Overview IV

Unnoticed by the spectators, both Rosberg’s and Hamilton’s Mercedes were in trouble somewhere in the steering wheel controlled settings. Hamilton’s Mercedes’ pre-set race mode was causing inconsistent hybrid power deployment. Rosberg reported the same problem. He finally deciphered the fix by canceling his pre-race setting mode, yet Hamilton’s situation prevented him from finding a fix for many more laps. When he finally found the solution path, Hamilton recovered and finished as the fastest driver on the track.

As the laps placidly wound down, Vettel caught and passed Raikkonen on lap 28. Raikkonen would then be hounded by Sergio Perez’s Force India until the Mexican passed him for third place on the final lap. Hamilton recovered to finish fifth with Valtteri Bottas circulating a lonely sixth. Both Ricciardo and Verstappen’s Red Bulls passed Hulkenberg’s Force India to take seventh and eight respectively. Felipe Mass rounded out the points positions in tenth.

Rosberg’s entire weekend was one of great expectations fulfilled; the pole, every lap lead and a runaway victory in the midst of solving a computational glitch.