Lewis Hamilton reigns again as Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg retires in Russian Grand Prix
Briton scores his 42nd win of his career as series of crashes mar Sochi circuit and Vladimir Putin joins drivers for post-race celebrations
Lewis Hamilton took full advantage of his Mercedes' teammate Nico Rosberg's mechanical misfortunes to seize a commanding victory in yesterday's incident-filled Russian Grand Prix and take a massive lead in the title race.
The defending two-time world champion started second on the grid, inherited the lead when Rosberg slowed and then retired, after seven laps, with throttle pedal problems and claimed his ninth win of the season and 42nd of his career with ease.
That lifted the Briton up to 302 points in the world championship, with Sebastian Vettel, who took second in his Ferrari, now on 236 points, 66 adrift, with Rosberg now 73 points adrift on 229.
I was excited because Nico and I were quite close together at the beginning.It was a shame for the team to lose one of the cars
If the cards fall in his favour Hamilton can clinch the title in the next race in the United States on October 25.
"I was excited because Nico and I were quite close together at the beginning.
"It was a shame for the team to lose one of the cars," Hamilton said. "I don't take what we have granted."
Four-time champion Vettel added: "I thought there was a slight chance to catch Lewis at one point, but he had so much pace in hand."
