lead in the championship@Max33Verstappen demoted from P3 to P4#USGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/a5f1t7fjvO

— Formula 1 (@F1) 22 octobre 2017

And thanks to this situation, Mercedes secures the constructors’ title under the checkered flag for the 2017 season! The Brackley-based team clinches its fourth consecutive championship. Only big names like Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull have achieved such a feat in the history of Formula 1.

CONGRATULATIONS, MERCEDES

F1 constructors’ champions for the fourth year in a row

🏆🏆🏆🏆 #F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/qMCwi3Mo3C

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 22, 2017