Sunday 27 September 2015

F1:Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese GP to extend title lead over Nico Rosberg


Lewis Hamilton has extended his world title lead over Nico Rosberg after winning the Japanese GP at Suzuka on Sunday.

The defending champion took the chequered flag 19 seconds ahead of his team-mate, with Sebastian Vettel finishing third in his Ferrari.

Starting from pole position, Rosberg dropped to fourth place on the first lap after he and Hamilton headed into the first corner side-by-side.

Rosberg was on the outside heading into Turn 1 but was forced out wide at the next corner, losing momentum and falling behind Vettel and Valtteri Bottas' Williams.

He moved back ahead of the Finn - overtaking Bottas at the chicane on lap 17 - and then took second place back from Vettel on lap 31 after both drivers made their second tyre stops.

Even so, Hamilton's lead has increased to 48 points with five races to go this season.

Kimi Raikkonen also moved ahead of Bottas to finish fourth, with Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz completing the top 10.

After starting from the pitlane following his huge qualifying crash on Saturday, Daniil Kvyat finished 13th, two places ahead of Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo started seventh but collided with Felipe Massa's Williams off the start line, with both forced to pit at the end of the first lap.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso finished 11th after describing McLaren performance during the race as "very embarrassing".

At Honda's home race, the Spaniard also compared their hybrid with a "GP2 engine". Team-mate Jenson Button finished 16th.

More to follow...

No comments: