Hamilton: "Valtteri deserved the win"

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that his teammate Valtteri Bottas deserved the win at the Japanese Grand Prix as Mercedes retained the constructors' title for a sixth consecutive season.

Hamilton wasn't in a great move immediately after the race, only offering a cold "congratulations guys" over the radio as he was told by Toto Wolff that the title was secure.

After the race, he was asked in the media pen if strategy could have led to him winning, to which he replied: "It doesn’t really matter, it’s all hypothetical. Valtteri deserved the win and we move on to Mexico which is going to be a nightmare for us."

Hamilton did praise his team in the media pen, adding: "There's been so much hard work over the year and the last seven years. The team have done an amazing job and I’m really proud to be part of it and able to contribute... I hope everyone is having some champagne today."