Lewis Hamilton is on the brink of the Formula One world title after easing to another victory at the Russian Grand Prix as a throttle issue effectively ended Nico Rosberg's championship hopes.
Having qualified on pole in Sochi, Rosberg fended off a series of attacks from Hamilton at the start, which saw the safety car deployed after Force India's Nico Hulkenberg collided with the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson - forcing both to retire.
But Rosberg's superb efforts throughout the weekend proved in vain, with his throttle problem becoming apparent as Hamilton capitalised by sweeping past after the German had run wide at turn two on lap seven.
Valtteri Bottas and the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel soon followed in overtaking Rosberg, who then limped into the pits to retire the car - Mercedes missing out on a chance to wrap up the constructors' title.
The safety car made its second appearance on lap 13 when Lotus' Romain Grosjean went spinning into the barriers at turn three.
However, the incident had no impact on Hamilton's progress, with the Brit coasting to his ninth victory of a dominant campaign.
Vettel claimed second, while Sergio Perez took third for Force India, as Finnish duo Raikkonen and Bottas collided having passed the Mexican on the penultimate lap, with the latter sliding into the wall.
Hamilton now leads Vettel by 66 points and Rosberg by 73 with just 100 points left to race for and can seal a second successive title at the United States Grand Prix in a fortnight.
WHERE THE RACE WAS WON
Victory was effectively sealed just seven laps in as Rosberg's throttle issue ended his race, allowing Hamilton an easier afternoon than the defending world champion may have anticipated.
OFF TO A FLYER
Kimi Raikkonen missed out on a podium place despite jumping from fifth to third at the start.
HOT LAP
Vettel posted the fastest lap of the race, rounding the circuit in one minute and 40.071 seconds - a fact he appeared quick to point out to Hamilton as the pair waited to take their place on the podium.
RACE TO FORGET
It was a miserable day for Rosberg, whose championship dreams now look to be in tatters. Hulkenberg, Ericsson and Grosjean will also be keen to move on from this one in a hurry, while Carlos Sainz – having been cleared to race following a crash in practice that sent him to hospital – suffered a late retirement.
RACE STAT TO REMEMBER
Hamilton has now passed the late Ayrton Senna for number of Grand Prix wins, taking his tally to 42 in Sochi and moving level with Vettel.
IN THE POINTS
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +5.953s
Sergio Perez (Force India) +28.918s
Felipe Massa (Williams) +38.831s
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +42.358s
Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull) +47.566s
Felipe Nasr (Sauber) +56.508s
Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) +1:01.088s
Jenson Button (McLaren) +1:19.467s
Fernando Alonso (McLaren) +1:26.210s
TITLE STANDINGS
Lewis Hamilton 302
Sebastian Vettel 236 (+66)
Nico Rosberg 229 (+73)
Kimi Raikkonen 129 (+173)
Valtteri Bottas 111 (+191)
Mercedes 531
Ferrari 365 (+166)
Williams 220 (+311)
Red Bull 147 (+384)
Force India 92 (+439)
NEXT UP
Hamilton can win the world title at the Circuit of the Americas on October 25 if he finishes 10 points ahead of Vettel and three clear of Rosberg.