Formula 1®
DHL Fastest Lap Award: 2017 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
Key Takeaways
- Sebastian Vettel posts the DHL Fastest Lap for fourth time this season
- The Ferrari driver set a new lap record at the Circuit of the Americas
- Lewis Hamilton still leads in the DHL Fastest Lap Award
DHL Fastest Lap Predictor Game
Fastest Driver Group 1: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 1:37.766
Fastest Driver Group 2: Lance Stroll (Williams) - 1:39.666
Fastest Driver Group 3: Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - 1:37.893
Sebastian Vettel takes DHL Fastest Lap in Austin
Sebastian Vettel proved yet again that he really feels at home at the Circuit of the Americas. The Ferrari driver posted the DHL Fastest Lap for the fifth time in Austin which has hosted Formula 1 since 2012. Vettel burned a time of 1:37.766 into the asphalt on Lap 51, setting a new lap record.
The German finished the race second behind Lewis Hamilton, so we will have to wait another day to see who wins the title; Hamilton only needs to come home in fifth place in Mexico to become world champion for the fourth time. “It was good to get the rhythm, but after a couple of laps I was really struggling with the tires that were getting too hot. I am a bit disappointed, because we couldn’t win and I had wanted to,” said Vettel, unhappy with the outcome of the race.
However, Valtteri Bottas narrowly missed taking the DHL Fastest Lap instead of Vettel. The Mercedes-Benz driver bolted on fresh tires just before the end of the race and was only one thousandth of a second slower than Vettel. If Bottas had taken the fastest lap, then that would have ensured a win for teammate Lewis Hamilton in the DHL Fastest Lap Award. As things stand, though, Vettel still has a chance in the last three races of the season to draw level with Hamilton, who has posted seven fastest laps so far this season.
Fastest race laps: 2017 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
01 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 1:37.766 - on Lap 51
02 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 1:37.767 - on Lap 54
03 Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1:37.893 - on Lap 51
04 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:38.060 - on Lap 39
05 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:38.776 - on Lap 48
06 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 1:38.809 - on Lap 42
07 Lance Stroll (Williams) 1:39.666 - on Lap 38
08 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso) 1:39.979 - on Lap 47
09 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:40.102 - on Lap 14
10 Felipe Massa (Williams) 1:40.131 - on Lap 36
History: DHL Fastest Laps at the Circuit of the Americas
Sebastian Vettel has taken five of the six DHL Fastest Laps at the Circuit of the Americas. The German secured the fastest lap in 2012, 2013 and 2014 while signed to Red Bull and in 2016 and 2017 with Ferrari. Only one other driver, Nico Rosberg in 2015, has managed to coax a DHL Fastest Lap out of the Texan asphalt.
With his time of 1:37.766, Vettel improved his own track record of 1:39.347 set in 2012 during Formula 1’s debut at the Circuit of Americas.
Lewis Hamilton retains lead in the DHL Fastest Lap Award
Lewis Hamilton still heads the overall standings of the DHL Fastest Lap Award with seven wins on the day to Sebastian Vettel’s four this season. The German can still draw level with Hamilton if he can take the DHL Fastest Lap in the last three races in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, otherwise the trophy will go to the Mercedes drivers for the third time.
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