All eyes were on Lewis Hamilton as he managed to take a small bite into team mate Nico Rosberg's points' lead in F1 Championship standing. Hamilton finally got things going his way with a much awaited win at the United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton was on pole position and he managed to convert it to a win and the lights-to-flag win has come at a time when the British driver needed it the most. It was go from the opening corner for Hamilton and mind you, this is the first time Hamilton has won a race after July this year at the German Grand Prix. The win has kept things interesting and Hamilton has learnt from his mistakes at Japan and Italy where he lost ground to Rosberg after a terrible start.
(Actor Gerard Butler and Daniel Ricciardo drink champagne from the shoes)In fact it was Rosberg who looked under pressure as he went into the tricky uphill first turn left-hander from Ricciardo as he hung out around the outside to slot himself between the two Mercedes drivers but Rosberg got the better of him later in the race, which saw the Australian secure another podium finish. Ricciardo took his celebration to the podium where he and actor Gerald Butler indulged in some 'shoey' champagne.
Verstappen looked good enough to take on Rosberg at one point in time. After having struggled initially, the Dutchman cleared Raikkonen easily, however, he entered the pit lane without his team expecting him there. He apologised for the blunder but just three laps later suffered a gearbox problem which saw him retire. Kimi Raikkonen too showed some promise but retired after the third pit stop. Vettel took advantage of the situation and finished fourth.
There was a serious fight for fifth place between former teammates, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, but Alonso managed a robust pass to get ahead of the William's driver to finish fifth while it was Carlos Sainz who took the sixth place for Toro Rosso. Massa came in seventh.
It was quite the race for both Force India drivers - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. While Hulkenberg retired on the opening lap itself after having clipped Valtteri Bottas, Perez was spun around on lap one by Daniil Kvyat, but the Mexican fought hard and managed to place himself 8th on the grid.
Jenson Button slotted in 9th which meant McLaren-Honda secured double points and Roman Grosjean also put in a great amount of effort to give Haas a point in its first ever home F1 race.
All eyes are now on the two Mercedes drivers as they head into the Mexican Grand Prix with just 26 points in between them. It's a do or die situation for the reigning world champion, Hamilton, but Rosberg is not going to make it easy for him.
