Lewis Hamilton made an aggressive yet fair passing move over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at turn one to go on and win the Japanese Grand Prix, firmly placing himself as the man to beat in his quest for a third Formula One title as with five races left, Hamilton commands a 48-point lead over Rosberg.
After his first retirement of the season in Singapore, Hamilton took control from lights out with a powerful start and passing Rosberg at the first corner, pushing him wide. He would lead for the remainder of the race with Rosberg finishing second and the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel third. It was however a disappointing race for Vettel’s old team with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo only finishing 15th after suffering an early tyre puncture.

It was Hamilton’s eighth win of the season and his 41st career win, tying him with his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.
“I’m not a teary guy, but I’m full of joy and happiness today,” Hamilton said.
Rosberg and Hamilton went through the first two bends at Suzuka side by side. Hamilton appeared to give Rosberg little room at the second turn, forcing the German slightly off the track.
“I didn’t think it was that close,” Hamilton said. “The inside line is the inside line, so it was my corner.”
Rosberg was reserving judgment until he saw the incident on replay. “It was a pity to do that on the start,” Rosberg said. “We battled around turns one and two. It got very close on the exit at turn two and I had to back out and that cost me the race.”
Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen was fourth followed by Williams’ Valtteri Bottas.
The podium positions finished the same as last year’s race at Suzuka, which was marred by a crash involving Jules Bianchi, who died in July, having never regained consciousness.
“This is a circuit that I can honestly say I’ve struggled at through all the years I’ve come here,” Hamilton said.
“But it’s one that I’ve loved driving at … so you really want to come here and dominate at this track.”

Force India’s Niko Hulkenberg was sixth while the Lotus pair of Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado finished seventh and eighth, giving the financially strapped team a confidence boost.
Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen – in his last race as a 17-year-old – was ninth ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.
Both Red Bull cars finished outside the top 10. Daniil Kvyat started from the pits, while Ricciardo had a tire-bumping duel with Williams’ Felipe Massa soon after the start, leaving both with punctures that forced them to pit after one lap.