2016 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX EDITION
Not long after later he slowed
drastically and reported that something
was “hitting in the engine”. He tried to
limp the car back to the pit lane but he
was forced to pull over and retire.
That brought out the Virtual Safety
Car, under which both Mercedes
drivers made a pit stop. Hamilton and
Rosberg took on medium tyres and
rejoined in P1 and P2 respectively,
with Ricciardo now third ahead of
Raikkonen, Vettel, Toro Rosso’s Carlos
Sainz and Williams’ Felipe Massa.
Fernando Alonso was eighth for
McLaren ahead of Force India’s Sergio
Perez and the second McLaren of
Jenson Button.
Raikkonen was the next to fall foul
of a bungled stop. When the Finn made
his third stop, from fourth place, the
Ferrari crew failed to attach the rear
left correctly and Raikkonen had to pull
over at the pit exit. He then reversed
down the pit lane, stopped the car and
retired from the race.
The race then settled into a steady
groove and with five laps remaining
Hamilton led Rosberg by 6.6s with
Ricciardo a further seven seconds
behind. Vettel was fourth ahead of
Sainz, who was managing a gap to
Williams’ Felipe Massa and Fernando
Alonso. Sergio Perez was eighth
for Force India and the final points
positions were occupied by Jenson
Button in the second McLaren and
Haas’ Romain Grosjean.
GPI