Nico Rosberg won the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix Sunday, ensuring that his championship fight with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton will not be resolved until the final race of the 2014 season.
Rosberg was quickest in every practice session, quickest in qualifying, and second-quickest in the race behind his British rival—but the German driver, facing championship elimination if he didn’t win, drove a flawless race, while 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton had an off-track excursion which likely cost him the race.
The newly repaved 2.7-mile Interlagos track ate up tires at a fierce rate, making tire management a key concern. Both Mercedes drivers started on Softs, which lasted barely half-a-dozen laps. Rosberg surrendered the lead to Hamilton in the pits, then took it back when Hamilton pitted.
Both Mercedes drivers got 20 laps out of their Mediums. Rosberg pitted on lap 27 (of 71) giving Hamilton the lead and a huge advantage: the British driver had a chance to turn a demon lap and gain time on Rosberg, who had to watch the pit lane speed limit. Hamilton slid wide and had to drive right off the track to catch the slide. By the time he got back on pace he had lost almost eight seconds, and Rosberg had a secure lead.
It might have been pressure, it might have been tires worn more than anyone realized; whatever it was, something went wrong for Lewis Hamilton as he negotiated Turn Four.
Hamilton didn’t let the setback faze him; nor did Rosberg let his good fortune go to his head. The pair drove the rest of the race at the limit, trading fastest laps, twitching and sliding and pushing their cars as hard as they could.
