Race 7: Canadian Grand Prix — June 8
Daniel Ricciardo ended Mercedes dominance to claim a sensational maiden Formula One grand prix victory in Canada. The 24-year-old Australian took advantage of power problems that forced Nico Rosberg into second place and saw Lewis Hamilton retire with a brake failure after 47 of the 70 laps. The result also ended Mercedes’ run of six consecutive wins and five straight one-twos. It was a race that ended in dramatic fashion, with Ricciardo making his decisive move on Rosberg on lap 68, with the German’s Mercedes struggling for power on the long straights. Rosberg with that second place finish managed to open up a 22-point lead over teammate Hamilton. The race on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was also marred by a high-speed collision between Force India’s Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa of Williams, although neither was seriously hurt. Vettel finished third ahead of Button.
Race 8: Austrian Grand Prix — June 22
The Mercedes was back at the top with another double with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton finishing one-two at Austria, where the Grand Prix circus returned for the first time in 11 years. The Mercedes drivers used superior strategy to overcome the straight-line speed advantage over Williams. The result left the Briton 29 points behind the German in the overall standings.
Williams driver Valtteri Bottas also made it onto his first ever podium. His team-mate, Felipe Massa, who had started from the pole position, came in fourth. For Mercedes it was a seventh win in eight races. Four-time drivers’ champion Sebastian Vettel was forced to retire with mechanical problems.
Race 9: British Grand Prix — July 6
Lewis Hamilton moved right back into the fight for this season’s Formula One World Championship after winning the action-packed British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It was Hamilton’s second home win, his fifth of the season and the 27th of his career, drawing him level with fellow-Briton and three-time champion Jackie Stewart in the record books.
Nico Rosberg suffered his first non-finish of the season, due to gearbox problems after 29 laps, to reduce the German’s lead in the title race to just four points.
Hamilton cruised to victory finishing almost 30 seconds clear of the impressive Valtteri Bottas, who started 14th in his Williams, and secured his second consecutive podium. Daniel Ricciardo completed the top three by denying Jenson Button his first podium finish in 15 appearances at his home race.
