Formula 1 - USA Grand Prix 2015

Lewis Hamilton has become world champion three races before the end of the season! He benefited from several safety car phases in particular. Sebastian Vettel will duel with Nico Rosberg in the next races and try to become runner-up.

by B. Fleckenstein

Qualifying was postponed until Sunday due to heavy rain in Austin Texas. However, Sunday's qualifying was also cancelled at Q2 and the grid was set accordingly. Sebastian Vettel(Ferrari) had the difficult task of starting the race from 13th on the grid, penalized due to an engine change, and had to try to finish first or second in order to still be able to maintain the dream of becoming world champion. Nico Rosberg started from pole and tried to leave his teammate Lewis Hamilton behind him, which he initially managed quite well. But the safety car wiped out the lead of about 10 seconds he had built up.

Vettel fought his way through the midfield on intermediates and managed to set a good first lap that put him in seventh place. Meanwhile, the Silver Arrows and Red Bulls were pulling away at the front. The change to dry tires on lap 18 helped the Heppenheimer to join the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Daniil Kvyat and thus the leaders until the safety car period on lap 27. During this safety car period, Vettel picked up fresh harder tires to be able to drive through. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, was one of the few to stay out and was at a disadvantage because he had to change tires again after the restart. But another safety car period just before the end of the race allowed Hamilton to change tires without losing time and that destroyed Vettel's chances for victory, making Hamilton the world champion before the season was over. Sergio Perez delivered another good result with fifth place, as did Jenson Button, who resulted in sixth place and thus once again finished in the points. Stablemate Alonso narrowly missed out on the points.