Japanese GP: Mercedes Constructors Win Sixth Consecutive Title As Valtteri Bottas Wins Race To Deny Lewis Hamilton Championship

Lewis Hamilton could have emerged as the champion for the sixth time had he won the race in Suzuka, unfortunately, he was denied the title by his teammate Valtteri Bottas who finished quickest for his sixth race victory.

Bottas clinched the victory at 1:21:46.755 for his first race victory since Azerbaijan GP where he led the team to win their fourth consecutive one-two race win.

Whilst Hamilton missed out on sealing the title in Japan, that victory from Bottas delivered the maximum points needed to land team constructors their sixth consecutive championship title over their rivals Ferrari with 277 points lead margin.

For the defending champion, Hamilton, to win the title, he needed at least 78 points over his closest rival, Bottas, but he is 14 points shy of the mark and will need to win two more races to win. If Bottas fell out top five in the next race in Mexico, that potentially can guarantee him the title.

In addition, the Finn driver had pace advantage over his British teammate and Vettel, controlling the race to stay on in provisional pole. The championship title leader, Hamilton, put in an effort to catch up on Vettel with 10 laps remaining but the German's speed line advantage fended him off.

Meanwhile, it was a bit of dramatic start in Suzuki especially for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc whose car clipped Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Turn 2 and the dutchman spun onto the lane while he raced on.

Speaking after the race, Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, dedicated the title to the team's late non-executive chairman and Formula 1 three-time champion, Nikki Lauda, who passed away in 2018, aged 70.

"We want to dedicate this to Niki because he has been such an important part from the beginning of the journey and his sheer presence was always so important," Wolff said.

"I miss him every day and I think about him every day. He was a larger than life person and I say to myself what would he say and what would he think?"

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport has since 2014 retained the championship title and wrapped this season with their sixth under Toto Wolff.