MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 16

Belgium beat Kazakhstan to maintain 100 pc record Bottas triumphs in Japan Valtteri Bottas has sealed a sixth consecutive constructors’ world championship for Mercedes

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel• holds off Lewis Hamilton for second

Bottas now only man who• can catch Hamilton for drivers’ title

AFP | Suzuka

altteri Bottas jumped from third to first with Van electric start to win the Japanese Grand Prix yester- day ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and the Finn’s Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc finished sixth forward of Belgium celebrates scoring a in the second Ferrari, and with only Bottas now able to overtake Reuters | Nur-Sultan, Kazakh- Hamilton in the standings, that stan means Mercedes clinched an unprecedented sixth successive Valtteri Bottas celebrates victory in the Japan F1 Grand Prix elgium kept up their 100 drivers’-constructors’ world Bpercent record in Euro championship double. Bottas to leapfrog from third 32, rejoining in third. 2020 qualifiers, as Roberto 30 “I’m happy, very happy,” said into the lead. Bottas took on fresh soft tyres Martinez’s side, who have goals have been scored by the flying Finn Bottas, who end- “It was my mistake,” admitted five laps later leaving Hamilton already booked their spot Belgium while conceding ed a six-month wait for his third Vettel. “It was worse than a poor again in the lead. at the tournament finals, just one on their way to victory of 2019 after winning the start, it was a really poor start. “Tell me what I have to do to scored a goal in each half to winning all eight of their season-opener in Australia and With the lack of pace today, sec- KNOW WHAT win this race,” pleaded Hamil- qualifying matches beat hosts Kazakhstan 2-0 the Azerbaijan race in April. ond place today was probably ton over team radio, convinced yesterday. “Starting third isn’t easy. I had the maximum.” his tyres would not last the dis- Michy Batshuayi and a really nice start, managed to Max Verstappen enjoyed a The day had been tance. Thomas Meunier found the zakhstan half, over to Meunier, get the lead and then the pace bullet start from fifth in the Red dubbed “Super Sunday” He came in again on lap 43, net at the Astana Arena as who was steaming down the was super good, I could really Bull and was overtaking Leclerc with qualifying and the allowing Vettel back into sec- leaders Belgium registered right wing. control the race,” he added. on the outside of turn two when race taking place back- ond, but proceeded to close the an eighth straight win in His first touch was sublime “I’m really proud to be part of the Monegasque drove into the gap by setting a new lap record Group I. and his finish inch-perfect to the team. A sixth title is really flying Dutchman, causing him to-back because of on lap 45. The top-ranked Belgians double the score after 53 min- impressive.” to spin. the track having been Hamilton swarmed all over were the first team to book a utes. “Firstly congratulations to the “He just drove into the side safely locked down Vettel towards the end but was place in next year’s 24-team It was the 30th goal of the team,” said Hamilton, who now of my car,” complained an un- Saturday as Typhoon unable to get past and make it a final tournament when they qualifying campaign for Bel- leads the drivers’ standings by happy Verstappen, who retired Hagibis roared past Mercedes one-two. trounced San Marino 9-0 at gium, who have conceded only 64 points from Bottas. “That’s on lap 15. Earlier Vettel had produced a home on Thursday. one. the main point. I just wanted Leclerc’s front wing was dam- perfect lap in the delayed qual- Batshuayi opened the scor- had a chance to bring home good points for aged and he was forced to pit Bottas followed on the next lap. ifying session to outqualify his ing in the 21st minute with to make it 3-0 but headed over the team.” for a new nose at the start of Hamilton was now in the lead teammate for the first time in an easy back-post finish af - the top after 65 minutes before Ferrari had enjoyed a front lap four. and Mercedes tried to leave him 10 races. ter ’s curled pass providing a square pass just row lock-out in a rare morning out on a one-stop strategy. But The day had been dubbed around the back of the home minutes later that a stretch- qualifying session caused by Ty- ‘What do I have to do’ on lap 22 Hamilton reported his “Super Sunday” with qualifying defence. ing Batshuayi could only steer phoon Hagibis but their race Vettel was left sandwiched front tyres were “dead” and was and the race taking place back- The second goal came from wide of goal. unravelled right at the start. between the two Mercedes and brought in. to-back because of the track a sumptuous crossfield pass Kazakhstan stayed in fourth Vettel twitched before the made the first strategic move Hamilton began to close on having been safely locked down from captain , place in the group with seven lights went out and his hesita- when he dived in the pits for a Vettel who pitted for his final Saturday as Typhoon Hagibis hit from just inside the Ka - points from eight games. tion enabled the fast starting new set of soft tyres on lap 17. change to medium tyres on lap roared past.

