HOW HE SURGED PAST FERRARI
LEWIS HAMILTON trailed Sebastian Vettel in the championship just four races ago, but the Brit now leads the German by 59 points. Victory in the Japanese Grand Prix puts him in line for a fourth world title. Here’s how Hamilton turned it around…
BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
HAMILTON celebrates his 200th F1 race with a 58th win as he holds off Vettel to stand just seven points behind. There is controversy, with Hamilton accusing the sport’s governing body of trying to influence the result after the safety car was deployed 14 laps from the end.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
HAMILTON wins, taking the championship lead for the first time this season, as Vettel finishes third. The Brit follows up his victory after a close battle in Belgium with a crushing display at the home of Vettel’s Ferrari team. He takes a three-point lead over his German rival.
SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
VETTEL crashes out in Singapore to allow Hamilton to take control. It feels like a defining moment because Vettel was expected to resume the lead in the title race at a track where Ferrari have an advantage over Mercedes. Instead, Hamilton heads into the last six races with a 28-point advantage.
MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX
MAX VERSTAPPEN wins in hot and humid conditions in Malaysia as Hamilton extends his championship lead with second place. Vettel recovers impressively from the back of the grid after engine problems in qualifying. The Ferrari man finishes fourth and limits the damage to his title hopes. A FOURTH world title beckons for Hamilton after Vettel drops out only four laps into the race in Japan. The win leaves Hamilton 59 points ahead with four races to go.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX