The Finn Valtteri Bottas wins in Suzuka, Sebastian Vettel screwed up the Start, and is Second ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes secures in advance the constructors ‘ title, although the Jury Ferrari spares.
“I don’t understand what’s happening here”, shook Jos Verstappen head desperately. The low countries felt at a disadvantage, because his opponent Chareles Leclerc was fined after an accident right after the Start in the second curve. Verstappen slid off the runway and the Red Bull wore a variety of visible damage, which later led to the premature exit. Leclerc but was allowed to turn unchallenged to continue his rounds. Decision after the race, it was called by the stewards.
Sebastian Vettel has been treated well. Too good? Clearly a false start, ran the German on Pole Position, after a few centimeters he noticed but his mishap, and stood briefly on the brake. Valteri Bottas was able to easily pull over. Actually, the regulations for such an early start is a penalty. The Jury determined, however, quickly: “No further investigation”.
(No) intervention by the Jury
If you wanted to keep the world Cup exciting? Clearly the Ferrari, which had to catch in Qualifying, which had been postponed due to the Typhoon over Japan on the day of the race, have a good day, to get a theoretical Chance to win one of two titles was. That didn’t work but, despite the apparent backing of the officials.
After a few Rennsekunden the dream was shattered by the two individual error by Leclerc and Vettel. The four-time world champion from Germany was, after he had finished the race in Second place, is unusually self-critical: “The lights were on for a very long time. It was my fault, because I have lost very much momentum. This was much worse than a false start. It was simply a very bad Start.”
Bottas drove a relatively unchallenged victory. Only team-mate Lewis Hamilton put himself in between times for a few laps at the tip, but only because of the different tire strategy. “I had seen a very good Start, that Sebastian had a Problem,” said the Finn after the finish and added: “I had the race under control.” Behind it managed to Vettel after all, to ward off the attacks of Hamilton to be successful. Leclerc in the second Ferrari was Sixth, Niko Hulkenberg in the Renault landed in tenth place at least one world Cup point.
Double happiness at Mercedes
So last season after the fifth race is clear: Mercedes secures for the sixth Time in a row, the Team championship of the world. This was to be expected, but perhaps not as early as this weekend, said team boss Toto Wolff Sky: “This was not to be expected. But for now I’m happy that we have managed to do.” In the case of Mercedes all are still not satisfied with the Performance of the last few weeks, confirmed Wolff, also, therefore, the Celebration is moved: “It was nothing prepared, it would have been a bad Omen. Is celebrated when we are back in Europe.”
Maybe then, together with the driver’s world championship. Because this decision is reduced to a silver arrow duel. Bottas shortened the gap to Hamilton after his third success of the season, the Briton could but already at the next round in Mexico on July 27. October, the title make it clear.
The race to Read:
8:37 p.m.: Valtteri Bottas wins the Grand Prix of Japan. The Finn wins in the Mercedes in front of Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari and world champion Lewis Hamilton.
8:35 PM: The last round-up: Bottas will win. But behind this? Vettel is still at 2.
8:34 PM: Vettel is struggling. His tires are clearly already claimed to be stronger. But still he is ahead of Hamilton.
8:31 PM: Four rounds. Bottas has 12 seconds ahead of Vettel, behind him, Hamilton is in the DRS window.
8:25 PM: Hamilton flies with the fastest lap of Vettel’s approach. The German will probably not be able to fight back.
8:22 PM: Leclerc takes the same against his will, new tires. The Team convinced him. Leclerc in front of the exchange at Position 6 after 44/53 rounds.
8:20 PM: Hamilton in fact, in round 43 to the Box, falls on Position 3 behind Bottas and Vettel. What’s the point? You promised Bottas victory? Or was it really the tires?
8:19 PM: Ferrari, consoles himself with part follow:
8:17 p.m. Signed as a team order from the Mercedes racing team? Bottas is signaled to the command booth from the leading Hamilton will again come in the Box. But why? And Hamilton asks via radio: “What must I do to win the race?”
8:10 PM: Bottas puts his second pit stop a. So Hamilton goes to 36 laps in the lead, but the Finn will return in front of Vettel on the track.
