Mercedes seal record-breaking title double

Mercedes secured their sixth consecutive constructors' championship at the Japanese Grand Prix, with the result also confirming the drivers' title will remain in the Silver Arrows' possession.

It means Mercedes run of title doubles has now extended to a record-breaking six years - beating Ferrari and Michael Schumacher's sequence of dominance in the early 2000s.

Mercedes came to Suzuka needing to outscore Ferrari by 14 points but it did not look likely when Sebastian Vettel took pole, with Charles Leclerc completing an all-red front row.

However, Vettel made a poor launch and Leclerc crashed with Max Verstappen and tumbled down the order, opening the door for the Silver Arrows.

Valtteri Bottas was the man to benefit the most, taking the lead by the first corner and then completely dominating the race to secure his third victory of the year.

Lewis Hamilton came home third, behind Bottas and Sebastian Vettel. He crucially secured the bonus point for the fastest lap, a much-maligned addition to the rules for 2019 which has ended up deciding the destiny of the titles.

Bottas made up ground on Hamilton in the battle for the drivers' title, and the Finn is now mathematically the only driver that can deny Hamilton individual glory this year, sealing the Silver Arrows' place in history.

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