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    Japanese GP: Hamilton wins as title rival Vettel slips up again

    Updated 0814 GMT (1614 HKT) October 7, 2018

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    Lewis Hamilton sprays second-placed Sebastian Vettel with champagne after winning the Abu Dhabi season-ending race, 11th of his title winning season.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton sprays second-placed Sebastian Vettel with champagne after winning the Abu Dhabi season-ending race, 11th of his title winning season.
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    Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 10th win of the season as he takes the Brazilian GP ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 10th win of the season as he takes the Brazilian GP ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen.
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    Lewis Hamilton savors the moment after clinching his fifth F1 world title with fourth place behind Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton savors the moment after clinching his fifth F1 world title with fourth place behind Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix.
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    Race winner Kimi Raikkonen is flanked by second-placed Max Verstappen (far left) and Lewis Hamilton, who finished third after a thrilling US Grand Prix. Hamilton increased his title lead to 70 points over Sebastian Vettel ahead of the final three rounds of the championship.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Race winner Kimi Raikkonen is flanked by second-placed Max Verstappen (far left) and Lewis Hamilton, who finished third after a thrilling US Grand Prix. Hamilton increased his title lead to 70 points over Sebastian Vettel ahead of the final three rounds of the championship.
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    Race winner Lewis Hamilton had plenty to celebrate after claiming victory in the Japanese GP at Suzuka to lead the world championship by 67 points with four rounds remaining.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Race winner Lewis Hamilton had plenty to celebrate after claiming victory in the Japanese GP at Suzuka to lead the world championship by 67 points with four rounds remaining.
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    Lewis Hamilton (no 44) overtook fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas under team orders on his way to a decisive victory in the 2018 F1 title race as he extended his advantage over Sebastian Vettel to 50 points.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton (no 44) overtook fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas under team orders on his way to a decisive victory in the 2018 F1 title race as he extended his advantage over Sebastian Vettel to 50 points.
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    Lewis Hamilton led from pole position in his famous No.44 Mercedes and took his seventh victory of the season on the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton led from pole position in his famous No.44 Mercedes and took his seventh victory of the season on the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore.
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    Hamilton stormed to a record-equalling fifth Italian Grand Prix victory -- overtaking both Ferraris in the process.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Hamilton stormed to a record-equalling fifth Italian Grand Prix victory -- overtaking both Ferraris in the process.
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    Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring near Budapest to extend his title lead over Sebastian Vettel to 24 points.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring near Budapest to extend his title lead over Sebastian Vettel to 24 points.
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    Hamilton celebrates an extraordinary comeback win at the German Grand Prix to give him a 17-point championship lead as title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Hamilton celebrates an extraordinary comeback win at the German Grand Prix to give him a 17-point championship lead as title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out
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    Dutch driver Max Verstappen claims a dramatic victory at the home of Red Bull Racing. But how does that impact the Drivers' Championship?
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Dutch driver Max Verstappen claims a dramatic victory at the home of Red Bull Racing. But how does that impact the Drivers' Championship?
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    11 of 38
    Sebastian Vettel took full advantage of a bizarre incident involving both cars of the American-owned Haas team to claim the opening race of the 2018 Formula One season in Australia.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Melbourne, Australia -- 'Lucky' Vettel wins season opener – Sebastian Vettel took full advantage of a bizarre incident involving both cars of the American-owned Haas team to claim the opening race of the 2018 Formula One season in Australia.
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    Vettel -- 25 points<br />Hamilton -- 18 points<br />Raikonnen -- 15 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 1 – Vettel -- 25 points
    Hamilton -- 18 points
    Raikonnen -- 15 points
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    Vettel won for the second time in as many races at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But the Italian team's victory was overshadowed after one of its mechanics suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen's car during a pit stop.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Sakhir, Bahrain -- Ferrari win soured by injured mechanic – Vettel won for the second time in as many races at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But the Italian team's victory was overshadowed after one of its mechanics suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen's car during a pit stop.
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    Vettel -- 50 points<br />Hamilton -- 33 points<br />Bottas -- 22 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 2 – Vettel -- 50 points
    Hamilton -- 33 points
    Bottas -- 22 points
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    An inspired Daniel Ricciardo claimed a remarkable and unexpected victory from sixth on the grid after a tactical masterstroke by his Red Bull team in Shanghai, with furious championship leader Vettel back in eighth place.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Shanghai, China – An inspired Daniel Ricciardo claimed a remarkable and unexpected victory from sixth on the grid after a tactical masterstroke by his Red Bull team in Shanghai, with furious championship leader Vettel back in eighth place.
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    Vettel -- 54 points<br />Hamilton -- 45 points<br />Bottas -- 40 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 3 – Vettel -- 54 points
    Hamilton -- 45 points
    Bottas -- 40 points
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    Lewis Hamilton was the chief beneficiary of a late puncture suffered by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas as he clinched his first win of the season at April's action-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Baku, Azerbaijan -- Red Bull drivers shockingly crash as Hamilton triumphs – Lewis Hamilton was the chief beneficiary of a late puncture suffered by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas as he clinched his first win of the season at April's action-packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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    Hamilton -- 70 points<br />Vettel -- 66 points <br />Raikkonen -- 48 points<br />
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 4 – Hamilton -- 70 points
    Vettel -- 66 points
    Raikkonen -- 48 points
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    After his unlikely victory in Azerbaijan, it was a second straight win for Hamilton as he bids for a fifth world championship -- and it could not have been more comfortable.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Barcelona, Spain -- Lewis Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two – After his unlikely victory in Azerbaijan, it was a second straight win for Hamilton as he bids for a fifth world championship -- and it could not have been more comfortable.
