Hamilton has clear shot at fifth world title after Japan win
Stretches championship lead with Ferrari’s Vettel to 67 points
when he smacked Holland and the ball hit Mitchell Marsh’s fingers before rolling over for a boundary.
With the field spread out, Hafeez played a few shots in the air while Haq continued to use his feet beautifully to pile up runs as Pakistan crossed the 150-run mark.
Hafeez revealed his wife had persuaded him not to quit the sport after he was ignored for Asia Cup. “I was mentally disturbed after being dropped from the Asia Cup team,” said Hafeez of last month’s axing from the one-day side.
“I could have taken a drastic step but I was stopped by my wife and then Shoaib Akhtar phoned me as well.”
“I could have been doing something else (had I retired),” said Hafeez. ■
Arampant Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two at the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday to move to the brink of a fifth Formula One world title.
The Briton dominated at Suzuka after starting on pole, stretching his lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to 67 points with just four races left as the German’s hopes were dashed by a collision with Red Bull’s Verstappen.
Valtteri Bottas held off Verstappen to take second almost 13 seconds behind Hamilton in a breathless 53-lap race at the fast-flowing Japanese circuit. “Woo-hoo! I love you guys!” Hamilton screamed over team radio after his sixth win in the last seven races.
“I hope you guys are not getting bored of this — because I’m definitely not.”
Vettel realistically needed to win to keep alive his fading title hopes but, despite making up four places in a frantic start after starting on the fourth row, spun off on lap eight in a shower of sparks after a risky lunge on Verstappen.
The German, who began from eighth in qualifying, survived the scrape but found himself back in 19th and could only finish sixth, dealing a hammer blow to his slim title hopes.
Hamilton will retain his world title if he wins the next race at Austin and Vettel fails to finish second. “It’s a great one-two for Mercedes and a true showing of the strength in depth we have,” said the Briton after his fifth Japan victory and ninth of the season.
“I can’t wait to unleash this beast in Austin,” he added, pointing at his car. “We’ve gone from strength to strength this year as a team but I’m taking it one step at a time.”
Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth for Red Bull after starting way back in 15th with Kimi Raikkonen fifth after Ferrari opted not to switch his position with Vettel for the sake of two extra points.
Vettel was left wondering what might have been after a ruining an electric start with an illadvised attempt to duck inside Verstappen at turn 13.
“In that corner you can’t overtake,” shrugged the Dutchman, who had earlier received a fivesecond penalty for nudging Raikkonen off the track.
Mohammad Hafeez, returning to the Pakistan Test team after nearly two years, cracked 126 runs off 208 balls with 15 boundaries on the first day of the opening Test.
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