The United States Grand Prix in Austin is 10 years old: a look back at three highlights

2015: Rosberg takes a hit

There are lots of ways to lose a world title. Most often, the outsider is defeated following an abandonment linked to a mechanical breakdown, a collision or following a poor performance. But Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) invents a new culprit during the United States Grand Prix: the gust of wind

The German, who arrived in Texas in the role of hunter, needs to reduce his 66-point deficit over his teammate Lewis Hamilton before competing in the 16th of the 19 rounds of the season.

It started well with pole position acquired in Q2, the rain forcing the cancellation of Q3. The next day, Lewis Hamilton stole first position following aggressive braking on the inside of the first corner. This is going badly!

Fortunately, around twenty minutes later, on a drying track, Keke Rosberg's son regains the advantage. Nothing is yet decided for the championship because Lewis Hamilton must score two more points than his ex-best friend to secure the crown. However, with Nico Rosberg in the lead, the scenario no longer holds up.

Daniil Kvyat's accident (Red Bull) on the 43rd lap causes the Safety Car to burst out. The peloton regrouped for a final sprint, but Nico Rosberg kept his cool... until producing an astonishing off-piste excursion on the 48th lap.

The German defended himself by claiming a sudden gust of side wind, which changed the behavior of his Mercedes when reaccelerating. Made a passenger in his car, Nico Rosberg leaves the way clear for Lewis Hamilton to seal his third world title in F1 after 2008 and 2014.

Nevertheless, this snub will be a wake-up call. Nico Rosberg will build a remarkable series of six consecutive victories, straddling the end of the 2015 season and the spring of 2016. Having become a warrior on the track, mentally stronger, he will not let himself be fooled by his teammate and will go to the end. himself to join his father in the table of world champions. Exhausted, he will immediately retire.

2017: Verstappen penalized

On the occasion of his third participation in the United States Grand Prix, the second at the wheel of a Red Bull, Max Verstappen displays his precocious talent… but also his tendency to stir up controversy.

The Dutchman, just 20 years old, starts from 16th place on the 5,513 km circuit following various engine part changes. There car equipped with a V6 turbo hybrid Renault rises without firing a shot in the hierarchy, until returning to the exhaust of the Ferrari by Kimi Räikkönen in the final loop.

Intrepid, Max Verstappen took advantage of better acceleration coming out of the corner to try to overtake the Finn inside the endless turn 18. A rare and daring maneuver which paid off at the last minute for the third step on the podium!

Nevertheless, the commissioners are vigilant. They noticed that all four wheels of the Red Bull had exceeded the limit of the track, marked by a white line. While the culprit catches his breath in a rest room just before the protocol ceremony, the sanction falls: a five-second penalty relegates him to fourth place, behind Kimi Räikkönen. The Dutchman contains his anger.

“They (the commissioners) could have at least asked my opinion, and listened to my point of view,” growls Max Verstappen. “Why was I penalized? I went off-road, on a circuit which has no limits anyway and where everyone has been going off the track since Friday, why am I being punished like this? »

“The crowd loves attacks and you make those kinds of decisions live… You can't argue, it's written in the rules. They (the FIA) know how to write the rules. For now, it’s in their favor,” he insinuates. “This is not a signal sent to the public. You will take 10 centimeters inside the curb, everyone goes off the track, no one complains, like in qualifying at turn 19 where we could go outside the curb. And today (Sunday), they killed the race. »

The following year, the Race Direction will install “sausage” type curbs to prevent single-seaters from passing through this curve.

However, it was entirely possible to fight like ragpickers without breaking the rules. Proof of this is this magnificent excess of Carlos Sainz Jr, then on Renault, to the detriment of Sergio Pérez (Force India). The Madrilenian had held the course on the outside of this triple right before pipping the Mexican when braking for the following corner:

2018: Räikkönen released

With Iceman, one should never expect rantings of joy. Also, when the Finn crossed a finish line in the lead for the first time in 114 races, i.e. 5 years, 7 months and 4 days, he does not cry on the radio but lets out a simple “Finally” in a neutral tone.

The iceman nevertheless gave goosebumps to all his supporters, and more generally to F1 lovers. Several times in a favorable position during the 2018 season, Kimi Räikkönen was never able to convert the try, most often the fault of questionable inspirations on the part of his strategists.

But at Austin In this fall of 2018, everything will unfold like a dream. Credited with the second best time, the Ferrari first dived inside Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes at the first braking and took the lead.

Then, Kimi Räikkönen is banking on a one-stop strategy while Mercedes opts for two pit stops. After 20 turns, the Silver Arrow tries to find the opening several times, without success.

The Ferrari stops first, leaving the field open to the Mercedes which gains some margin after its first stop... until blisters appear on its soft, yet fresher, tyres. We must therefore turn towards the stand again while Kimi Räikkönen returns to the front row.

The end of the race will consist of a three-way battle for victory lasting nearly 10 laps. Kimi Räikkönen does not give in to Max Verstappen, the latter managing to contain the return of Lewis Hamilton. This is his 21st and final success in Formula 1 as he will retire from sport at the end of 2021 after a three-year lease with Alfa Romeo.

ALSO READ > US Grand Prix, the successful bet of COTA Austin!