Sebastian Vettel completed the Japanese GP podium for Ferrari, to make it the same top three as a year ago.
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Hamilton’s third victory in Japan – and his 41st overall – moved him level with legendary driver Ayrton Senna’s tally.
“Nico (Rosberg) is driving well this weekend, but I felt good on this (first) lap”, said Hamilton. Lewis just got a better start. Instead he found himself fighting back from fourth place.
Hamilton denied he had acted unsportingly, pointing out he had the right of way.
Hamilton opened up an advantage that he maintained to the end. He got past Rosberg on the exit of the second turn and took off into the lead. “I was really able to work on my lines and improve as it went on”. “I haven’t seen it on TV”. For sure it was close. “But it is hard to comment now”.
Full of hope, despite his under-privileged background, the youngster would come home from school and put on a video of Senna karting.
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.
“Lewis said he had understeer in the vehicle and he ran out of track”. “So that’s what I’m focusing on, then once I manage that I will think about the rest”.
“I’ll just have to do it next time out”.
Hamilton led every lap and could now clinch his third World Championship with races to spare. “We didn’t bring our “A” game in Singapore and we had to bring it today”.
“I don’t know what they were doing in Singapore”, joked the four-time world champion. Just remarkable what they’ve done.
“The vehicle was lovely to drive today”. “Fantastic job guys, absolutely faultless performance all weekend as usual”, the Briton said over the team radio. To be back up here after Singapore is really awesome.
“It is going the wrong way, definitely”, conceded Rosberg.
Vettel remains in mathematical contention for the title: “It’s not done ’til it’s done”.
“You have to keep believing otherwise I guess it’s pointless rocking up and trying to fight”. Lotus drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado finished seventh and eighth. A few big names had bad days and failed to make the points. The Aussie also had to stop with a puncture, and he finished 15th.
Daniil Kvyat, who was involved in a huge shunt in Saturday’s qualifying session, started from the pit lane after his Red Bull mechanics worked through the night to change his chassis, gearbox, engine and a number of other components.
But this McLaren-Honda package could not be further from challenging for titles.
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Unlike the McLaren who endured more disappointment yesterday, amid reports that Jenson Button may stay on for another season after all, with his team-mate Fernando Alonso considering quitting the sport.
