Vettel roars to Japan win

Hamilton retires with engine problem Japanese Grand Prix Results/Standings

SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 8, (AFP): Lewis Hamilton romped to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday to close in on a fourth world title after Sebastian Vettel retired with engine failure on lap four.

The Briton dominated from pole, steering his Mercedes to a crushing eighth win of the year, stretching his Formula One championship lead over Vettel to 59 points with just 100 left to play for.

“Honestly I could only have dreamed of having this kind of gap,” said Hamilton after holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen in Suzuka.

“The team has done a phenomenal job, they’re just so meticulous so a big thank you to the guys.”

The Red Bulls of Verstappen -- who stunned Hamilton to win in Malaysia last week -- and Daniel Ricciardo secured a double podium for the second successive race.

Valtteri Bottas finished fourth in SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 8, (AFP): Results and Formula One world championship standings after the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday:

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ Mercedes) 307 km in 1 h 27:31.193 (average speed: 211 km/h)

2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at 1.211

3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) at 9.679

4. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes) at 10.580

5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at 32.622

6. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) at 1:07.788

7. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) at 1:11.424

8. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/ Haas) at 1:28.953

9. Romain Grosjean (FRA/ Haas) at 1:29.883

10. Felipe Massa Williams) at 1 lap

11. Fernando Alonso (ESP/ McLaren) at 1 lap

12. Jolyon Palmer Renault) at 1 lap

13. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap

14. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/ McLaren) at 1 lap

(FIN/

(BRA/

(GBR/

15. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/ Sauber) at 2 laps

The other competitors were not classified

Drivers 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 306 pts 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 247 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 234 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 192 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 148 6. Max Verstappen (NED) 111 7. Sergio Perez (MEX) 82 8. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 65 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 48 10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 34 11. Felipe Massa (BRA) 34 12. Lance Stroll (CAN) 32 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 28 14. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 15 15. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) 13 16. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 10 17. Jolyon Palmer (GBR) 8 18. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) 5 19. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 4 Constructors 1. Mercedes-AMG 540 pts; 2. Ferrari 395; 3. Red Bull 303; 4. Force India 147; 5. Williams 66; 6. Toro Rosso 52; 7. Haas 43; 8. Renault 42; 9. McLaren-Honda 23; 10. Sauber 5.