F1 GP Japan: Hamilton wins, Vettel retires

Lewis Hamilton signs his eighth success of the season and flies towards the world title, while Sebastian Vettel he was forced to raise the white flag a few laps before the start. The pilot of the Mercedes leaves Suzuka with a lead of 59 points over the German Ferrari, in a race that saw the Briton in command from start to finish. On the podium with him the two Red Bull, with Verstappen before Ricciardo. Bottas, Raikkonen, Ocon, Perez, Magnussen, Grosjean and Massa complete the top ten. Also retired together with Vettel Sainz, in his last race in Toro Rosso before the transition to Renault, Ericsson and Hulkenberg.

News – Single-seaters lined up in Suzuka, with just a few minutes left before the start of the Japanese GP. Among the top ten, only Bottas and Raikkonen will start on the soft compound, the others with the supersoft. Clear skies, high temperatures... but the Ferrari mechanics are working on Vettel's car, in the front row, with the bonnet open. It appears there is an electrical fault and that a spark plug has needed to be replaced. Palmer takes the opportunity to take a photo with the mechanics on the grid; this will be his last GP with Renault. Here we go, the deployment lap begins. The traffic lights go out and Hamilton gets off to a good start, maintaining the lead. Vettel remains behind him while Verstappen advances on Ricciardo. Sainz ends up in the gravel and shortly after crashes into the flags. Verstappen meanwhile attacks and takes Vettel, while Ocon snatches fourth place from Ricciardo. The safety car comes in as the Toro Rosso stops at turn 7. Vettel meanwhile has slipped to sixth place. Hamilton precedes Verstappen, Ocon, Ricciardo, Bottas, Vettel, Perez, Massa, Hulkenberg and Magnussen. At the end of the third lap the safety car returns. Back for Vettel after a few laps, the problem has evidently not been solved. Raikkonen meanwhile moved up to ninth place.

Ericsson's Sauber ends up in the barriers. VSC enters the scene, while Raikkonen takes eighth place over Hulkenberg. On lap 9, Hamilton, Verstappen, Ocon, Ricciardo, Bottas, Perez, Massa, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Magnussen. The VSC returns and Ricciardo takes third place over Ocon. Raikkonen takes the position over Massa, and then takes sixth place over Perez. Pit stops in order for Ocon, Verstappen and Perez, who switch to the soft compound. On lap 23 Hamilton stops, who puts on the yellow tire and returns ahead of Verstappen. Then it's Ricciardo's turn, who returns fifth on the soft tires in the wake of Kimi. Bottas took the lead followed by Hamilton, with Verstappen at 1.7s. At the chicane Bottas makes room for Hamilton, visibly faster, and at the same time keeps Verstappen behind. Raikkonen stops to put on the red tire and returns sixth ahead of Ocon. Then it's Bottas's turn in the pits, he also mounts the supersofts, and comes back in fourth. On the track Hamilton says he has problems with the tyres, so Verstappen comes closer... Raikkonen takes fifth place over Hulkenberg. On lap 34: Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Perez, Palmer and Massa. Hulkenberg also stops, fitting the red compound.

A few laps later, however, the Renault found itself on the track with the DRS blocked and was then forced to retire. Contact between Massa and Magnussen in turn 1, with Haas forcefully taking eighth place. On lap 43, Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Raikkonen, Ocon, Perez, Magnussen, Grosjean and Massa. “Something's wrong with the car,” Stroll says over the radio, and stops at the edge of the track. VSC activated and withdrawal for Williams. Shortly after the restart Alonso found himself lapped in the middle of Hamilton and Verstappen, with Mercedes thus taking some breathing space from Red Bull. The Spaniard ends up under investigation for ignoring the blue flags. Meanwhile Bottas sets the fastest lap and goes after Ricciardo, third. But now time is up... Lewis Hamilton wins the Japanese GP ahead of Verstappen, Ricciardo, Bottas and Raikkonen.

F1 GP Japan – Times, results and laps Race