[TusharK]

Lewis Hamilton has won the 2017 US Formula One Grand Prix, while his team - Mercedes AMG Petronas has clinched the 2017 World Constructors Championship with 3 races to go. Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari finished in second place, ahead of his team mate - Kimi Raikkonen.



Hamilton started from pole position, but a quick getaway by Vettel put the Ferrari driver in the lead of the race. The Mercedes driver snatched the lead back from Ferrari on lap 6. From then on, Hamilton proved impossible to beat. Ferrari tried the undercut during the pit stop window, but was unsuccessful. While Hamilton was on a single stop strategy, Vettel had to pit once again on lap 39. This put him behind Raikkonen and the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas. Vettel managed to pass Bottas and later, swapped places with his team mate.

Max Verstappen started the race from sixteenth place following a grid penalty. The Red Bull driver made his way up the field to eventually challenge the front runners. A pass on the Raikkonen on the last lap put him in third place. However, he was handed a 5 second penalty for gaining an advantage by exceeding track limits. This put him back in fourth place. Bottas finished in fifth for Mercedes, while the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo was forced to retire with an engine issue.

Force India's Esteban Ocon finished in sixth place. Carlos Sainz, who was driving for Renault for the first time this season, finished in seventh place ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Force India. The Williams of Felipe Massa and the Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat made up the top ten.

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren's Fernando Alonso had to retire after suffering mechanical issues.

Hamilton now leads Vettel by 66 points in the World Drivers' Championship with 3 races to go. The British driver needs just 9 points to secure the title, while Mercedes with 575 points has an unassailable lead over Ferrari in the World Constructors Championship. This is the team's fourth consecutive constructors' title.

The next race will be held in Mexico on October 29, 2017.

World Drivers' Championship standings:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 331 points

2. Sebastian Vettel - 265 points

3. Valtteri Bottas - 244 points

World Constructors' Championship standings:

1. Mercedes - 575 points

2. Ferrari - 428 points

3. Red Bull - 315 points

Link to Team-BHP News

[mp417]

No US GP dedicated thread this time?

Mercedes has been ruthless in dominating for last four years.
Other manufacturers are nowhere close in terms of engine power and reliability. I think only Ferrari has done this during the Michael Schumaher era.
In 2017, Ferrari came close to Merc but could not materialize on the early wins. Remember, Vettel was leading the championship at one point.

It was interesting to see difference of pace between Hamilton and Bottas. Both in same spec car. It proves the sheer driving skills possessed by Ham. No wonder he is breaking every record

Things were interesting when Vettel took the lead off the starting line however Hamilton took it over on lap 6. After that he was untouchable. Ham drove a lonely race as if in his own trance. Mercedes team under-estimated Vettel's pace after first pit-stop. When Hamilton pitted, Vettel came dangerously close and another lap delay could have handed over the lead to Ferrari. Hamilton was furious on the radio for this slip-up.

Driver of the day was no doubt Max Verstappen. Starting from 16th position and finishing on the podium. What a performance. Eventually stewards were too harsh to rob the podium from this new kids on the block. And the way they informed Verstappen at the back of the podium; it hurts.

Well done Mercedes

[GTO]

Heartiest congratulations to the definitive Formula 1 team today . Credit to Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes would have probably sealed it earlier if Bottas performed better.

Mercedes is currently a dream team. The right boss (am a big fan of Toto), a great driver (Hamilton is now also very consistent, unlike before) and loads of technical talent & resources due to the parent's sheer cash.

If you ask me, frankly, they are an unstoppable force. At least for the next 5 years or so, Mercedes will either be the no.1 or no.2 in F1. Ferrari - as always - will be inconsistent and Red Bull is having its own issues (including engine deals).

This is the golden era of Mercedes & Hamilton. I think Lewis has a couple of championships left in him, and will break even more records (including max number of race wins).

[abhishek46]

The way Mercedes is completely dominating the sport, it wont be surprising if the sport itself dies within the next decade, due to lack of interest from viewers and manufacturers.

It is high time, other manufacturers, who are truly capable of taking down the German Giant, arrive at the scene. Read: Porsche/Audi.

[Hatari]

Incredible performance as a team. Lewis surely oncourse for Shumi's record!
Mindblowing.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is the golden era of Mercedes & Hamilton. I think Lewis has a couple of championships left in him, and will break even more records (including max number of race wins).

Am betting that Mercedes will pull out of F1 after a couple of years, they like to quit at the top. They did that in the 1950's and also when they went rallying for a short while

[myavu]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Am betting that Mercedes will pull out of F1 after a couple of years

Yes, exactly at the end of 2020. That's when new engine regs kicks-in.

They will be putting their entire resources into Formula E after that.

Cheers!

[deetjohn]

Congratulations!

Mercedes is really strong as a team. Toto Wolff owns 30% of the team while Niki Lauda owns 10% and the rest is with Daimler. Toto has superb organization skills and Lauda was instrumental is bringing Lewis to the fold. Together they are incredibly strong.

And it is only getting better. It really hurt to see James Allison on the podium at the United States Grand Prix. I think Ferrari' resurgence this season was party due to him.

Anyways, back to the Mercedes story and Formula 1 is always like this. When one team gets ahead, they stay ahead. The viewers should consider themselves lucky if a second or third team can challenge for wins let alone titles during that period.

Rosberg' exit has liberated Hamilton and it is showing in the results. But Mercedes should be wary that Bottas isn't able to challenge Hamilton at all. This kind of domination will make the FIA interfere. As long as Hamilton and Rosberg were fighting with each other, everyone had at least something to look up to during the a racing weekend.

This is looking like a repeat of the early 2000s with Michael and Ferrari. After constant complaints from all quarters, FIA finally managed to break that incredible momentum by making a drastic change - the single tyre rule in 2005 where Bridgestone had no answer to Michelin.

I am pretty sure that's keeping Toto and company sweat a bit. Ricciardo would be a nice addition I think. Over to you Toto!