F1 report: Great Race in the USA!
Kimi Raikkonen drove the race of his life at Austin Texas this last weekend to win the American Grand Prix. He took the lead away from Lewis Hamilton at the first corner and really never looked back! Max Verstappen also gave us a display of great driving coming through the field from 18th on the grid to 2nd at the chequered flag.
Lewis Hamilton who started the race from pole position made his tyre stop very early which caused him to stop a second time. He therefore had to settle for 3rd place gaining valuable points for the championship which is very much in his grasp now. All three podium cars came home in line astern within 2.5seconds of each other! Sebastian Vettel was next man home in the second Ferrari with Valtteri Bottas about 10 seconds behind him in the second Mercedes.
The two Renaults had a very good run with Nico Hulkenberg leading his team mate Carlos Sainz home in 6thand 7th place respectively. Next up was Esteban Ocon in the Force India followed by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas, then the other Force India of Sergio Perez in 8th,9th and 10th. The two Honda powered Toro Rosso’s were 11th and 14th (Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasley) still needing some more speed. Other notables who were non finishers, included Charles Leclerc in the Sauber Alfa Romeo, Daniel Ricciardo in the other Red Bull Renault and Fernando Alonso in his Mclaren Renault. Strangely it was 112 races since Kimi Raikkonen’s last win and more than 15 years between his first and last win. Max Verstappen was acclaimed driver of the day.
In just seven days time the F1 Cars will line up in Mexico City for the next race of three that are left on the Calendar. Hamilton should button up the Championship in Mexico, but I expect another ding dong affair between the Prancing Horses and the Silver Arrows!
Rod Kinsey
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