Kimi Raikkonen wins First Grand Prix Since 2013 at Circuit of the Americas

As the Formula One season rolled into Austin, Texas this weekend, it was Kimi Raikkonen and Team Ferrari who came out on top earning the win, and for Raikkonen, his first since Australia in 2013.

The last few years have been filled with frustration, and while there have been many podium finishes, the victories have been few. That changed on Sunday at the Circuit of the America’s in Austin, Texas after Raikkonen managed to pass Hamilton, who had pole position and stayed out front after Max Verstappen held off a hard charging Lewis Hamilton who was looking to wrap up his sixth Formula One championship.

Kimi Raikkonen previously won the Formula One Championship with Ferrari but had failed to earn a win since returning to the Italian powerhouse in 2014 after two seasons with Lotus and had to sit back and watch as his teammate Sebastian Vettel went head to head against Lewis Hamilton over the last two seasons.

His last win came in 2013 at the Australian Grand Prix while driving for Lotus. While he was winless, he had multiple top three finishes, and on a day that saw both skill and muscle, he forced Hamilton to have to wait another day.

Raikkonen is known for showing little emotion but was heard curing out in celebration on the final lap. It was not his usual demeanor, and one he explained saying,

“It’s nice to win. It doesn’t change my life. The biggest difference is how people look at you.”

P1. On this day 2007, I also won the championship. Thank you Ferrari, thank you Italy, thanks you to great team, in my heart you will always be family. pic.twitter.com/XpARIOHKuA

— kimi Raikkonen (@RaikkonenOficia) October 22, 2018

For Lewis Hamilton, it means he will have to continue his battle for the champions against Vettel at next week’s Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton is currently 70 points ahead of Vettel in the drivers’ championship point race thanks to his third place finish and Vettel’s fourth.

Hamilton is hoping to match the five championship record held by Juan Manuel Fangio, one only ever cracked by legend Michael Schumacher, who has seven. If Hamilton is successful in Mexico, he could go on to match Schumacher’s record, but with only another year left in his contract, it is unknown if Hamilton will continue in Formula One and has expressed the desire to move on to new challenges.

Hamilton would have wrapped up the championship with a second place finish this weekend, but a late move by Max Verstappen as the two battled denied Hamilton’s the chance to pass and move into second.

The British driver stated that he has to be careful with Verstappen to avoid a crash that would have seen his out of the race. Hamilton added,

“Championships are not won by doing silly mistakes. I gave him way too much space just be sure that I didn’t get taken out. The key to me was to make sure I finished ahead of Seb. I don’t care when you win a championship just that you win.”

Congrats to Kimi, he did a great job today out there. A huge thanks to the fans for always making this such a special place to race. We keep working and will push forward to the next one in Mexico #USGP #F1 @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/otpMJS0DhS

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 21, 2018

Max Verstappen had an excellent run after starting in 18th position on the grid due to an incident during qualifying that saw his car damaged. Verstappen charged hard advancing through the pack eventually getting into second to earn his fourth podium finish in the last six races.

Raikkonen was able to pass Hamilton on the first turn as the race got underway. Hamilton attempted to put on the push Raikkonen to the inside at the raced to the first corner but was unable to stop Raikkonen as they went downhill.

Sebastian Vettel, who lost three positions after being given a three position penalty for driving faster than allowed during a red flag on Friday’s practise session, started in the fifth position and faced pressure right off the start. After bumping into Daniel Ricciardo Vettel dropped back into ninth position but was able to make up the lost positions to finish the race in fourth.

Hamilton was not overly pleased with the two-stop strategy deployed by Mercedes. He came in for his first tire change on lap 11 while under caution and then had to pit later and re-entered the race in fourth and faced a 12 second gap between him and Raikkonen, which was too much to make up.

The Formula One circuit now heads to Mexico this weekend where punters will once again have the chance to lay bets with recommended betting.ca Formula One betting sites on whether Lewis Hamilton will earn the points needed to clinch the clinch the drivers championship. Register today before the championship battle is decided!