Lewis Hamilton win takes F1 title battle down to last race

REUTERS: Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton won a stop-start, wet and chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday to take the Formula One title battle with Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.

The Briton’s third win in a row from pole position and first in Brazil left him 12 points behind Rosberg, who finished second, with the pair both on nine victories each for the season.

Rosberg, who would have taken his first title with a third successive victory at Interlagos, need now only finish third at Yas Marina in two weeks’ time to clinch his first title, even if Hamilton wins again.

“I was generally just chilling up front,” said Hamilton, whose 52nd career win put him second on the all-time list behind seven-times champion Michael Schumacher (91) but ahead of Alain Prost.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton of Britain raises his trophy during the victory ceremony after winning the race as second placed finisher and teammate Nico Rosberg of Germany (L) and third placed finisher Red Bull’s Max Verstappen of the Netherlands look on - REUTERS 

“When it rains, it’s usually a good day for me ... it was a very easy race, generally. It was pretty straightforward.”

He led all the way, the only minor drama occurring when water began seeping through his Ayrton Senna-themed helmet visor during the first phase of the race. He changed helmet after the first stoppage.

“No mistakes, no issues, no spins,” he said.

Behind him, there was mayhem and chaos in a crash-filled thriller that was twice stopped and re-started, with five safety car periods and lengthy delays after cars aquaplaned off. “It didn’t go my way today with the win, Lewis just did a great job,” said Rosberg, who survived a half-spin of his own. “It was very difficult conditions out there. I can live with second place today, for sure.”

In amongst it all, the talent of Dutch teenager Max Verstappen shone through like a beacon in the gloom.

The 19-year-old passed Kimi Raikkonen at the start and then Rosberg for second place.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates atop his car after winning the Brazilian GP.PHOTO: REUTERS