A Sunday Ve el wants to forget
VETTEL: GERMAN FORCED TO RETIRE HIS CAR EARLY ON
Suzuka – Sebastian Vettel’s Sunday could not get much worse after engine problems at the Japanese Grand Prix all but killed off his title hopes, but Formula One stewards reprimanded him anyway for missing the national anthem before the race.
The German failed to turn up on time for the Japanese anthem, an understandable absence given the commotion around his car as mechanics hurried to fix a spark plug problem. The non-driving reprimand for the rules breach, as opposed to one handed out for something that happened on the track, was his first of the season.
Vettel lasted only four laps of the race before the unresolved issue forced him to retire, a setback that left Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton 59 points clear at the top with four races remaining.
Red Bulls join the Briton on podium for second race in a row.
Lewis Hamilton romped to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday 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.
“I could only have dreamed of having this kind of gap,” said Hamilton after holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen.
“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 the second Mercedes with Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari taking fifth and Esteban Ocon sixth for Force India.
Hamilton celebrated a fourth victory in Japan and a 61st career win with a “Mobot” pose, a tribute to his friend Mo Farah, the Olympic champion athlete, who was watching trackside.
“Max drove an outstanding race and it got very close at the end,” said Hamilton.
“His car was looking so big in my mirrors. It wasn’t a walk in the park today,” added the Briton.
“Anything can happen so I’ll keep my head down and hopefully continue to perform like this.”
Vettel’s title hopes, meanwhile, suffered a potentially fatal blow with four races left following his nightmare start from the front row.
Ferrari mechanics worked frantically on the grid to fix a spark plug issue before lights out and Vettel was quickly complaining of a lack of power.
The German, fourth in Malaysia and crashed from pole in Singapore, crashed to sixth on the first lap before being told to retire the car as Hamilton roared away into the distance. –