German cuts Hamilton's world title lead to 10 points; Felipe Massa fends off Sebastian Vettel to finish third; Early crash involving Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen
Thursday 25 June 2015 09:58, UK
Nico Rosberg has won the Austrian GP to close back up again on Lewis Hamilton in their World Championship battle.
The German claimed his third victory of the season after making a much better start than his Mercedes team-mate, easing clear and staying there throughout the race's 71 laps.
Rosberg complained during the closing stages that his tyres were graining but by then Hamilton had eased off as well – an extra cushion for the winner coming courtesy of a five-second time penalty the Briton picked up for crossing the pitlane exit after stopping for tyres on lap 35.
The success is Rosberg's second in Austria since the race re-appeared on the calendar last season and once again places him just 10 points behind Hamilton in the battle for the drivers’ title.
"It's an awesome feeling to win again here," he said afterwards. "The start made the race. I really wanted to push this time and I opened the gap over Lewis."
"Nico did a fantastic job," said Hamilton. "He was quicker in the race. I had a bad start but after that l was pushing as hard as l could."
Meanwhile, Felipe Massa finished third for Williams after fending off the attentions of Sebastian Vettel in the closing laps.
Vettel had been fancied by some for the win after Ferrari showed good race pace in practice. As it turned out, however, the Silver Arrows pulled comfortably clear in the opening laps.
The four-times champion looked set for a lonely run to the final podium place but lost it at his tyre stop when Ferrari’s mechanics struggled with the car’s right-rear wheel.
Like Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas made a slow getaway but the Williams driver recovered to finish fifth, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who therefore lost ground after his excellent qualifying performance.
Still, sixth place capped a strong weekend for the Le Mans winner while Force India were able to enjoy a double points finish with Sergio Perez ninth.
Pastor Maldonado was seventh for Lotus ahead of Max Verstappen, who again earned both himself and Toro Rosso a points finish. Respective team-mates Romain Grosjean and Carlos Sainz both retired with mechanical problems, however.
Daniel Ricciardo passed Felipe Nasr’s Sauber in the closing stages to claim tenth place and a world championship point for Red Bull on what was always going to be a difficult weekend at their home track.
With Daniil Kvyat finishing 12th, both cars ran tyre strategies contrary to most of the field – softs followed by supersofts – with Ricciardo not pitting until lap 52.
Both cars had started at the back after picking up engine penalties, while Kvyat’s car also picked up damage after hitting the rear of Perez's car on the opening lap .
With Rosberg dealing with Hamilton’s attempts to re-take the lead, attentions suddenly switched to the sight of Alonso’s McLaren-Honda perched precariously on top of Raikkonen’s Ferrari.
Exiting Turn Two, the Finn lost control of his car, which then tangled with Alonso's, with the pair then careering left into the barriers.
It was a lucky escape for the pair – particularly for Raikkonen, who has endured a dismal weekend after dropping out of qualifying early.
Likewise, McLaren-Honda remain in the mire. With Alonso exiting early through no fault of his own, team-mate Jenson Button dropped out soon afterwards in less startling and more predictable circumstances, the Briton a victim once again of poor reliability.
Results:
1. N Rosberg, Mercedes, 71 laps
2. L Hamilton, Mercedes, +8.8s
3. F Massa, Williams, +17.5s
4. S Vettel, Ferrari, +18.1s
5. V Bottas, Williams, +53.6
6. N Hulkenberg, Force India, +64.0
7. P Maldonado, Lotus, +1 lap
8. M Verstappen, Toro Rosso, +1 lap
9. S Perez, Force India, +1 lap
10. D Ricciardo, Red Bull, +1 lap
11. F Nasr, Sauber, +1 lap
12. D Kvyat, Red Bull, +1 lap
13. M Ericsson, Sauber, +2 laps
14. R Merhi, Manor, +3 laps
Ret. R Grosjean, Lotus
Ret. C Sainz, Toro Rosso
Ret. J Button, McLaren
Ret. W Stevens, Manor
Ret. K Raikkonen, Ferrari
Ret. F Alonso, McLaren
