ROUND BY ROUND

GERMAN GP, HOCKENHEIM JULY 22

A pivotal moment in the title race as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel slides off the track and throws away a race he looks sure to win after the Scuderia surreptitiously orders Kimi Raikkonen to move aside. Lewis Hamilton recovers from a gearbox failure in Q1 that leaves him 14th on the grid to claim victory and the championship lead from his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. 1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

HUNGARIAN GP, HUNGARORING JULY 29

Another race Ferrari clearly has the pace to win, until heavy rain lashes the circuit for qualifying. Hamilton’s wet weather wizardry does the rest, giving him an unlikely pole he duly converts into victory. Vettel finishes second after passing Bottas late-on and somehow surviving being rear-ended by the Mercedes. 1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

BELGIAN GP, SPAFRANCORCHAMPS AUGUST 26

Hamilton claims pole by a huge margin as rain affects qualifying again, but cannot prevent Vettel crucially slipstreaming past on the first lap. Max Verstappen finishes third as Bottas recovers to fourth after a grid penalty. The controversial halo is praised after a collision sends Fernando Alonso airborne and onto Charles Leclerc’s Sauber. 1 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 2 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

ITALIAN GP, MONZA SEPTEMBER 2

A psychologically crucial win for Hamilton, as he comes from behind to beat Ferrari on its home turf. Poleman Raikkonen finishes a feisty second after being told he’s told he’s lost his drive for 2019, while Vettel is only fourth after colliding with Hamilton on lap one and spinning to the back. 1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 3 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

SINGAPORE GP, MARINA BAY SEPTEMBER 16

Hamilton takes a surprise pole on Mercedes’ weakest circuit with a lap Toto Wolff calls the best he’s ever seen, and extends his championship lead to 40 points with an assured drive to victory. Vettel loses out to Verstappen in the pits after overtaking him for second place early on. 1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

RUSSIAN GP, SOCHI SEPTEMBER 30

Bottas annexes pole and has the race under control until Mercedes botches Hamilton’s strategy and drops him behind Vettel. Hamilton re-passes the Ferrari before Bottas is ordered to move aside to mitigate any remaining threat. An uncomfortable podium ceremony ensues.

1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

JAPANESE GP, SUZUKA OCTOBER 7

Ferrari bungles its tyre choice in mixed conditions in Q3, leaving Hamilton and Bottas clear to set up another Mercedes 1-2 finish. Vettel starts strongly from eighth but spins trying to pass Verstappen and finishes only sixth. Verstappen pressures Bottas towards the end as Hamilton stretches his points lead to 67.

1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

USA GP, CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS OCTOBER 21

Raikkonen ends a personal victory drought of 112 races by beating Hamilton off the line then managing tyres perfectly. Mercedes parks its innovative wheel design as a precaution against protest and Hamilton is only third after making an extra stop. Verstappen is second from 18th on the grid, while Vettel again spins in battle.

1 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

MEXICAN GP, MEXICO CITY OCTOBER 28

Verstappen is furious at losing pole to team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, but puts that right with a strong race as Ricciardo botches the start. Merc struggles with tyre-life and Hamilton clinches his fifth world title with a subdued race to fourth. Ricciardo declares his car “cursed” after another technical failure while running second.

1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

BRAZILIAN GP, INTERLAGOS NOVEMBER 11

A stirring drive from fifth on the grid puts Verstappen in position to win again, but a collision as Esteban Ocon tries to unlap himself hands the race back to Hamilton – whose engine comes close to failing from an exhaust problem. Verstappen is punished for confronting Ocon after the race.

1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

ABU DHABI GP, YAS MARINA NOVEMBER 25

Hamilton rounds out 2018 with an impressive 11th victory after beating Bottas to pole. Bottas slumps to fifth in the race, and the championship, after another underwhelming outing – this time struggling with his brakes. Vettel comes through to second while Verstappen recovers from a tough start to record his fifth consecutive podium.

1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)