Rosberg defeats Hamilton in Brazil

Sebastian Vettel was third for Ferrari.

Hamilton insisted he had the outright pace to win in Brazil yesterday but claimed the mechanical make-up of a modern grand prix auto makes overtaking impossible.

Verstappen’s points finish was a respectable result given the Renault engine’s deficit in terms of straight-line speed, but it seemed the French manufacturer had found a solution to their problems in Brazil. The DRS zone may not be long enough – that could have been the thing to make the difference.

In the meantime, Ricciardo had moved up the field from 19th to 14th place. That wasn’t bad, given that this was a race of 71 laps unhindered by safety cars, and it bodes well for next year, when most observers believe that Ferrari should be a lot closer to Mercedes.

All of which left the Mercedes hierarchy forced, as so often during the last two seasons, to pick a delicate diplomatic path between their two squabbling drivers. Rosberg was impressive in the practice and qualifying session as the German driver clinched his fifth pole of this year.

In a near-role reversal from Austin, it was Rosberg who made sure Hamilton wasn’t going to go round the outside of him, and with the lead of the race the German opened up a small one-second lead through the first stint. And while the team must be applauded for allowing Hamilton and Rosberg to slug it out on track, their refusal to change their tactical outlook, undoes a few of that.

“The ****ing Manors are not moving out of the way”, yelled Raikkonen who was now running in P4.

Mercedes dominated the race but there was plenty of tension as Hamilton sought a way to try to beat his team-mate, his competitive desire undimmed by settling his third world title two races ago.

“Can you get me on a different strategy? I’m faster but I can’t get close.” asked Hamilton over the radio.

He then pleaded to be put on a different strategy. Two more pits, and the positions held with nearly no passing in the entire race.

Vettel managed to set a new fastest lap of the race on 1m15.650s after picking soft tires.

Rosberg was the first one to take pit stop and he regained his first spot when Hamilton came out on the track.

After 45 laps, the gaps were stable between the top leaders.

Four-time champion Vettel agreed.

Jenson Button was 15th and Will Stevens 17th. The Briton was desperate to seek an alternative strategy to that of his team-mate in a bid to win the race, but a solution was not forthcoming. I am pushing now and I was pushing earlier in the season. I just wanted to see if there were any other options.

“Contrary to what Nico was saying there was one point when I was all over him, but I just couldn’t get by”, the world champion responded.