Track Torque: Hamilton hot in Japan
The race was marred by a serious accident.
LEWIS Hamilton drove a tremendous race in Suzuka last Sunday to win the Japanese Grand Prix from teammate Nico Rosberg, with a wonderful overtaking move on the outside of a corner in the wet.
Poor Rosberg was battling with the handling of his car and complained of over-steer, but managed to keep it together for another one-two for the Silver Arrows team.
Rosberg had led for a major portion of the race and he and Hamilton gave us a superb demonstration of their driving skills in wet weather before Hamilton made his daring move.
The race finished under more than one cloud, however, when a most unfortunate accident befell Jules Bianchi in his Marussia.
Previously, Adrian Sutil had gone off in the slippery conditions in his Sauber, which was being retrieved by one of the large four-wheel drive earth moving machines, when Bianchi spun off at the same place with just six laps to go.
He then ploughed straight into the heavy machine and suffered severe head trauma as a result. As I write he is still in a critical, but stable condition, in intensive care.
Sebastian Vettel drove a much better race and managed to hold off teammate Daniel Riccarido for their respective third and fourth places.
They had also had exciting drives in the very wet conditions and did well to beat a lot of the Mercedes engine machinery.
This included the McLarens, in particular Jenson Button, who finished fifth.
He drove very well and really should have been on the podium in third spot but pitted late for a change of tyres, only to have the race red- flagged when Bianchi had his accident, so he never gained the benefit of his new tyres.
The two Merc engine Williams cars of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, together with the Force India Mercedes of Nico Hulkenberg, were in line astern before the first Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne, who again beat his teammate Daniil Kvyat (ninth and 11th respectively).
Sergio Perez, in the second Force India Mercedes, brought up the final point scoring position in 10th with a solid drive, while Kimi Raikkonen disappointed with 12th position in the only Ferrari to finish.
Fernando Alonso had been fifth on the grid and looked good, making up positions at the start, when suddenly his car faulted and the engine cut on lap two.
It was all over for the unfortunate former world champion who, it seems, is leaving Ferrari at the end of the year to join the new McLaren Honda set-up for 2015.
Other big news on the driver front is that Vettel is going to Ferrari and Kvyat will partner Ricciardo at Red Bull.
This is really just the beginning as a few more cards have to shuffle for the above to happen. We don’t know whether Button will stay at McLaren or not.
Championship: 1 Lewis Hamilton 266; 2 Nico Rosberg 256; 3 Daniel Ricciardo 193; 4 Sebastian Vettel 139; 5 Fernando Alonso 133; 6 Valtteri Bottas 130.
Constructors: 1 Mercedes 522; 2 Red Bull 332: Williams 201; 4 Ferrari 178.
The first Russian Grand Prix at the new 5.9km Sochi track takes place this Sunday, October 12 at 2pm.
All eyes will be on local hero Kvyat.
