The 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix is officially in the books and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel dominated the race and won comfortably – although Lewis Hamilton has already won the official 2017 Formula One title. Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas took second with Vettel’s Ferrari teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, taking third. Hamilton finished fourth after starting from the pits due to a crash in qualifying.
The race went mostly as expected with Vettel taking the lead from pole-sitter Bottas on the first corner and keeping Bottas at bay for the entire race – only ceding the lead [to Hamilton] for 13 laps during pit crossovers. Raikkonen held off a spirited charge from Hamilton to keep his podium position. ASN awards top points to Vettel – who has already clinched the 2017 ASN title – with second place points going to Raikkonen and Hamilton claiming the last point for his charge from last place to fourth [albeit assisted by a series of first lap crashes that eliminated three cars he would have had to pass].
The Pastor Maldonado Driving School Award goes to Haas’ Romain Grosjean – instigator of one of those first-lap skirmishes – who, with his lack of driving skill, took out Force India’s Esteban Ocon. With his point, Grosjean moves into a fourth place tie with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – with Sergio Perez and Vettel tied for the category lead.
The Kimi Raikkonen “Leave Me Alone! I Know What I’m Doing!” Award goes to a whiny Verstappen, who had a poor performance and complained throughout the race about his tires being the culprit, saying “The tires feel like rocks!” With his point, Verstappen moves into a third-place tie with Renault’s Kevin Magnussen, with McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso leading the category.
The Bernie Ecclestone Doofus Moment Award goes to the Brazilian Grand Prix officials for their lack of security in allowing a Mercedes minibus to be robbed while on its way to the track. Ecclestone has already clinched the title but officials from the various F1 sites, collectively amassed a formidable six points in this category.
2017 ASN Formula One Driver Standings – after Brazilian Grand Prix
1] Sebastian Vettel – 34 points
2] Lewis Hamilton – 25
3] Valtteri Bottas – 14
4] Daniel Ricciardo – 10
5] Max Verstappen – nine
6] Kimi Raikkonen – eight
7] Esteban Ocon – six
8] Fernando Alonso/Stoffel Vandoorne – four
10] Sergio Perez – two
11] Romain Grosjean/Lance Stroll – one
2017 Pastor Maldonado Driving School Award – after Brazilian Grand Prix
1] Perez/Vettel – three
3] Carlos Sainz, Jr. – 2.5
4] Grosjean/Kvyat/Verstappen – two
7] Marcus Ericsson – 1.5
8] Kevin Magnussen/Jolyon Palmer/Stroll/Vandoorne – one
2017 Kimi Raikkonen “Leave Me Alone! I Know What I’m Doing!” Award – after Brazilian Grand Prix
1] Alonso – four
2] Vettel – three
3] Magnussen/Verstappen – two
5] Bottas/Jenson Button/Grosjean/Hamilton/Mercedes [Bottas pit]/Ocon/Red Bull [Verstappen pit]/Ricciardo – one
2017 Bernie Ecclestone Doofus Moment Award – after Brazilian Grand Prix
1] Bernie Ecclestone – three
2] Australian Grand Prix officials/Brazilian Grand Prix officials/British Grand Prix officials/Canadian Grand Prix officials/Ferrari pit [Vettel]/Force India/Goodwood Festival of Speed/Hamilton/Mercedes marketing/Singapore Grand Prix officials/Stroll/US Grand Prix officials/Verstappen/Williams – one