Japanese GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

   

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX - RACE

    With only 5 races left, the points gap between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton continues to be extremely crucial in regards to the Drivers Championship. When the lights went out, Rosberg was quick to pull away from Hamilton, who found himself moving all the way back to 8th. Force India's Sergio Perez, moved from 5th to 3rd within the first two corners. Team-mate, Hulkenberg, went from 9th to 6th, making it a great start for the team. They currently stand 4th in the constructors, just ahead of Williams.

    All 22 cars crossed the line this time around and the race went without a single accident, apart from a spin from Gutierrez in the Ferrari-powered Haas. Gutierrez was able to get back on track and finish the race in 20th. Romain Grosjean finished just outside of the points in 11th.

    Both McLaren drivers found themselves having a less-than-perfect race, despite the upgraded Honda power units. Button had a complete PU change before the race but struggled to pass any cars in the first half of the race and finished just ahead of Sauber's Felipe Nasr, in 18th. Fernando Alonso was unable to get his McLaren into the points either, but finished ahead of Button in 16th. It was a race to forget for the Woking-based team.

    It was a case of the blues for Vettel, Verstappen and Raikkonen, who all came over their radios multiple times, reporting traffic and lapped cars getting in the way and refusing to move. Vettel called the situation 'Ridiculous' and Ferrari was quick to agree.

    Sebastian Vettel came within a second of Lewis Hamilton numerous times within the final 10 laps, hoping to pass him and get on the podium, but he found himself moving farther back on the main straight and eventually 3rd place was out of reach.

    With Nico Rosberg taking the win and Hamilton securing 3rd, Mercedes was able to finally clinch the Constructors Championship title. However, the battle between Ferrari and Red Bull is still hot and with Verstappen finishing the race in 2nd, Red Bull has plenty to he excited about.

    While Perez and Hulkenberg had been running as high as 3rd and 6th, things didn't quite turn out that way after multiple pit-stops and being just off of Ferrari's pace. Despite the disappointment of no podium celebration for the team, they still extended their points lead ahead of Williams with Perez finishing in 7th and Hulkenberg in 8th.

    Sauber, Renault, Manor and Toro Rosso all finished outside of the points, but with 4 races left, there is still plenty of chances for things to change within the Drivers Championship.

RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points

2. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 18 Points

3. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 15 Points

4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 12 Points

5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 10 Points

6. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 8 Points

7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 6 Points

8. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / 4 Points

9. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 2 Points

10. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 1 Point

11. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

12. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

13. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

14. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

15. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

16. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

17. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

18. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain 

19. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

20. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

21. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

22. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 & @Bethonie_Boost