Vettel wins, Hamilton battles to fourth

Bottas’ runner-up finish virtually rules out his chances of bagging second place in the championship

Vettel

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday while Lewis Hamilton fought through from last to fourth for Mercedes.

Hamilton, who has already sealed the title, started from the pit-lane after a crash in qualifying, but was already up to ninth after 10 laps, with the safety car deployed after opening lap collisions involving Force India’s Sebastien Ocon, McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.

Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole, saw his hopes of overhauling Vettel for the runner-up position in the championship effectively disappear when he finished second. Once the German beat the Mercedes driver to the first corner, he had the race under control.

Vettel is now 22 points clear of Bottas with only the Abu Dhabi season-ender remaining. Even if the latter wins in Abu Dhabi, Vettel can finish championship runner-up with eighth place or better.