Top gun extends his lead in Japan
Hamilton and Bottas make it a Mercedes one-two as Vettel fades out
LEWIS Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix in a Mercedes one-two on Sunday to take a 67-point lead in the Formula One championship and stand on the brink of a fifth title.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, the Briton’s closest rival, finished sixth after an early collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen left the German fighting back from 19th place in a damaged car.
Finland’s Valtteri Bottas secured the Mercedes one-two with second place while Verstappen finished third.
If Hamilton wins the next race, the US Grand Prix in Austin, and Vettel finishes lower than second, the 33year-old Brit will be champion with three races to spare.
“We’ve gone from strength to strength as a team this year,” Hamilton said.
The victory was the 71st of his career, leaving him only 20 behind the record of seventimes world champion Michael Schumacher.
Hamilton now has 331 points to Vettel’s 264, while Mercedes lead Ferrari in the constructors’ standings with 538 points to 460 for the Italians.
Vettel, who had started eighth after a failed tyre gamble in qualifying, collided with Verstappen while trying to pass on the inside for third place at the fast left-handed sweep of Suzuka’s Spoon corner. Vettel spun around and resumed at the back.
“The touch with Sebastian … in that corner you can’t overtake. I even gave him space but he understeered into my car,” Verstappen said.
Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene said a championship comeback was still a chance.
“I know the situation looks impossible but our job is to challenge the impossible,” he said.