Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton holds his trophy after victory in the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka circuit(Thomas Peter / Reuters)
After the scare in Singapore, Lewis Hamilton regained dominance in season 2015 Formula 1 by winning at dawn on Sunday the Japanese Grand Prix. The Englishman overtook Mercedes-mate German Nico Rosberg at the start and was not reached by rival until the final flag, which could celebrate another great mark in career. He equaled the record of Ayrton Senna idol wins. Felipe Massa, after suffering a touch at the start, came in 17th. Felipe Nasr abandoned in the final laps.
By winning for the eighth time this season, Hamilton reached the mark of 41 Senna wins. English and Brazilian now share the fourth place among the greatest F1 race winners. They are behind the German Sebastian Vettel, third in Suzuka, with 42 victories, the Frenchman Alain Prost (51) and Michael Schumacher (91).
For Hamilton, the brand has even more special flavor to be won on the circuit where Senna won his three world titles. "For me, coming here to run where I used to see Ayrton fly and still win ...," said the Englishman, thrilled. "I can not describe the feeling. It does not seem real to me now."
Championship leader appreciated the feat at Suzuka also for taking the scare last race. In Singapore, where he could have anticipated the great brand, he had problems in his Mercedes and left for the first time this season. A week later, the English takes over the domain and put it closer to the title.
With this victory, the English extended the lead over Rosberg in the championship, from 41 to 48 points. It now has 277 points, against 229 Mercedes-mate. Vettel, third, has 218.
To seek new triumph, the English showed superiority from the start, he passed Rosberg and took the lead. By the end, he would not be threatened by rivals, not even during the pit stops. He took the good foothold on the track to stay in the first over of the 53 laps, crossing the finish line 18 seconds ahead of the German.
Rosberg had more difficulty to get the second place on the podium. Right at the start also lost position to Vettel, Ferrari and the Finn Valtteri Bottas, Williams. Further back, Massa collided lightly with Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo. The two had flat tires and had to go to the box earlier, which compromised the race of both.
Brazilian and Australian remained at the bottom of the pack for most of the race, unable to catch on a recovery run. Ricciardo finished the race in 15th, two places behind teammate Daniil Kvyat, who made good race despite starting from the pit lane to have changed the chassis of his Red Bull. All result of the strong accident he suffered in Saturday's qualifying.
While Massa suffered to recover the damage caused at the beginning of the race, Hamilton fired at the tip and Rosberg tried to rescue the lost positions at the start. The German and Bottas only passed Vettel in the second round of pit stop. To anticipate the pit stop, allowed the Ferrari driver back and consolidated in the second.
Felipe Nasr had great performance at the beginning of the race. He dropped in 16 and gained three positions in the sequence. Then he defended well the Dutchman Max Verstappen invested, Toro Rosso, and even surpassed teammate Sauber, the Swede Marcus Ericsson. However, the Brazilian started to lose pace in the second half of the race, with the hard tires.
Both they and Ericsson began to lose positions followed, unable to follow the riders who fight for a spot in the Top 10, the race scoring zone. The Swede still crossed the finish line in 14th. Nasr figured in 20th and last place in the final laps, before giving up.
Pilots of Formula 1 return to race in two weeks. The next step will be held in Sochi circuit in GP of Russia, on 11 October.
Check out the final classification Japan GP:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (ENG / Mercedes) in 1h28min06s508
2 - Nico Rosberg (GER / Mercedes), the 18s964
3 - Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari), the 20s850
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (FIN / Ferrari), the 33s768
5 - Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Williams), the 36s746
6 - Nico Hülkenberg (GER / Force India), the 55s559
7 - Romain Grosjean (FRA / Lotus), the 1min12s298
8 - Pastor Maldonado (VEN / Lotus), the 1min13s575
9 - Max Verstappen (NED / Toro Rosso), the 1min35s315
10 - Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / Toro Rosso), 1 back
11 - Fernando Alonso (ESP / McLaren), 1 back
12 - Sergio Perez (MEX / Force India), 1 back
13 - Daniil Kvyat (RUS / Red Bull), 1 back
14 - Marcus Ericsson (SWE / Sauber), 1 back
15 - Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull), 1 back
16 - Jenson Button (ENG / McLaren), 1 back
17 - Felipe Massa (BRA / Williams), 2 laps
18 - Alexander Rossi (US / Marussia), 2 laps
19 - Will Stevens (ENG / Marussia), 3 rounds
Not completed the race:
Felipe Nasr (BRA / Sauber)
(With Estadão Content)