Hamilton happy to chill after Singapore win

LEWIS Hamilton is ready to kick back and relax after his whirlwind trip around the globe climaxed with victory in Singapore and a major step towards another world championship.

Hamilton will head into the final six rounds with a 40-point championship lead following a commanding win under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

This was supposed to be a Ferrari track, but Sebastian Vettel will leave the Far East staring down the barrel at another title defeat to his relentless rival. He crossed the line only in third.

Vettel should have finished one place higher, but for a Ferrari strategy blunder costing him second to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Ferrari pitted Vettel early in a bid to usurp Hamilton for the lead, but their move backfired as the German got caught up behind Sergio Perez and Verstappen, in clear air, stole the position.

On his arrival in Singapore, Hamilton batted away suggestions that the promotion of his debut Tommy Hilfiger fashion collection in Shanghai and New York – a journey that saw him clock up 25,000 miles in just 10 days – was something of a gamble. He was vindicated.

“I know there were questions at the start of the week as to whether these things outside of Formula One are a distraction to me,” Hamilton said.

“I came here, and I thought ‘jeez, if I put one foot wrong, people are going to point to the things I do as a result of it’.

“The last two weeks have been intense so I am looking forward to a couple of days off.”