8:05 PM: the Front of the tires of poker between Bottas and Hamilton. Still, the Briton has 14 seconds behind, but his tyres are fresh. When comes Bottas? Or he drives the remaining 18 rounds?
8:03 PM. Vettel in the pits. Change to the yellow tires. He sorted out 20 seconds behind Hamilton on 3.
8:00 PM. In round 30:
7;54: Bottas is turning the front safely to his 27. Lap, Vettel was already 11 seconds behind, with Hamilton a further 8. Then Albon follows, 20 seconds.
7:46 p.m.: Now comes also in Hamilton, in the lead of the race, in the pits for a tyre change. Then he threads his way as a third party.
7:42 PM: The new ranking after 18 rounds: Hamilton, Bottas, Sainz, Vettel, Gasly, Stroller, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo
7:39 PM: Vettel wins in 17. Round is the first of the favorites, new tires. With the old he would not be able to fend off the attacks of Hamilton anyway. Mercedes responds and get Bottas for a tire change.
7:37 PM: Verstappen puts his Red Bull in the 15. Round in the Garage. Race over for the Dutchman.
7:34 PM: Breathe a sigh of relief at Ferrari: No penalty for Vettel due to the early start. He is on rank 2 behind Bottas, a good 5 seconds behind Bottas.
7:28 PM: The standings after 9 rounds: Bottas, Vettel, Hamilton, Sainz, Albon, Gasly, Stroller, Hulkenberg
7:22 PM: May the Jury be: Both Vettel as well as Bottas to have an early start. Vettel brakes but after a few centimeters again, Bottas pulls over behind him. Is there anything else?
7:16 p.m.: Now comes Leclerc in the 4. Round to the Box. Verse currently is Last fall after his Crash and screwdriver, but more.
7:15 p.m.: In the case of Leclerc, the sparks fly, the front spoiler drags on the Asphalt. Nevertheless, he remains out on Position three behind Bottas and Vettel. Hamilton is Fourth.
7:14 PM: Vettel missing out on the Start, Bottas pulls over. Leclerc and Verstappen touch, the Dutchman flies from the runway. Leclerc must be in the Box, needs a new nose.
7:13 A.m.: Race Start!
7:12 p.m.: The sun is shining. It is done for the Grand Prix of Japan. Slowly, the drivers put their cars to race out of the starting places.
7:10 p.m.: The vehicles are on the introduction round. All the machines seem to be running.
7:05 p.m.: Because of the Typhoon, there was on Saturday, no Qualifying. This was then held for four hours before the actual start of the race. And because Sebastian Vettel has completed the series of his Ferrari team-mate. Charles Leclerc had previously four times on the Pole Position stood, now he starts alongside Vettel of Position 2 out of the race. Behind the two Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.
The Starting Line-Up:
1. Start series:
1. Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) – Ferrari 1:27,064 Min.; 2. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari 1:27,253
2. Start series:
3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) – Mercedes 1:27,293; 4. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:27,302
3. Start series:
5. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull 1:27,851; 6. Alexander Albon (Thailand) – Red Bull 1:27,851
4. Start series:
7. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain) McLaren 1:28,304; 8. Lando Norris (Great Britain) McLaren 1:28,464
5. Start series:
9. Pierre Gasly (France) – Toro Rosso 1:28,836 Is; 10. Romain Grosjean (France) – Haas 1:29,341
6. Start series:
11. Antonio Giovinazzi (Italy) – Alfa Romeo 1:29,254; 12. Lance Stroll (Canada) – Racing Point 1:29,345
7. Start series:
13. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) – Alfa Romeo 1:29,358; 14. Daniil Kwjat (Russia) – Toro Rosso 1:29,563
8. Start series:
15. Nico Hülkenberg (Emmerich) – Renault 1:30,112; 16. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) – Renault 1:29,822
9. Start series:
17. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Racing Point 1:30,344; 18. George Russell (Great Britain) – Williams 1:30,364
10. Start series:
19. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) – Haas + 5 Slots/Gear Change; 20. Robert Kubica (Poland) – Williams –
(Start from pit lane: Kubica)
7:00 PM: Welcome to the DW live scores for the Grand Prix of Japan! The Typhoon has passed.