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    Hamilton -- 95 points<br />Vettel -- 78 points<br />Bottas -- 57 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 5 – Hamilton -- 95 points
    Vettel -- 78 points
    Bottas -- 57 points
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    Ricciardo nursed his ailing Red Bull to a remarkable victory on the streets of Monte Carlo and with it made up for his 2016 heartbreak on the same circuit.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Monaco -- Redemption for Ricciardo – Ricciardo nursed his ailing Red Bull to a remarkable victory on the streets of Monte Carlo and with it made up for his 2016 heartbreak on the same circuit.
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    Hamilton -- 110 points<br />Vettel -- 96 points<br />Ricciardo -- 72 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 6 – Hamilton -- 110 points
    Vettel -- 96 points
    Ricciardo -- 72 points
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    Sebastian Vettel's 50th career victory saw him replace Lewis Hamilton at the top of the championship standings to cap an emotional day for the Ferrari team.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Canada -- Vettel wins to take title initiative – Sebastian Vettel's 50th career victory saw him replace Lewis Hamilton at the top of the championship standings to cap an emotional day for the Ferrari team.
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    Vettel -- 121 points<br />Hamilton -- 120 points<br />Bottas -- 86 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 7 – Vettel -- 121 points
    Hamilton -- 120 points
    Bottas -- 86 points
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    Briton Lewis Hamilton won the first French Grand Prix since 2008.<br />The Mercedes driver avoided the worst of a dramatic start that saw title rival Sebastian Vettel clip Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers sustained damage in the collision, forcing them to pit early them and fall to the back of the grid.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    France -- Hamilton back in the groove – Briton Lewis Hamilton won the first French Grand Prix since 2008.
    The Mercedes driver avoided the worst of a dramatic start that saw title rival Sebastian Vettel clip Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers sustained damage in the collision, forcing them to pit early them and fall to the back of the grid.
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    Hamilton -- 145 points<br />Vettel -- 131 points<br />Ricciardo -- 96 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 8 – Hamilton -- 145 points
    Vettel -- 131 points
    Ricciardo -- 96 points
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    Red Bull's Max Verstappen won a dramatic Austrian Grand Prix as hitherto championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, were forced to retire.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Austria -- Verstappen wins after Mercedes meltdown – Red Bull's Max Verstappen won a dramatic Austrian Grand Prix as hitherto championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, were forced to retire.
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    Vettel - 146 points<br />Hamilton - 145 points<br />Raikkonen - 101 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 9 – Vettel - 146 points
    Hamilton - 145 points
    Raikkonen - 101 points
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    Home favorite Lewis Hamilton was denied a sixth victory at the British Grand Prix as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took control of the championship at Silverstone
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Britain -- Vettel wins despite Hamilton fightback – Home favorite Lewis Hamilton was denied a sixth victory at the British Grand Prix as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took control of the championship at Silverstone
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    Vettel - 171Hamilton - 163Raikkonen - 116
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 10 – Vettel - 171Hamilton - 163Raikkonen - 116
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    Hamilton fought back from 14th on the grid to claim an astonishing victory as Vettel crashed out at Hockenheim.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Germany -- Advantage Hamilton as Vettel crashes out – Hamilton fought back from 14th on the grid to claim an astonishing victory as Vettel crashed out at Hockenheim.
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    Hamilton - 188<br />Vettel - 171<br />Raikkonen - 131
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 11 – Hamilton - 188
    Vettel - 171
    Raikkonen - 131
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    Hamilton went into F1's summer break with a season-high 24-point advantage in the title race over Vettel after winning at the Hungaroring.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Hungary -- Hamilton extends title lead with 'beautiful' win – Hamilton went into F1's summer break with a season-high 24-point advantage in the title race over Vettel after winning at the Hungaroring.
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    Hamilton -- 213 points<br />Vettel -- 189 points<br />Raikkonen -- 146 points
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 11 – Hamilton -- 213 points
    Vettel -- 189 points
    Raikkonen -- 146 points
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    Fernando Alonso's car was launched over the top of Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the Belgian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel went on to win at Spa to cut Lewis Hamilton's lead at the top of the Driver Standings to 17 points.
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Belgium -- Vettel wins after spectacular crash – Fernando Alonso's car was launched over the top of Charles Leclerc on the opening corner of the Belgian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel went on to win at Spa to cut Lewis Hamilton's lead at the top of the Driver Standings to 17 points.
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    Hamilton -- 231Vettel -- 214Raikkonen - 146
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Drivers' title race after round 12 – Hamilton -- 231Vettel -- 214Raikkonen - 146
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    Ferrari's sea of fans -- the 'Tifosi' -- hold up a flag making fun of Lewis Hamilton, but he has the last laugh, winning the Italian Grand Prix for the fifth time
    Photos: Story of the F1 season
    Ferrari's sea of fans -- the 'Tifosi' -- hold up a flag making fun of Lewis Hamilton, but he has the last laugh, winning the Italian Grand Prix for the fifth time
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    Hamilton champagneHamilton celebsHamilton celebsAustin podiumHamilton SuzukaMercedes team ordersHamilton leadsLewis Hamilton celebrates Italian Grand Prix SPTHamilton podiumHamilton German Grand Prix SPTverstappen austrian gpvettelVettel Podiummechanic ferrari bahrainsebastian vettel bahraindaniel ricciardo chinese grand prix celebrationsricciardo celebrates shanghailewis hamilton azerbaijan teaselewis hamilton shanghai previewlewis hamilton mercedes formula one spanish grand prixlewis hamilton mercedes formula one spanish grand prix champagneDaniel Ricciardo Red Bull Sebastian Vettel monaco grand prix 2018