Championship leader Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, taking a major step toward winning his third Formula 1 title.
The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds ahead of Malaysia GP winner Max Verstappen to claim his eighth F1 victory of the season and third at the Suzuka circuit. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo was third.
Hamilton moved 59 points clear of title rival Sebastian Vettel with four races left. Vettel was forced to retire on the third lap when his Ferrari lost power. Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was fourth followed by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. The Force India duo of Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez was sixth and seventh, respectively.
Vettel’s early retirement put a serious dent in his fading hopes of coming back to win the championship. Ferrari's Vettel dropped out four laps into the race after slipping down the field from the start with an engine problem and Mercedes driver Hamilton now leads the German by 59 points with 100 available in the remaining four races.
The Briton will clinch the title at the next race - the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas - if he wins and Vettel finishes lower than fifth.
A fourth F1 title would put Hamilton one ahead of Sir Jackie Stewart’s total and into some exceptional company. Only four other drivers have four or more titles: Vettel, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher. In Japan, Hamilton made sure all but an exceptionally cruel fate could now deny him a place at that very top table.
