The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team took there tenth one-two finish of 2014 at the Circuit of the Americas, with Lewis Hamilton taking his tenth win of the year ahead of Nico Rosberg, a result that means the Drivers’ Championship is now guaranteed to be won by one of the two Mercedes drivers.
A move at turn 12 on lap 24 was the defining moment of the 2014 United States Grand Prix as Hamilton passed pole sitter Rosberg for the lead of the race and increased his lead in the championship to 24 points.
Hamilton was in buoyant mood after the race, praising the team for their hard work they’ve put in to enable him to take his fifth win in a row, and felt Austin was a fantastic place to race as he won for the third time in four races in the United States.
“What an incredible place this is to go racing,” said Hamilton. “We have such great support here and I have to say a massive thanks to the fans who have been awesome all weekend. I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to be out front here.
“It’s a very special feeling to have such an amazing car, an amazing team and to be on this incredible run. It’s been an unbelievable job from the team all year so a big thanks to everyone here at the track and at the factories back home. We managed to correct the problems from qualifying today which was great and I pushed as hard as I could.”
Speaking about the overtake on his team-mate, the Briton admitted to following Rosberg closely until he could get the opportunity to use DRS down the straight into turn twelve.
“For the overtake, I just stayed as close as possible to Nico and waited for the moment to be just close enough to throw it up the inside,” revealed Hamilton. “This is a good circuit to be able to follow another car but it’s still not easy. You have to judge the risk in these situations but I felt confident I could pull it off. Once I got past Nico, it was just about controlling the race.”
Hamilton’s win also put him ahead of Nigel Mansell in the all-time list of British race winners with 32, something he admits he is proud to have achieved in just 146 starts.
“I’m very, very proud to now hold the record for the most Formula One wins for a British driver,” said Hamilton. “I have to say, though, it’s all thanks to the team and the car we have this year that I’ve been able to reach that landmark so quickly. Ten wins in a season is just… well, wow!”
Rosberg was naturally disappointed to have failed to have convert pole position into a win for the seventh time in 2014, especially with Hamilton making a clean pass on the German as he struggled to find a rhythm. He feels he still has a chance to secure the title, insisting that he won’t give up until the very end.
“It was a tough day for me and it feels horrible to finish second after starting from pole,” reflected Rosberg. “The conditions were very different compared to yesterday and it took me too long to find my rhythm at the beginning. In Formula One it is all about adapting quickly, but it just took me too long.
“Only 10 laps after Lewis passed me, I got it right and was able to push much more. Lewis just did a better job today, so congratulations to him. It’s getting tougher but there is still a chance for the title and everything can happen. I’m still going to be pushing flat out just as I always have. I never give up.”
