F1 GP Mexico, 29 October 2017

1. M. Verstappen       2. V. Bottas       3. K. Raikkönen

Story of the race: Verstappen dominates, Lewis celebrates
Mexico City          [29 October 2017]

---

The Mexican Grand Prix had everything: controversy, collisions, overtakes, intrigue and a very worthy world champion at the finish. ESPN looks at the main talking points from a race to remember.

It always seemed likely Hamilton would secure the title in Mexico, but nobody expected it to happen like this. The opening sequence of corners at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez lend themselves to controversy, with the long drag from the starting grid bunching up the field as it enters Turn 1.

Max Verstappen judged the situation to perfection to slip past Sebastian Vettel into Turn 2, but in doing so clipped Vettel's wing. Whether that contributed to Vettel's understeer into Hamilton will be a matter for debate, but it should also be noted that Hamilton backed off the throttle on the exit of Turn 3 as went wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen, which may have contributed to Vettel misjudging the situation. The end result was a fourth world title for Hamilton, but finishing in ninth was not the way the Mercedes driver envisioned it. 

MotoGP Malaysia, 29 October 2017

1. A. Dovizioso     2. J. Lorenzo       3. J. Zarco

#NeverSayNever: Dovi wins to take the fight to the wire
Sepang, 29 October 2017

---

Nerves of steel for the Italian as he slices through the rain to take back-to-back wins at Sepang.

It was a must win in many ways for Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso as the paddock arrived at Sepang International Circuit, and the Italian kept calm under intense pressure to secure his sixth win of the season – and take the Championship fight down to the wire.

Slicing through the rain to catch and pass teammate Jorge Lorenzo, Dovizioso was seven tenths clear of the Majorcan at the flag in a 1-2 for Ducati – and key rival Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) crossed the line in fourth. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completed the podium after a stunning start, wrapping up the title of top Independent Team rider.
  
 

F1 GP USA, 22 October 2017

1. LC. Hamilton       2. S. Vettel       3. K. Raikkönen

Lewis Hamilton beats Sebastian Vettel in tactical Austin duel
Austin          [22 October 2017]

---

Lewis Hamilton has one hand on the 2017 world championship trophy after he beat title rival Sebastian Vettel to victory in a compelling U.S. Grand Prix.

The win means he has to finish only fifth or higher next weekend in Mexico to secure the title, while Vettel must finish in the top two to stand any chance of extending his slim title hopes for another round.

Hamilton's victory also ensured that Mercedes took the constructors' championship for a fourth consecutive season, a feat that matches Red Bull's period of dominance between 2010 and 2013. 

  

MotoGP Australia, 22 October 2017

1. M. Márquez     2. V. Rossi       3. M. Viñales

This is war: Márquez wins the fight for Phillip Island
Phillip Island, 22 October 2017

---

Has it ever been better? The number 93 extends his lead and Rossi wins a last lap three-way Yamaha battle for second.

Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) took his sixth win of the year in a scintillating Phillip Island showdown, breaking away from an eight-rider fight for the win in the latter stages to take to the top step. After a tough race for title rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) as the Italian suffered an early run off and was only able to fight back to 13th, it leaves the rider from Cervera now 33 points clear in the standings.

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) took second as he came out on top of a three-way fight for the podium, with teammate Maverick Viñales taking third. Viñales is now out of the Championship fight, 50 points back with two rounds to go.  

 

MotoGP Japan, 15 October 2017

1. A. Dovizioso     2. M. Márquez       3. D. Petrucci

The duel of Champions: Dovizioso vs Márquez at Motegi
Motegi, 15 October 2017

---

The two men at the top stage a historic duel in the rain-soaked Japanese GP, with everything on the line.

In pouring rain at the Twin Ring Motegi, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) staged one of the greatest MotoGP™ duels of all time, putting everything on the line down to the final lap and the final corner.

And despite the best efforts of the reigning Champion, it was Andrea Dovizioso who emerged victorious from ‘Victory’ corner in Japan – taking his fifth win of the season, the seventh of his career, and one of the most spectacular in history. Márquez was an incredibly close second for his 100th career podium, with Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) completing the podium.  

 

Japanese F1 GP, 8 October 2017

1. LC. Hamilton       2. M. Verstappen       3. D. Ricciardo

Lewis Hamilton claims decisive win in Japan as Sebastian Vettel retires
Suzuka          [8 October 2017]

---

Lewis Hamilton is on the brink of a fourth world championship after extending his championship lead to 59 points with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix while title rival Sebastian Vettel retired with an early engine issue.

Hopes of a classic duel between the two championship contenders evaporated in the early laps as it became clear Vettel's car was down on power. Ferrari detected a spark plug issue on the way to the grid and removed the engine cover from car No.5 in an attempt to rectify the issue. But from the very start it was clear Vettel had an issue as the team relayed instructions to try to the ease the problem as he completed the formation lap.

An early Safety Car on lap two to recover Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso from the gravel gave Vettel hope that the issue might resolve itself at lower speeds, but as the race resumed on lap four the Ferrari started hemorrhaging places. By the fourth lap Vettel had slipped to sixth, forcing the Ferrari pit wall to cede to the inevitable and retire the car.  

 

F1 GP Malaysia, 1 October 2017

1. M. Verstappen       2. LC. Hamilton       3. D. Ricciardo

Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton for Malaysia win, Sebastian Vettel fourth
Sepang          [1 October 2017]

---

Max Verstappen's streak of horrendous luck has finally come to an end with the Dutchman claiming the Malaysian Grand Prix ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Sebastian Vettel turned in a thrilling recovery drive from last to fourth.

A day after turning 20 years of age, Verstappen, starting third, took advantage of a pre-race retirement to Kimi Raikkonen to win his second career grand prix and the final Formula One race to be staged in Sepang.

However, it was Vettel slicing his way through the field to keep his championship aspirations alive who arguably earned driver of the day honours.