Neymar limps off as Brazil draw with India record 11th-straight Test series win Nigeria AFP | Pune walked, only for the replays to AFP | Singapore suggest the ball would have gone mesh Yadav led an inspired over the stumps. eymar’s return to Ubowling display as India The Proteas were dismissed NChampions League thrashed South Africa by an in- for 275 at the end of day three action may be delayed after nings and 137 runs in the sec- in response to India’s 601-5 the Paris Saint-Germain for- ond Test to clinch a record 11th- declared, 127 short of the fol- ward limped off after just 12 straight series triumph at home low-on. minutes of Brazil’s friendly yesterday. South Africa put up some re- against Nigeria yesterday. The tourists were dismissed sistance in their first innings The 27-year-old, who for 189 after following-on in with Maharaj, who made 72, and played the full 90 min - the final session of day four in Philander, 44 not out, putting on utes against Senegal on Pune, as India took an unassail- 109 runs for the ninth wicket to Thursday, clutched his able 2-0 lead in the three-match frustrate the Indian bowlers. hamstring after eight min- series. Ashwin broke the stand with utes and was replaced by Vernon Philander, who made Maharaj’s wicket and then got Philippe Coutinho shortly 37, and Keshav Maharaj, who last man Rabada to return fig- after. scored 22, put up a brief re - ures of 4-69. Neymar, who was play- sistance during their 56-run The match will also be re - ing his 101st internation- eighth-wicket stand, but Yadav membered for his Kohli’s mara- al, is now a doubt for PSG’s broke through with the wicket thon knock as he surpassed Don Champions League meeting of Philander. Bradman’s tally of 6,996 runs. with Club Brugge on Octo- He took his third wicket af- Kohli, who now has 7,054 runs ber 22. He has missed the ter sending back Kagiso Rabada India’s players celebrate their innings victory from 81 Tests, put together cru- first two rounds because of for four and spinner Ravindra 200 points. second innings trailing by 326. caught for 48 as South Africa cial partnerships including a a UEFA suspension. Jadeja trapped Maharaj lbw to Skipper Virat Kohli set up the Ashwin had du Plessis -- who slipped further. 225-run fifth-wicket stand with He was injured while on wrap up the game as India went win with his unbeaten 254 -- a promoted himself to num - Paceman Ishant Sharma Jadeja, who made 91, to extend national duty back in June past Australia’s 10-series wins record seventh double-century ber four in the batting order struck with his second ball of India’s dominance. when he hurt an ankle in on home turf. Jadeja returned for the star batsman -- in India’s -- caught behind for five with the day to trap Aiden Markram Opener Mayank Agarwal also a friendly against Qatar. It figures of 3-52. 601 for five declared. wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha lbw for nought. contributed with a century. ruled him out of the Copa The win also consolidated In- Ravichandran Ashwin struck holding on to a juggling catch. Markram had a long discus- The two teams now head to America which Brazil went dia’s number-one position in the twice in the morning session The off-spinner soon got sion with Elgar over whether Ranchi for the final match start- on to win. world Test championship with after the tourists started their opening batsman Dean Elgar to review the on-field call but ing October 19.