RACE REPORT
When they emerged, supersoft-
shod Vettel led from the similarly
equipped Bottas, while Ricciardo and
Hamilton, both now on softs, were in
third and fourth respectively.
When the safety car left the
track, Ricciardo’s tyres appeared
to be far from the right operating
window and he was rapidly passed
by Hamilton, Massa and Raikkonen.
At the front, Vettel began to
eke out a gap to Bottas and by lap
26 the German had 4.8s in hand
over Bottas and a second more
over Hamilton. On lap 27, though,
Hamilton surged past Bottas to claim
second place.
Soon after, Ricciardo was also
the move. Raikkonen had passed
Massa and on lap 29 the Brazilian
was passed by the Red Bull driver,
under DRS and under braking
through Turn One.
On lap 30 Bottas pitted for the
final time, taking on soft tyres. Ahead
Hamilton was catching Vettel, whose
supersoft tyres, by lap 32, were
beginning to look spent. With the gap
to Hamilton shrinking Ferrari opted to
pit the German on lap 33. Vettel took
on a set of softs for his final stint and
rejoined in P3 behind Raikkonen.
He was soon past his team-mate,
however, and then he began to
chase down Hamilton, lapping a
second quicker than the Briton as he
ate into the 15.7 seconds deficit.