Austria – Race: Rosberg wins ahead of Hamilton for a Mercedes one-two

Conditions are optimal for the start of the first Austrian Grand Prix in eleven years. 23°C in the air and 47°C on the track. No rain forecast for the Grand Prix!

The red lights go out and a very good start for Nico Rosberg, who overtakes Bottas before being overtaken again. A good start as well for Hamilton, already fourth at the end of the first lap! Problem for Vettel who, in a laconic tone, asks his team what he should do. He stops then resumes as the last, with a lap behind. The top 10 order after the start: Massa, Bottas, Rosberg, Hamilton, Alonso, Magnussen, Räikkönen, Hülkenberg, Kvyat, and Ricciardo. A good start also for Pérez, who has climbed up to eleventh place.

**After seven laps**, a small train formed at the front of the race with the Williams and Mercedes. Behind, Alonso is already seven seconds behind. He is somewhat isolated. Magnussen is already five seconds behind the Spaniard. Making use of the DRS, Hamilton is clearly putting pressure on Nico Rosberg. **At the tenth lap**, Nico Hülkenberg makes the first pit stop, quickly followed by Daniel Ricciardo and Magnussen. They all put on the soft tires. Nico Rosberg is the first of the leading drivers to stop. He also comes out on softs. Hamilton takes the opportunity to set the fastest lap of the race at 1:13.814. But Rosberg sets the fastest first sector. Hamilton stops at the end of the 13th lap. He returns to the track just behind Rosberg. Strangely, the Williams remain on track. « Ok Felipe, box this lap », crackles Massa’s radio. Too late. The number 6 Mercedes is already ahead. Hamilton takes the opportunity to pass! A lap later, Bottas also goes through the pits. He comes out ahead of Hamilton and thus, ahead of Massa. The good move is clearly for the Finn, who is getting closer to Rosberg, slightly held back by Pérez.

After seventeen laps, Pérez, who has not yet stopped, leads ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Massa, Button, Maldonado, and Alonso, Magnussen, and Hülkenberg. On the radio, Pérez’s engineer praises the Mexican’s pace. « You’re not losing time to Rosberg. You can continue as long as it doesn’t disrupt your race. »

Daniil Kvyat retires at the end of the 27th lap, with the rear-right suspension visibly broken or a puncture. One lap later, Rosberg and Bottas pass Sergio Pérez, who seems to be struggling with his tires. Hamilton also passes in the 29th lap. The Brit sets the fastest lap of the race and thus responds to Rosberg.

After thirty-two laps, a three-way battle for the lead unfolds between Rosberg, Bottas, and Hamilton. Felipe Massa cannot keep up with the pace. He is four seconds behind Rosberg. On the radio, he is warned: « Rosberg looks slow, Rosberg looks slow. » The German just made a mistake in turn #2. The Mercedes #6 retains the lead, without damage. On the thirty-sixth lap, Sebastian Vettel retires, following his team’s decision.

On the fortieth lap, Lewis Hamilton starts the second round of pit stops. Rosberg follows suit a lap later. And Bottas, two laps later. The Mercedes No. 44 has moved ahead of him. Hamilton is now pushing hard. If his brakes were still made of that element, he might be worried. Flames were seen during his pit stop. After the second round of pit stops, the standings are now: Rosberg, Hamilton, Bottas, Pérez, Massa, Alonso, Button, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, and Ricciardo.

At the fifty-seventh lap, Sergio Pérez stops at the pits. He comes out in eighth place, with super-soft tires. Up front, the two Mercedes are playing yo-yo with their times, and the gap is regularly a second and a half between the two teammates. Meanwhile, Ricciardo is closing in on Hülkenberg and Button makes a pit stop. Vergne also stops, but permanently. Brake problem. For a few laps already, they were dangerously smoking.

On the sixty-seventh lap, Rosberg is still leading, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Pérez, Magnussen, Hülkenberg, Ricciardo, and Räikkönen. Hamilton is gradually gaining on Rosberg but never manages to enter the DRS zone. Both drivers receive the order to stay in « strat 6 » until the end, with one radio echoing the other.

At the finish line, Nico Rosberg wins ahead of his teammate and Valtteri Bottas.

From our special correspondent in Austria