The Overview III

Hamilton had led away from pole position as fellow front row starter Nico Hulkenberg faded quickly to fifth. Jenson Button moved to second, his McLaren an unfamiliar sight at the head of the pack led by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. As Hamilton pulled away, Raikkonen would trail Button until lap seven as Rosberg made his way up to fourth from sixth on the grid. He would get by Button for third on lap eight, and pit on lap 10 for soft tyres.

Hamilton’s ultrasoft tyres were maintaining their tenacious grip while the pursuing Ferrari’s and Red Bull’s supersofts proved just average. When Hamilton finally came in on lap 21 for a set of soft tyres, his slow stop brought him out behind Rosberg.

Raikkonen pitted one lap later for his set of softs, but fell behind Hamilton, and the Red Bulls of Ricciardo and Verstappen, he up from eighth.