The F1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw Valtteri Bottas capture his sixth win lifetime to help Mercedes firm up the Constructors’ title. Team mate Lewis Hamilton was third, behind rival Sebastien Vettel.
With 1 and 3, Hamilton and Bottas become the only two drivers in the standings with a shot at the drivers’ trophy. Mercedes’ constructors title is the sixth consecutive title since the Silver Arrows made its entry in the sport as a factory team. There are four races left in the season…
The start of the race was clear cut, it was Mercedes versus Ferrari off the grid. Vettel hesitated at the start and that allowed Bottas to shoot ahead. Meantime, Charles LeClerc got a wheelspin and was picked off by Max Verstappen. He tried to block the Red Bull but unsuccessful.
It was Bottas, followed by Vettel, Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton on the first lap. The Mercedes drivers and Vettel went for a two-stopper. After his first stop, he resumed the attack on the lead Mercedes on lap 17. Bottas managed to come out ahead of Vettel after his stop. Hamilton would pit later and retook the race third.
The order would change slightly after the second stop, Hamilton led -Vettel and Bottas, after Bottas dove in the pitlane. Hamilton would go in lap 42 and attacked the minute he rejoined the track, but Vettel covered well. Past mid-part of the race, Bottas led the race with Vettel and Hamilton. Six laps from the end, Hamilton made a final push for runner-up spot but Vettel wouldn’t have it. Alex Albon finished fourth for Red Bull from Carlos Sainz, Behind Sainz, everybody finished a lap down on the leaders. LeClerc was demoted from sixth to seventh after a post race review, as he was penalized for blocking Verstappen at the start. Verstappen, meanwhile, didn’t finish the race.
2019 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix results
1 V.Bottas 52 1:21:46.755 25
2 S.Vettel 52 +13.343s 18
3 L.Hamilton 52 +13.858s 16
4 A.Albon 52 +59.537s 12
5 C.Sainz 52 +69.101s 10
6 D.Ricciardo 51 +1 lap 8
7 C.Leclerc 51 +1 lap 6
8 P.Gasly 51 +1 lap 4
9 S.Perez 51 +1 lap 2
10 N.Hulkenberg 51 +1 lap
Drivers standings
1 Hamilton MERCEDES 338
2 Bottas MERCEDES 274
3 Leclerc FERRARI 221
4 Verstappen RED BULL RACING 212
5 Vettel FERRARI 212
6 Sainz MCLAREN 76
7 Gasly TORO ROSSO 73
8 Albon RED BULL RACING 64
9 Ricciardo RENAULT 42
10 Hulkenberg RENAULT 35
Constructors rankings
1 MERCEDES 612
2 FERRARI 433
3 RED BULL RACING HONDA 323
4 MCLAREN RENAULT 111
5 RENAULT 77
6 SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA 59
7 RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES 54
8 ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI 35
9 HAAS FERRARI 28
10 WILLIAMS MERCEDES 1
