Formula 1®
DHL FASTEST LAP AWARD: 2016 FORMULA 1 EMIRATES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
This was Vettel's 26th fastest lap of his career. His last success was almost exactly one year ago when he went fastest for the first time in the Ferrari in Russia, 2015. Nico Rosberg continues to lead in the fight for the 2016 DHL Fastest Lap Award with six fastest laps and is also ahead in the driver's world championship. Second place is a tie between Hamilton and Ricciardo with three fastest laps each. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (McLaren) and Vettel's team-mate Kimi Räikkönen have each posted one fastest race lap so far in 2016.
Vettel's race in Japan was not helped initially by his grid penalty. He had to start from grid slot six despite qualifying in third place. Vettel had fought his way up into P3 by Lap 34 when he pitted for fresh soft tires, on which he could finish the race. Two laps after that, he then set the fastest lap which no one was able to beat.
Lewis Hamilton drove the second-fastest lap after Vettel at Suzuka which put him directly ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. What's remarkable is that all three drivers posted their best times on the 36th lap. Just like Vettel in the Ferrari, his two fellow drivers had also just completed a pit stop at the time and were heading out on their final most critical stints.
“We had a very good start and made good progress in the first two laps, passing Ricciardo and Perez, then we were faster than Verstappen. I think today we had the second-fastest car," said Vettel after the race. Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene went on record as saying: “We did the best we could today, considering our starting position, being pushed back down the field by a penalty.”
The Formula 1 circus now leaves Asia for the last four races of the season. The next race will be the 2016 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX in Austin, Texas. The elite series will contest the 18th round of the world championship from 21st - 23rd October. This means that the teams' double life is set to continue. While some parts of their equipment have already been on the high seas for some time, cars and spares will travel to the land of opportunity after a brief stopover at factories in Europe.
Fastest race laps: 2016 FORMULA 1 EMIRATES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
01 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 01:35.118 - on Lap 36
02 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 01:35.152 - on Lap 36
03 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 01:35.511 - on Lap 36
04 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 01:35.990 - on Lap 33
05 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 01:36.049 - on Lap 31
06 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 01:36.386 - on Lap 43
07 Sergio Perez (Force India) 01:36.756 - on Lap 31
08 Romain Grosjean (Haas) 01:37.020 - on Lap 32
09 Jenson Button (McLaren) 01:37.177 - on Lap 39
10 Nico Hülkenberg (Force India) 01:37.351 - on Lap 39
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