Alexander Rossi equalled the Manor Marussia F1 Team‘s best finish of the 2015 season today, taking the chequered flag on his home debut in 12th position after a very impressive drive.
They say every setback has a major comeback, and after a fraught few days for race-goers and TV audiences, the 2015 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix delivered a spectacular race today, arguably the best this season.
Will Stevens was not so fortunate, however. The opening lap was predictably scrappy and despite making an excellent start, he was struck from behind by his team-mate in the Turn 1 melée, which punctured Will's left rear and broke his rear wing. At the same time, Alexander picked up a damaged front wing and also sustained a puncture, to his right front tyre, but he was at least able to continue the race. Unfortunately, Will's race was run within one lap.
Alexander Rossi: "It's been a truly amazing week and to finish in 12th place today is incredibly exciting for me and the team. I'm so proud to race well here in front of my home crowd and to equal the team's best performance of the season in only my third Grand Prix. The race did get off to a tricky start, which was a shame. There was a Williams driver in the mix, who had picked up some damage, and avoiding him put Will and me on the same piece of racetrack. Unfortunately we hit and I'm sorry for Will that the resulting damage ended his race. As for the positives, I had a good battle with Nasr for quite a few laps and then with the rate of attrition we were seeing, I think everyone perhaps started to feel that we were getting in touch with a points-scoring position. In the end, it wasn't to be, but that doesn't detract from what has been a fantastic day for me and I'm now looking to carry that momentum forward to Mexico, where we race in just a week's time. I'd like to thank the Team and everyone who continues to support me in my career. I hope this is just the start of great things in Formula 1 for me."
Will Stevens: "I'm pretty devastated that I didn't get the chance to race today. I made a really strong start - as I have been doing in the past three or four races in particular - and I was able to get past Alex into the first corner. Then ‘boom', my race was run when I got hit from behind and the damage was too severe to continue. It is what it is, but I was hoping for good things today when we finally had a dry track to work with. There's no point in dwelling on it and I'm already looking ahead to Mexico."
John Booth, Team Principal: "I'm thrilled for Alexander, the team and the American fans in equal measure, as this is a fantastic result after a challenging weekend. Today we saw Formula 1 racing at its absolute best. In the end this was easily the most exciting Grand Prix of the season and that's exactly what Circuit of The Americas race-goers needed. Obviously the race got off to a more difficult start and in the predicted mayhem of Turn 1 on the opening lap, our two drivers had a coming together. Sadly, Will sustained too much damage to continue, and he is naturally very disappointed. I think we would have seen another exciting battle between team-mates today as they both had the bit between their teeth. Nonetheless, we're happy to have at least one good finish and credit to Alexander for recovering well from that incident and a very determined performance. Finally, I'd like to congratulate Lewis Hamilton, an incredibly deserving winner of the Drivers' Championship and a good friend."
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.
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