Japanese GP: Double points for Williams Martini in Japan

The grid for the fifty three lap 2016 Japanese Grand Prix would see Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa start from eleventh and twelfth. But there would be a number of changes in the grid with Vettel incurring a three grid place penalty and his team-mate Raikkonen receiving a five grid place penalty for a gearbox change. This would see them start from seventh and eighth. Button had taken an engine change so would drop from seventeenth to last. On pole was Rosberg followed by Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Perez, Vettel, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Gutierrez. All of the top ten would start on the soft tyre while the Williams drivers would have the option to select a different tyre and both would start on the medium tyre. Palmer and Ericsson were also on the medium while Magnussen, Nasr, and Button were on the hard.

The right side of the grid was damp from overnight line with this playing a possible part in the start. The grid would move away and a short while later would form up and with the lights going out it would be a slow start from Hamilton. Rosberg was leading from Verstappen and Perez. Ricciardo was fourth followed by Vettel, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen and Hamilton eighth. For Williams Valtteri and Felipe were thirteenth and fourteenth. Vettel would pass Ricciardo for fourth while Rosberg was leading Verstappen by 1.8 seconds after the third lap. Vettel would pas Perez for third on lap four going into Turn one. Grosjean and Gutierrez were ninth and tenth with the Torro Rosso cars following them. Perez and Hulkenberg were fourth and sixth whilst their Williams rivals were well outside the points but running on the harder tyre.

Lap five and Rosberg was leading by 3.4 seconds over Verstappen whilst the Williams pair were running close together right behind Torro Rosso pair. Raikkonen would pass Hulkenberg at Turn one as they started lap six. Both Force India cars were seeming to struggle for pace. Hamilton would pass Hulkenberg for seventh also at Turn one. But there was now a gap of 16.8 seconds to Rosberg while Verstappen was 5.1 seconds behind Rosberg on lap eight. Verstappen would say that he was starting to struggle for grip while Raikkonen would run wide at the first Degner corner taking to the Astroturf but he was able to continue. It should be remembered that the drivers must use the hard tyre during the race along with either the soft or medium.

Lap eighteen and Verstappen and Ricciardo would both pit taking on the hard tyre. There was enough of a gap between the two Red Bull's that they could pit on the same lap. Kvyat would also pit along with Hulkenberg. Rosberg was still leading from Vettel, Perez, Raikkonen, and Hamilton. But Rosberg would pit on lap fourteen followed in by Vettel. Perez and Raikkonen had also come in with everyone switching to the hard compound. Hamilton was now leading but yet to pit but he would come in on lap fifteen taking on the hard tyre. Rosberg was again leading from Verstappen and Vettel. But now the Williams pair were fourth and fifth but Hamilton would pass Felipe for fifth and start to close in onto fourth placed Valtteri.

Ricciardo would pass both Felipe moving up to sixth. Raikkonen would also pass Felipe for seventh while Valtteri would drop to fifth having been passed by Hamilton. Hamilton was 19.6 seconds behind Rosberg while the Williams and Force India cars were all running close together. Ricciardo would pass Valtteri for fifth while Perez and Hulkenberg would both get past Felipe seeing the Williams driver now ninth. Both Williams drivers were well out of position as they had yet to stop. Raikkonen would pas Valtteri for sixth again going into Turn one. Perez was now attacking Valtteri for seventh and using the DRS would pass him going into Turn one. Both Williams drivers had yet to stop, with Bottas eighth and Massa tenth. At the front Verstappen was 4.0 behind Rosberg with twenty laps completed. It was looking very likely that the Williams pair were only going to make one stop.

Hulkenberg would pass Valtteri at the final chicane seeing the Force India's seventh and eighth and the Williams cars ninth and tenth. At the front it was Rosberg leading from Verstappen, Vettel, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Perez and Hulkenberg eighth. Palmer and Ericsson were also on the medium tyre and yet to pit currently running in twelfth and thirteenth. Verstappen was on his radio complaining about his rear tyres again while Grosjean would pass both Palmer and Ericsson. Felipe would finally pit on lap twenty six dropping to eighteenth running on new hard tyres. With other pit stops Felipe would move up to fourteenth while on lap twenty eight Raikkonen would pit whilst for Williams Valtteri would pit taking on the hard tyre returning in thirteenth one place behind his team-mate. the right rear was slow to come off in Valtteri's pit stop.

Verstappen would pit on lap thirty returning in fourth on a set of hard tyres. Felipe was attacking Sainz for tenth. Hulkenberg would also pit from eighth returning in ninth on the medium tyre. Felipe and Valtteri would both get past Sainz seeing the Williams drivers tenth and eleventh. Rosberg would pit on lap thirty one taking on another set of hard tyres. He was in third with Verstappen leading from Hamilton. Verstappen was fourth followed by Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Perez, Hulkenberg, and Felipe and Valtteri. Grosjean would pit from ninth on lap thirty two. Felipe and Valtteri were now well behind their Force India rivals while at the front Vettel was leading from Hamilton and Rosberg. Ricciardo would pit on lap thirty four taking on a new set of hard tyres but he would have a problem with the left front losing three seconds.

Hamilton would pit on lap thirty five coming back out in fourth still on the hard tyre. Raikkonen was right behind the Mercedes while Grosjean was closing in onto tenth placed Valtteri. Vettel would pit on lap thirty six taking on a new set of soft tyres but Hamilton was able to get past the Ferrari into third. Vettel was now looking to close the gap to Hamilton but Hamilton was able to keep the Ferrari behind. Felipe was now leading Valtteri by 2.2 seconds while Grosjean was closing in onto Valtteri. Lap forty two and Rosberg would be 5.7 seconds ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Perez, Hulkenberg, Felipe, and Valtteri. Grosjean had a slow laps and was now nearly two seconds behind Valtteri. Hamilton was closing in onto Verstappen with the gap under a second. Five laps remaining and apart from Hamilton looking to pass Verstappen the order was quite static.

Two laps remaining and Rosberg was leading comfortably over Verstappen with Hamilton still trying to get past the Red Bull. Hamilton would try to pass Verstappen at the chicane but the Red Bull would appear to move under braking seeing Hamilton come on the radio complaining. Rosberg would complete the final lap winning the Japanese Grand Prix extending his championship lead. Verstappen was second from Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Perez, Hulkenberg, Felipe and Valtteri tenth. Despite their best efforts the Williams team would again see their rivals Force India extend their points lead in the championship. Another race where the Williams team had tried to take the fight to Force India but again their lack of pace made the task that much more difficult.