Formula 1 at Austin had a much different feel about it this weekend with the weather remaining beautiful throughout compared to the horror rain and wind the track endured 12 months ago.
Stakes were high in this one and Nico Rosberg knew he just had to stay out of trouble. In that respect, well done Mr. Rosberg.
Clean and consistent through the weekend but will he be happy? Maybe, maybe not.
He certainly made it clear that he would not be targeting second positions in the build up to the weekend but in the end, second may have done him justice.
It was a classic display from winner Lewis Hamilton who didn’t put a foot wrong leading from start to finish. It was the drive of a three time champion and also a drive from a man who is not giving up on taking a fourth title.
All he needs to do is drive as good as we’ve seen him do before and hope something goes wrong for his team-mate behind.
The star of the race no doubt goes to veteran Fernando Alonso. The old dog has still got it and better still, he enjoyed his little battle with Felipe Massa and compatriot Carlos Sainz. The shriek of excitement on the radio makes for much more pleasant listening over hearing him say “GP2 engine” or “looking like amateurs”.
Alonso senses an opportunity for 2017 but no one can really guess where McLaren-Honda are going to be next year. Champions? Highly unlikely. Race winners? Might be a bit of a stretch. Podium finishers?
With their finances and if Honda keep improving, why not? It’s certainly going to be one of the biggest talking points heading into next season.
Ferrari must be scratching their heads wondering where it all went wrong. Let’s not forget, this was supposed to be the season where we saw Mercedes vs Ferrari, Hamilton vs Vettel. But, I’m sad to say, they are absolutely nowhere.
They’ve gone backwards and I fear with Red Bull’s aerodynamic efficiency that they could fall even further next year. A pit-stop error caused Raikkonen to retire, rolling his car back down the pit-lane.
Although Vettel finished fourth, it was handed to him through retirements for his team-mate and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. And incase you think fourth is not that bad, he was 23 seconds behind Daniel Ricciardo in third.
Focus once again switches to the title fight and whatever awaits us in Mexico can not come quick enough.
Inside Line Opinion By Fergal Walsh
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