Rosberg hails 'perfect' weekend

Mercedes' driver Nico Rosberg got away well and never looked like surrendering his advantage, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton - his closest challenger for the title - was left playing catch-up following a dismal start.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg celebrates after winning.

Nico Rosberg hailed a "perfect" weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix after opening up a 33-point lead at the top of the Formula One drivers' standings.

Mercedes' driver Rosberg got away well and never looked like surrendering his advantage, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton - his closest challenger for the title - was left playing catch-up following a dismal start. Hamilton eventually crossed the line in third, behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, edging Rosberg closer to a maiden drivers' championship.

"The whole weekend went really well from the word go," said Rosberg. "I just felt good in the car, found the right balance and all the way through to qualifying. Got that lap done and then the start went well... just everything went well. Controlling the pace and the gap to Max in the race. A perfect weekend really. Really happy with that."

"I'm well aware of the 33 points, of course, but it's not something I'm focused on. I just want to take it race by race. That's what I did this weekend. [I] focused on trying to win the race and very happy it worked out. Still many races to go, so just keeping my head down. There's no point in changing my approach now, so I'm sticking with what I'm doing because it's working well."

The performance of Rosberg and Hamilton at Suzuka wrapped up the constructors' title for Mercedes.