Hamilton overtakes Rosberg to win Japanese Grand Prix
Mercedes driver equal’s boyhood hero Senna’s tally of 41 victories
Double world champion Hamilton has now moved 48 points clear of Mercedes teammate Rosberg with five races remaining in the season. PHOTO: AFP
SUZUKA:
Lewis Hamilton blazed to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg on Sunday to strengthen his grip on a third world title and equal boyhood hero’s Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41 victories.
The Briton, who is chasing back-to-back Formula One championships, opened a 48-point gap over Rosberg with five races left after putting on a masterclass at Suzuka.
Sebastian Vettel, surprise winner in Singapore last week, took third with Kimi Raikkonen fourth in the second Ferrari.
After hitting back in style from his first race-ending retirement in over a year in Singapore, Hamilton whooped: “Fantastic job, guys. So great to be back up here.”
Dripping with champagne, Hamilton added: “It was important for us to strike back. We didn’t bring our A-game in the last race. We had to make sure we brought it here.”
Stung by last week’s flop, Hamilton got off to a flying start, darting into the lead at turn two after Rosberg slithered onto the grass and fell from pole to fourth.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo shredded a tyre trying to thread the needle and brushed wheels with Felipe Massa, whose Williams had to limp to the pits for a change of front wing.
Normal service was resumed at the front of the pack, meanwhile, after Mercedes were rocked by a mysterious loss of pace in Singapore, which allowed Vettel to boost his slim title chances.
Their mojo firing again in brilliant sunshine in Japan, the two Mercedes destroyed the Ferraris with Hamilton relentlessly pounding out fastest lap after fastest lap.
He survived a scare midway through the 53-lap race, complaining of vibrations and overheating in the cockpit but it proved only a temporary glitch.
“For me to win here at a race where I loved watching Ayrton drive and to match his wins, it doesn’t feel real at the moment,” said Hamilton after winning at Suzuka for the second year in a row.
Rosberg recovered to take second on lap 32 when Vettel pitted but emerged just behind his fellow German.
Vettel, now trailing Hamilton by 59 points, refused to accept his bid for a fifth world title was over. “It’s not done until it’s done,” he snapped. “What kind of racing driver would I be if I stopped believing?”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2015.
Lewis Hamilton blazed to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg on Sunday to strengthen his grip on a third world title and equal boyhood hero’s Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41 victories.
The Briton, who is chasing back-to-back Formula One championships, opened a 48-point gap over Rosberg with five races left after putting on a masterclass at Suzuka.
Sebastian Vettel, surprise winner in Singapore last week, took third with Kimi Raikkonen fourth in the second Ferrari.
After hitting back in style from his first race-ending retirement in over a year in Singapore, Hamilton whooped: “Fantastic job, guys. So great to be back up here.”
Dripping with champagne, Hamilton added: “It was important for us to strike back. We didn’t bring our A-game in the last race. We had to make sure we brought it here.”
Stung by last week’s flop, Hamilton got off to a flying start, darting into the lead at turn two after Rosberg slithered onto the grass and fell from pole to fourth.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo shredded a tyre trying to thread the needle and brushed wheels with Felipe Massa, whose Williams had to limp to the pits for a change of front wing.
Normal service was resumed at the front of the pack, meanwhile, after Mercedes were rocked by a mysterious loss of pace in Singapore, which allowed Vettel to boost his slim title chances.
Their mojo firing again in brilliant sunshine in Japan, the two Mercedes destroyed the Ferraris with Hamilton relentlessly pounding out fastest lap after fastest lap.
He survived a scare midway through the 53-lap race, complaining of vibrations and overheating in the cockpit but it proved only a temporary glitch.
“For me to win here at a race where I loved watching Ayrton drive and to match his wins, it doesn’t feel real at the moment,” said Hamilton after winning at Suzuka for the second year in a row.
Rosberg recovered to take second on lap 32 when Vettel pitted but emerged just behind his fellow German.
Vettel, now trailing Hamilton by 59 points, refused to accept his bid for a fifth world title was over. “It’s not done until it’s done,” he snapped. “What kind of racing driver would I be if I stopped believing?”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2015.