Lewis Hamilton inched closer to a sixth world championship with third place at the Japanese Grand Prix -- he can wrap it up in Mexico City on Oct. 27.#
Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who is now the only other driver with a mathematical chance of clinching the title, won that race to close the gap to 64 points with 104 to play for at the remaining four races.
There will be 78 left in play after the Mexico City race, meaning Hamilton's lead over Bottas at the end of that race must be equal to or greater than that to be champion -- even if the Finn wins the remaining races, Hamilton will win any head-to-head tiebreaker on account of the number of victories scored this year.