Lewis Hamilton won Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix to take a massive lead in the world championship after arch rival and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg retired.
Rosberg lined up on pole but limped out of the race when his car developed a fatal throttle problem in the early stages.
That left Hamilton to coast to victory and set fair for a successful defence of his driver’s crown with only four races of the season remaining.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished second with Sergio Perez in a Force India completing the podium in Sochi.
This ninth win of 2015 moved Hamilton up to 302 points in the drivers standings with Vettel overtaking Rosberg, the former four-time champion now placed second on 236 points, with Rosberg on 229.
Hamilton can clinch the title in the United States Grand Prix on October 25 if the cards fall in his favour in Texas.
RESULTS
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 37min 11.024sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 5.953sec
3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 28.918
4. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 38.831
5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 42.358
6. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Red Bull) 47.566
7. Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber AG) 56.508
8. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Lotus) 1:01.088
9. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) 1:19.467
10. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) 1:26.210
11. Max Verstappen (NED/Toro Rosso) 1:28.424
12. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) 1 lap
13. Roberto Merhi (ESP/Marussia) 1 lap
14. Will Stevens (GBR/Marussia) 2 laps
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6 laps
Retirements
Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber): 1st lap
Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Force India): 1st lap
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes): 8th lap
Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus): 12th lap
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso): 47th lap
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull): 48th lap (classified)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams): 53th lap (classified)
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