Nico Rosberg showed once again that he is still in the World Championship fight after a dominant win at the Red Bull Ring. The two time winner in Austria had dominated proceedings all weekend except in Q3 which saw himself and team mate Lewis Hamilton both spin out leading to Hamilton's 45th career pole.
However at the start of the race the German got the better start and jumped Hamilton into Turn 1 and despite the best efforts of the Brit he wasn't able to re-pass his Mercedes team mate because of the deployment of the safety car after there was a scary crash between Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren's Fernando Alonso.
Despite all 20 cars making it through the first 2 corners upon the exit of T2 the Ferrari got huge wheel spin and the fin lost the back-end. Then as Raikkonen slid across the track he collected the McLaren Honda of Alonso whose car climbed on top of the Ferrari as they slid down the barrier. McLaren had been hoping to test the new aerodynamic upgrades on the car but instead saw them in 'the hedge' giving the team another blow this season.
Things didn't improve when Jenson Button pitted after the safety car as to take his drive through penalty but had no drive when he came out of the pit lane resulting in yet another double DNF for McLaren Honda in 2015. Button joined his fellow Brit Will Stevens in the Manor Marussia on the sidelines after debris from the Raikkonen-Alonso crash got into the Brits car and damaged the equipment in the car leading to an oil leak and Manor's second DNF of the season.
However at the start of the race the German got the better start and jumped Hamilton into Turn 1 and despite the best efforts of the Brit he wasn't able to re-pass his Mercedes team mate because of the deployment of the safety car after there was a scary crash between Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren's Fernando Alonso.
Despite all 20 cars making it through the first 2 corners upon the exit of T2 the Ferrari got huge wheel spin and the fin lost the back-end. Then as Raikkonen slid across the track he collected the McLaren Honda of Alonso whose car climbed on top of the Ferrari as they slid down the barrier. McLaren had been hoping to test the new aerodynamic upgrades on the car but instead saw them in 'the hedge' giving the team another blow this season.
Things didn't improve when Jenson Button pitted after the safety car as to take his drive through penalty but had no drive when he came out of the pit lane resulting in yet another double DNF for McLaren Honda in 2015. Button joined his fellow Brit Will Stevens in the Manor Marussia on the sidelines after debris from the Raikkonen-Alonso crash got into the Brits car and damaged the equipment in the car leading to an oil leak and Manor's second DNF of the season.
The Williams of Valtteri Bottas had lost places at the start meaning that after the safety car the Fin had to regain lost time. On Lap 15 Bottas made a move on Rookie sensation Max Verstappen into Turn 2 which saw most of the overtakes in the race despite the lack of DRS. On Lap 25 Bottas came up behind Le Mans winner Nico Hulkenberg and pulled off a great move around the outside of T3 which falls a away at the Apex on the undulating Austrian Circuit.
However when the Williams pitted just a few laps later the undercut and a slow pit stop from Williams saw the Force India rejoin in front of the Fin who had to try and overtake Hulkenberg for the second time in just a handful of laps. Rosberg was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 33 but the power of the undercut meant that 'Hammer Time' for Hamilton was made redundant as he made no gains on his team mate.
In fact the Brit would lose time as he lost the back end when he left the pit lane and just crossed the white pit exit line and incurred a 5 second penalty which would be added on to his race time at the chequered flag. The Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel also had a miserable time in the pits after a cross threaded wheel nut gave the 4 time World Champion a 13 second stop on Lap 37 and it dropped the German behind the Williams of Felipe Massa who was in position for his first podium of the season.
Romain Grosjean had been hoping for another points scoring finish in the Lotus after showing decent pace all weekend despite a brake by wire problem in Q3. However midway through the race reliability would strike the Frenchman again as he suffered a gear box failure with the car stuck in 2nd gear leading to his retirement.
However when the Williams pitted just a few laps later the undercut and a slow pit stop from Williams saw the Force India rejoin in front of the Fin who had to try and overtake Hulkenberg for the second time in just a handful of laps. Rosberg was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 33 but the power of the undercut meant that 'Hammer Time' for Hamilton was made redundant as he made no gains on his team mate.
