[3] Winner of the previous year's race Nico Rosberg entered the round with a 19-point lead over his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the World Drivers' Championship.

Hamilton took pole position and won the race from Rosberg to take the championship to the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Marcus Ericsson crashed on lap 13 on the pit straight bringing the safety car back out again.

The race restarted again six laps later only for Kimi Räikkönen to crash on the pit straight immediately, spinning across the track before hitting the wall.

Late on in the race Felipe Massa crashed near the pit entry bringing the safety car out again, while walking back to the garage Massa was given applause from several teams and was visibly emotional, as it was expected to be his last Grand Prix in his home country.