Rod Talk: Brilliant Bottas outwits Vettel
The next race in Mexico takes place on October 27 and it is very likely that the world championship will be decided then unless Bottas beats Hamilton once more.
Valtteri Bottas was at his best during the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday and, together with Lewis Hamilton in third position, helped Mercedes clinch the Constructors’ Championship for the year.
Sebastian Vettel was disappointed to bring his Ferrari home in second spot after the two Prancing Horses had started from the front row of the grid.
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Unfortunately, Vettel faltered at the start, giving Bottas the chance to shoot into the lead, which he held for most of the race.
Teammate Charles Leclerc also had an unlucky race, finishing seventh after being penalised for knocking Max Verstappen off the track.
It certainly was a race of mixed fortunes but it brought some new faces to the leading positions.
Alexander Albon drove an excellent race after matching Verstappen’s time in qualifying and finished just 10 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz’s McLaren Renault, in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Daniel Ricciardo also drove a wonderful race in a not yet top-notch Renault in sixth place, showing us that the French team is also moving upwards.
Behind Leclerc came Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso Honda in eighth.
The last two point scoring places were filled by Sergio Perez in the Racing Point Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg in the other Renault.
Typhoon Hagabis had caused qualifying and the race to be held on Sunday and it proved an eventful and very full day.
Ferrari once again were unable to close the deal after showing so much potential in qualifying.
Tyre strategy once again went the Mercedes way.
The next race in Mexico takes place on October 27 and it is very likely that the world championship will be decided then unless Bottas beats Hamilton once more.
Drivers: 1 Lewis Hamilton 338; 2 Valtteri Bottas 274; 3 Charles Leclerc 221; 4 Max Verstappen 212; 5 Sebastian Vettel 212; 6 Carlos Sainz Jr 76; 7 Pierre Gasly 73; 8 Alexander Albon 64; 9 Daniel Ricciardo 42; 10 Nico Hulkenberg 35; 11 Sergio Perez 35; 12 Lando Norris 35; 13 Daniil Kvyat 33; 14 Kimi Raikkonen 31; 15 Kevin Magnussen 20.
Teams: 1 Mercedes 612; 2 Ferrari 433; 3 Red Bull 323; 4 McLaren 111; 5 Renault 77; 6 Toro Rosso 59; 7 Racing Point Force India 54; 8 Alfa Romeo 35; 9 Haas 28; 10 Williams 1.
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