SUZUKA: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton pulled off an aggressive passing move on team-mate Nico Rosberg and went on to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, moving a step closer to claiming his second straight Formula One title.

Hamilton, who had his first retirement of the season at last weekend’s Singapore GP, capitalised on a strong start and surged ahead of pole-sitter Rosberg at the first corner.

He led the rest of the way, crossing the finish line a comfortable 18.9 seconds ahead. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was third, 1.8 seconds behind Rosberg.

With five races left, Hamilton has a 48-point lead over Rosberg. Hamilton now has 277 points to Rosberg’s 229 with Vettel dropping back on 218 but refusing to give up his championship hopes until mathematically ruled out.

“It’s not done until it’s done. So, the chance is there — and what kind of racing driver would I be if I stopped believing?” said the German.

Hamilton claimed his eighth win of the season. It was his 41st career win, tying him with his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.

“I’m not a teary guy, but I’m full of joy and happiness today,” Hamilton said.

Rosberg and Hamilton went through the first two bends side by side. Hamilton appeared to give Rosberg little room at the second turn, forcing the German partially off the track.

“I didn’t think it was that close,” Hamilton said. “The inside line is the inside line, so it was my corner.”

Rosberg was reserving judgment until he saw the incident on replay.

“It was a pity to do that on the start,” Rosberg said. “We battled around Turns 1 and 2. It got very close on the exit at Turn 2 and I had to back out and that cost me the race.”

Mercedes, who have now won 11 of 14 races, moved a step closer to retaining their constructors’ title with 506 points to Ferrari’s 337.

With Formula One in a sombre mood a year after Frenchman Jules Bianchi’s fatal crash at Suzuka, there was relief for race organisers when the rain that washed out much of Friday’s practice held off over the weekend.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth with fellow-Finn Valtteri Bottas fifth for Williams,

whose other driver Felipe Massa was involved in a first-lap collision with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

That incident left both Massa and Ricciardo, who was overly optimistic in going for a gap between the Brazilian and Raikkonen, limping back to the pits with punctures.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Force India, with the Lotus duo of Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado seventh and eighth in a boost for the financially-troubled team.

Dutch hotshot Max Verstappen who turns 18 next week completed his last race as a 17-year-old in the points, taking ninth place for Toro Rosso ahead of Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s woes continued as former world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button finished outside the points at the home of engine supplier Honda.

As cars sped past him early in the race Alonso, who came home in 11th, barked down the radio “it’s embarrassing, very embarrassing!” — summing up the team’s season.

Published in Dawn, September 28th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play