- Japanese GP - Race
Hamilton wins wet and shortened Japanese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton won a shortened Japanese Grand Prix, which ended with a red flag when Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi both crashed at Turn 7 in separate incidents.
The race started under a safety car due to wet weather conditions and after a brief red flag during the worst of the conditions, it started again on lap nine. Nico Rosberg led until Lewis Hamilton pulled a brave overtaking manoeuvre at Turn 1 on lap 29, which could prove critical for the championship. Rosberg went on to finish second ahead of strong drives from Sebastian Vettel in third and Daniel Ricciardo in fourth.
However, as rain intensified in the closing stages of the race, Adrian Sutil lost the rear of his Sauber at Turn 7 and crashed into the barriers. Double waved yellow flags were waved at the corner to warn drivers, but Bianchi also went off at the same point, although it was not shown on the TV world feed.
The safety car was deployed on lap 42 along with the medical car to tend to Bianchi. He was unconscious at the time and was taken to the local hospital by ambulance. The race was red flagged and ended after 44 laps, with broadcasted images staying away from the Dunlop curve for the duration. Celebrations were muted thereafter, with no champagne sprayed on the podium.
After the first restart Jenson Button opted for intermediate tyres, an move which elevated the McLaren driver into third. While Mercedes looked untouchable out in front, there were real battles across the field behind. The Williams pair of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa were going backwards in the rain and were picked off by the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, who then set about challenging Button for third. At the pit stops Vettel managed to undercut Button, before Ricciardo used his fresher intermediates later on to gain fifth position shortly before the lap 42 accident at Dunlop.
The FIA later confirmed Bianchi had been dispatched to hospital and was unconscious.
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