In fact the Brit would lose time as he lost the back end when he left the pit lane and just crossed the white pit exit line and incurred a 5 second penalty which would be added on to his race time at the chequered flag. The Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel also had a miserable time in the pits after a cross threaded wheel nut gave the 4 time World Champion a 13 second stop on Lap 37 and it dropped the German behind the Williams of Felipe Massa who was in position for his first podium of the season.
Romain Grosjean had been hoping for another points scoring finish in the Lotus after showing decent pace all weekend despite a brake by wire problem in Q3. However midway through the race reliability would strike the Frenchman again as he suffered a gear box failure with the car stuck in 2nd gear leading to his retirement.
Sebastian Vettel had been closing by a rate of knots on Massa's Williams after his poor pit stop and with just 3 laps to go the Ferrari was just half a second behind the Brazilian. The pressure was also on for Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes as he reported a big vibration on his right front tyre and stated that it wasn't a flat spot. Although the issue wasn't serious the panic in Rosberg's voice showed how critical this race was for his Championship hopes.
Despite having high down force package on the car after a wet FP3 and Q1, Max Verstappen in the Toro Rosso was inside the points but after an early stop the Dutchman's tyres were falling off the cliff and a contort strategy for the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado put the Venezuelan in striking distance of the 17 year old. With DRS on the pit straight Maldonado went for the move on the outside but got a huge tank slapper it what must be the save of the season as the Lotus didn't crash but made the move once the car was back under control.
But out front Nico Rosberg who took back to back victories in Austria and has won all 3 races in Europe so far this season. Despite the penalty Lewis Hamilton was second and saw his championship lead cut down to 10 points. Williams secured there second podium in a row at the track where they got their first in 2014.
As F1 heads home to the British GP at Silverstone Lewis Hamilton is odds on favourite to take a second successive win on home soil with the sell-out British crowd backing him. But Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel will both be motivated to spoil Hamilton's party and sling open the World Championship.
Despite having high down force package on the car after a wet FP3 and Q1, Max Verstappen in the Toro Rosso was inside the points but after an early stop the Dutchman's tyres were falling off the cliff and a contort strategy for the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado put the Venezuelan in striking distance of the 17 year old. With DRS on the pit straight Maldonado went for the move on the outside but got a huge tank slapper it what must be the save of the season as the Lotus didn't crash but made the move once the car was back under control.
But out front Nico Rosberg who took back to back victories in Austria and has won all 3 races in Europe so far this season. Despite the penalty Lewis Hamilton was second and saw his championship lead cut down to 10 points. Williams secured there second podium in a row at the track where they got their first in 2014.
As F1 heads home to the British GP at Silverstone Lewis Hamilton is odds on favourite to take a second successive win on home soil with the sell-out British crowd backing him. But Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel will both be motivated to spoil Hamilton's party and sling open the World Championship.
2015 Austrian Grand Prix Results:-
1. Nico Rosberg
2. Lewis Hamilton +5 Seconds
3. Felipe Massa
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Valtteri Bottas
6. Nico Hulkenberg
7. Pastor Maldonado
8. Max Verstappen
9. Sergio Perez
10. Daniel Ricciardo
11. Felipe Nasr
12. Daniil Kvyat
13. Marcus Ericsson
14. Roberto Merhi
Romain Grosjean DNF
Carlos Sainz DNF
Jenson Button DNF
Will Stevens DNF
Kimi Raikkonen DNF
Fernando Alonso DNF
1. Nico Rosberg
2. Lewis Hamilton +5 Seconds
3. Felipe Massa
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Valtteri Bottas
6. Nico Hulkenberg
7. Pastor Maldonado
8. Max Verstappen
9. Sergio Perez
10. Daniel Ricciardo
11. Felipe Nasr
12. Daniil Kvyat
13. Marcus Ericsson
14. Roberto Merhi
Romain Grosjean DNF
Carlos Sainz DNF
Jenson Button DNF
Will Stevens DNF
Kimi Raikkonen DNF
Fernando Alonso DNF