Despite poleman Nico Rosberg not finishing the Russian Grand Prix last weekend, Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Sochi provided enough points for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team to secure the 2015 Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship title.
Ferrari was the only team left within striking distance of the crown, and with Hamilton the only finisher for the Mercedes team in Russia, it initially looked like the championship would have to be decided at the following race in the United States.
After the race, however, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was penalised for a bold overtaking move on Valtteri Bottas that saw the Williams driver crash out of a potential third place finish, and Raikkonen limp to the chequered flag in fifth. Kimi was given a post-race 30-second time penalty for the incident, and subsequently fell down the pecking order to eighth place.
The stewards’ post-race decision meant that Hamilton’s maximum 25 points scored was enough to land his team its second successive Constructors’ Championship title, with 531 points scored thus far, with four races remaining in the season.
Scuderia Ferrari trails behind with 359 points, while the Williams F1 team holds the third spot with 220 points.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Mercedes’ Hamilton (302 points) has stretched his lead to 66 points, leading newly-promoted second-place man Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari (236 points), while Rosberg’s (229 points) DNF at Sochi saw him demoted to third place in the championship.
Formula 1 takes its usual break this weekend, but will be back on October 25 for the United States GP. Will Hamilton be able to claim his third World Drivers’ Championship title?
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I thought Nico Rosberg had throttle issues, and managed to crawl safely into the pits without crashing out. The other Nico was the one who crashed out.
Anyways, congrats to Mercedes. The other teams need to work harder for 2016. And looks like Hamilton will be 3rd time world champion as well. Highly unlikely for Vettel or Rosberg to catch up.
Mercedes won because of Petronas. Malaysia is the one giving the sills and tech to all the white
Technically it is. If it isnt, Petronas Synthium wouldnt be the go-to lubricant for their cars now, would they?
Apart from the glory and the limelight, we have seen nothing much out of this partnership between petronas and mercedes. Unlike the partnership with sauber, there are no known malaysian engineers working for the team, no engine projects (EO2?), tech transfer etc. Petronas sponsored millions, they should get more in return.
1. Reputation as world class oil/lubricants solution supplier.
2. Showcase of technology. Petronas worked side by side with Mercedes to develop highly efficient F1 hybrid engine.
3. Increase their sales. Syntium is one most sought after lubricants worldwide. Read overseas forum.
4. Through profits and reputation, relatively ease their way to secure tenders. Read Canada Progress pipeline.
that’s a pretty ignorant comment. Do you know that 2 petronas engineers is with the mercedes team every race weekend? Their job is to test & improve the lubes. They even supplied other teams with their ‘fluids’ package. Unlike the e02 which was ultimately neither here nor there, the fact that petronas insisted to focus on one its core business (i.e. Lubricants) is this partnership is actually brilliant.
Apart from the glory and the limelight, we have seen nothing much out of this partnership between petronas and mercedes. Unlike the partnership with sauber, there are no known malaysian engineers working for the team, no engine projec (EO2?), tech transfer etc. Petronas sponsored millions, they should get more in return.
PETRONAS is not an engine manufacturer. they focus more on their product (lubricant/fuel) R&D
nasib baik petronas taja pasukan ni… kalau petronas ikut cakap tun mahathir taja pasukan malaysia.. .dah lama melingkup…
syukur alhamdulillah mereka tak dgr cakap org tua perasan semua benda dia tau tu…
5. A45 AMG use Petronas Syntium straight from factory.
Great story to be read
http://www.f1reports.com/article/26858-official-f1-report-mercedes-amg-the-petronas-formula-one-success-story
The partnership has provided the platform for Petronas to develop and expand their lubricants business, there are Petronas specialist working alongside the team but do not get much exposure to the media unlike the time with Sauber.
The recent new-spec Merc engines introduced in Monza is a collaboration between Mercedes and Petronas that harnesses an improved formula in the fuel to produce more horsepower combined with cutting edge engine design from the Merc HPP factory in Brixworth. This is not unlike the years of which Shell helps Ferrari and Total with Renault during their dominant years.
So yes, the partnership does benefit Petronas more than just a nice TV ad or a newspaper spread.