Suzuka (Japan), Oct. 13 (IANS): Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas won the Japanese Grand Prix (GP) on Sunday ahead of Germany's Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and helped Mercedes clinch the constructors' title for a record sixth time in a row.
Championship leader and Bottas' teammate Lewis Hamilton completed the podium finishes in the race, in which a starting error by Vettel helped Bottas overtake him and a clever Mercedes strategy helped the constructor win the race and the championship, equaling Ferrari's record of six successive wins, established between 1999-2004.
It could almost have been a Mercedes one-two, as Britain's Hamilton attacked Vettel in the last few laps, but the German four-time champion held on to his position, reports Efe news.
Thailand's Alexander Albon (Red Bull), Spaniard Carlos Sainz (McLaren) and Monaco's Charles Leclerc finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, with LeClerc suffering a small accident in the beginning of the race and colliding with the car of Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who had to retire.
Australia's Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), German Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) and Canada's Lance Stroll (Racing Point) took the rest of the point positions, in that order.
Bottas moved up to 274 points in the drivers' championship, and is now the only man theoretically capable of catching up to Hamilton, who leads with 338 points, which means Mercedes are sure of securing both the drivers' and constructors' title.
