VETTEL WINS BUT HAMILTON SUPERB

LEWIS Hamilton delivered a world champion’s fightback from last to fourth in the Brazilian Grand Prix won by Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel was victorious for the first time since the summer after edging past Valtteri Bottas with a gutsy move on the first corner.

However, it was t he Hamilton canter through the field which stole the show at this round of his title-winning year.

The Briton, who even led the race at one stage, took the chequered flag just 0.8 seconds adrift of thirdplaced Kimi Raikkonen.

He started from the pit lane after his first competitive return to action since winning the title in Mexico two weeks ago lasted less than two minutes when he crashed out of qualifying.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team took advantage of his pit lane start to strap on a new engine and he took advantage of a chaotic first lap to progress six places in the opening exchanges.

Daniel Ricciardo, Stoffel Vandoorne and Kevin Magnussen were involved in a three-way tangle at the second corner with the latter at fault for barging into Vandoorne. He, in turn, thudded into the side of Ricciardo’s Red Bull.

Moments later Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon collided at turn six and the safety car was deployed.

All eyes turned to Hamilton as he began to pick off his opponents oneby-one. His valiant effort resulted in a very respectable fourth-place finish.