F1: Mexican Grand Prix Saw Nico Rosberg Winning, Lewis Hamilton 2nd

F1: Mexican Grand Prix Saw Nico Rosberg Winning, Lewis Hamilton 2nd

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Mercedes AMG’s Rosberg moves ahead of Ferrari’s Vettel to 2nd place in the F1 Drivers Championship

“If it stays dry, I think it might be a rather dull race,” Ferrari’s technical director James Allison ventured on the grid before the start of the 1st Mexican Grand Prix in 23 years. Well, it was dry, and he was right, as Nico Rosberg led Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton home Sunday by just under 2 secs.

But, it was Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who provided the drama, as Ferrari failed to finish either of their cars for the 1st time since the 2006 Australian Grand Prix.

The crowd loved every racing minute for this Grand Prix.

In the build-up, their home town favorite, Sergio Perez, 29 anni, and newly-crowned 3X Champion Lewis Hamilton, had paused during the parade of drivers in classic cars to hurl caps to them.

Mr. Perez, the Mexican Force India driver savored his moment in the Sun to the music of a Mariachi band and chants of his nickname – “Checo! Checo! Checo!” As older Mexican Grand Prix fans relived the glory days of the greats Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez in whose joint honor the revamped track is named, F1 savoured its return to a country where the sport is still revered and very popular.

The Mexican Grand Prix Results:

1 N Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1hr 42min 35.038sec

2 L Hamilton (GB) Mercedes GP 1:42:36.992

3 V Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:42:49.630

4 D Kvyat (Rus) Red Bull 1:42:51.610

5 D Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:42:54.720

6 F Massa (Br) Williams 1:42:56.531

7 N Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India 1:43:00.898

8 S Perez (Mex) Force India 1:43:09.381

9 M Verstappen (Neth) Toro Rosso 1:43:10.267

10 R Grosjean (Fr) Lotus 1:43:12.972

11 P Maldonado (Ven) Lotus F1 Team 1:43:13.576, 12 M Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:43:15.218, 13 C Sainz (Sp) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:43:23.810, 14 J Button (GB) McLaren 1:43:24.252, 15 A Rossi (US) Manor Marussia F1 at 2 laps, 16 W Stevens (GB) Manor Marussia F1 at 2 laps. Not classified: 17 F Nasr (Br) Sauber-Ferrari 57 laps completed, 18 S Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 50 laps completed, 19 K Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 21 laps completed, 20 F Alonso (Sp) McLaren 0 laps completed.

The Abu Dhabians, the Russians, the Koreans and the Indians like it, the Chinese are learning about it, but for the Mexicans Grand Prix racing is part of the national fabric. They really get it.

The organizers and promoter Tavo Hellmund deserve credit for reviving this Grand Prix. As school children sang the Mexican national anthem on the grid, and the drivers stood to attention, it was reminiscent of the Indianapolis 500 at its finest. It felt like a Homecoming.

Mr. Rosberg nailed the start, and he and Mr. Hamilton drove away from the pack. But in their wake Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel cut off Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo at the 1st corner, sustaining a puncture which dropped him back and condemned him to a tough afternoon of racing. After a pit stop for fresh tires, the Mr. Vettel got back in the race, but later had a wild spin shortly after fighting past Jenson Button’s slower McLaren.

Messrs Rosberg and Hamilton had just changed tires on the 46th and 48th laps respectively, when Mr. Vettel spun again and crashed on the 52nd lap and turned the race from a procession into a Mercedes AMG duel.

As the Ferrari sat parked in the Tecpro barriers, the safety car was deployed.

That nullified Mr. Rosberg’s 3-sec lead and threw Mr. Hamilton an opportunity, but at the restart 6 laps later the Mr. Rosberg got the jump, and took his 4th victory of the season.

At the restart Mr. Bottas was able to pass 3rd-place Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull, leaving the Russian to lead home team-mate Ricciardo, Bottas’ partner Felipe Massa and the Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Perez.

Mr. Perez lost out when the team elected not to go into the pits for fresh tires behind the safety car.

It was Mr. Rosberg’s day, and Mr. Hamilton was 1stst to acknowledge that. “Nico drove a fantastic race,” he said.

His win and Mr. Vettel’s retirement puts Mr. Rosberg back into 2nd place in the drivers’ championship, and he is surely delighted.

“It’s been an amazing day, and this was a great race,” Mr. Rosberg said afterwards, smiling at last. “It was a great battle with Lewis, and I’m really happy to get the win. It’s the best podium of the year. Muchas Gracias”

Tune in for the next race, The Grand Prix of Brazil on 13-15 November.

Have a terrific week.

Paul Ebeling

HeffX-LTN

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