Overview
Lewis Hamilton won the seesaw battle at COTA and with it, his 43rd victory and third World Championship. The race started on intermediate tires as the rain had finally stopped, but a large drop in temperature and high winds were keeping the track surface wet; victory would go to the driver who stayed ahead of his sliding machine and conditions; the first task was to nurse his tires as the track dried.
At the start, Hamilton got the jump on Rosberg, yet both cars arrived at the first corner side-by-side, with Hamilton on the inside. From there, Hamilton simply refused to turn his car into the corner to leave room for Rosberg; he bumped Rosberg who took to the runoff area; Hamilton as gone. Ricciardo and Kvyat following with Rosberg fourth. However, Hamilton ruined his intermediate tires trying to build a lead and as they faded, Ricciardo and then Rosberg went past. When the leaders changed to dry tires, Hamilton stayed out. When Hamilton did change to drys, he dropped behind Kvyat as well. Rosberg was faster on the slicks and moved into the lead by lap 26.
The next lap, Ericsson’s Sauber stopped on the racing line and another round of tire changes ensued. Sebastian Vettel, up to 5th from 13th place changed to mediums. He suddenly had strategy to his advantage as he could now run to the end without another stop. Vettel quickly passed Ricciardo and Kvyat as Rosberg and Hamilton started to pull out a lead. Then, on lap 37, the VSC was again brought out as Nico Hulkenberg rammed into Ricciardo at Turn 12, and he was forced to stop on track. Rosberg and the Red Bull drivers stopped for tires while Hamilton again stayed out and remained in the lead. Rather than benefitting, it appeared Hamilton would be the weakest of the frontrunners, as he would be handicapped with older tires.
Rosberg swiftly caught Vettel for second place and was charging after the slowing Hamilton when Kvyat lost his Red Bull on the exit of Turn 19 and crashed into the barriers.
As the safety car was dispatched, Hamilton finally stopped for tires, as did Vettel. When the race restarted on lap 47, Rosberg pulled away in the lead. However, his Mercedes went off at the Turn 17, allowing Hamilton to pass. He would go on to victory. Rosberg recovered and held off Vettel to finish second. It was Mercedes’ 25th 1-2 result as a constructor.
Behind the Mercedes pair for the remaining points; Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso), Sergio Perez (Force India), Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso), Jenson Button (McLaren), Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) Felipe Nasr (Sauber), and Daniel Riccardo (Red Bull).
