agence france-presse
Sao Paulo, Nov 16: Nico Rosberg sealed his place as runner-up in this year’s Formula One (F1) World Championships here Sunday when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of his Mercedes teammate and newly-crowned three-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
It was the 30-year-old German’s second consecutive triumph following his Mexico win after his unforced error at the United States Grand Prix gifted Hamilton victory and his third title in Texas last month.
Starting from his fifth consecutive pole position, Rosberg made a flawless start and controlled the race from the front, relinquishing the lead only when he pitted three times, while Hamilton chased and challenged in vain. It was Rosberg’s fifth win of 2015 and the 13th of his career.
The 30-year-old Englishman, who arrived in Brazil 24 hours later than scheduled after what he described as ‘a difficult week’ of illness and a road accident, finished second ahead of third-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
Kimi Raikkonen came home fourth in the second Ferrari ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Williams, Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Danil Kvyat of Red Bull and local hero Felipe Massa in the second Williams.
Rosberg made a flawless start from his fifth straight pole and, when Hamilton attempted to sling-shot out of his slipstream into the first corner and through the Senna ‘S’, curves on the Interlagos circuit gave him no encouragement and little room to manoeuvre.
Rosberg held his lead with some aplomb through the opening laps until he pitted on lap 14, gifting Hamilton his ‘hammer time’ at the front of the field. The Briton followed him in and despite an excellent stop was unable to re-join ahead of the German.
The two Ferraris followed the Mercedes pair in grid order with Bottas fifth and Pastor Maldonado sixth, but the gap between Rosberg and the World Champion was the main focus of attention as Hamilton closed the gap in pursuit of his first win on Brazilian soil in nine attempts. But all his efforts were in vain.
