F1: ten talking points from this weekend’s Japanese GP

Lewis Hamilton overtook teammate Nico Rosberg in the first corner after lights out before comfortably cruising to victory in a largely forgettable grand prix at Suzuka.

The championship leader never looked back en route to the chequered flag, despite having to manage tyre and temperature issues as he drew level with Ayrton Senna on 41 career F1 wins.

“I'm buzzing like you could not believe,” said Lewis after the race. “It was very tight through Turn 1 but from then on it was just the most beautiful day.

“I have struggled every year at this circuit, but I always loved it. When you have the balance and the car is doing what you want it to do, and you're attacking through the corners, there's no better feeling.”

Meanwhile, Rosberg was left to rue what might have been, after a lack of tyre temperature on the formation lap cost him three places at the start having secured pole the day before. He now trails his teammate by 48 points with 125 left to play for.

Such was Hamilton’s dominance at the front of the field, the reigning champion spent just a handful of minutes in the limelight as television directors chose to focus on more interesting battles elsewhere.

Niki Lauda bemoaned the coverage, saying: "I was watching TV all day long, and funny enough I saw Saubers and a lot of Honda cars, but I don't know why.

“Somebody must do the filming here. I have to ask what's wrong with him. I want to see Bernie [Ecclestone] next week and ask him what is the reason.”

There had been speculation that F1’s chief exec was punishing Mercedes for failing to agree an engine deal with Red Bull, though Toto Wolff has dismissed the suggestion.

“Bernie is not upset with us about the engine, that's for sure," said the Silver Arrows boss. "There was some good fighting in the midfield and this is where the camera was on."

But not intentionally, nor for very long.

The young Russian survived a massive accident in the final part of qualifying on Saturday after leaving a wheel on the grass on the run into the hairpin, which sent the RB11 careering into the barriers before coming to a stop, post-somersault.

"It wasn't very pleasant, but I am OK,” said the shaken 21-year-old. “I am disappointed in myself.”

Kvyat’s car was almost completely rebuilt overnight, with a pit-lane start giving engineers the chance to replace several components without penalty.

The Red Bull driver eventually fought back to finish 13th, in a “frustrating and annoying” afternoon that he also described as “pretty boring”. At least he remembered to thank the mechanics who were up all night mending his motor.

McLaren’s Spanish driver was criticised earlier in the year for comments he made during the Canadian Grand Prix, in which he called his own team “amateurs” in an explosive rant over team radio.

The frustration bubbled over again in Japan this weekend, Fernando exclaiming, “It feels like GP2! Embarrassing. Very embarrassing,” after being passed by a Sauber on lap 6. He repeated the reference about his uncompetitive engine after being overtaken by Max Verstappen on lap 27.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis was furious after the race, saying that the double world champion had been “unprofessional” in what is Honda’s highest profile race of the year at the Japanese firm’s home circuit.

Alonso explained that it was difficult watching other drivers “make mistakes”, only to get overtaken anyway even “when you take the corner perfectly.”

Even before Alonso’s outburst, McLaren had entered the weekend with a mild crisis brewing in the form of Jenson Button. The 2009 champ claimed to have made a “decision” on his future, despite saying that he was in ongoing “talks” with the Woking team.

Things escalated further when ex-F1 team boss Flavio Briatore claimed Alonso could leave as well, with the Spaniard himself failing to offer clarity in Suzuka. Asked ‘Will you stay at McLaren?’ at various points over the weekend, Alonso replied with “I don’t know”, “My intention is to stay” and “My career in F1 will end with this team.”

While Alonso seems likely to stay, Ron Dennis also appeared to confirm Button’s seat for next year. Referring, we think, to the Brit’s 2016 contract, the McLaren chief said: “I had no intention of exercising our option to terminate him.”

Button has yet to say ‘I’ll be back.’

That’s hungry as in, um, underfed.

Lotus began the weekend in troubled circumstances as the late arrival of team equipment prevented them from constructing their hospitality suit, with the team relying on others for food and shelter as freight arrived from Singapore.

Despite the problems in the paddock, the team still managed to pull out one of their best performances of the season, as Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado came home in seventh and eighth respectively.

Maldonado, who scored points for only the third time this season, said: “It was a good race for us and we really deserved a happy result today after pushing hard all weekend.”

And things looked slightly more promising for the team this morning as Renault confirmed their intention to take over the outfit next season, allowing the High Court to adjourn their tax case with HMRC until December. Phew.

With very little to cheer about as home manufacturer Honda pootled around outside the points, the fans at Suzuka managed to put in dazzling performance of their own to make up for the lack of action on track.

The highlight was no doubt the litany of car-component-hats around the circuit, with many locals sporting spoilers on their heads whilst others were adorned with entire (miniature) racers.

It can only be a matter of time before the drivers and other prominent personnel are depicted in headwear form.

We look forward to seeing Valtteri Tophats, Sergio Berets and Beanie Ecclestones on the market in the very near future.

In his last race before his 18^th birthday, the Toro Rosso driver celebrated in style by climbing some eight places on the grid, scoring two championship points to bring his tally up to 32 for the season.

“It was a great race,” said Max. “To go from P17 to P9 at a track like this one is a good result and I'm happy to have scored points again. It was a very good day.”

Meanwhile his equally impressive teammate Carlos Sainz crossed the line in tenth, having missed out on the opportunity to go higher after breaking his front wing on the entry to the pit lane on lap 28.

“The team did a very good job,” said Sainz. “And I'm sure that we would've finished higher than P10 if it hadn't been for my mistake; a rookie error that I will learn from. All in all, I'm pleased with my first Japanese Grand Prix.”

Here’s to many more.

Will Stevens lost out to his rookie teammate Alexander Rossi for the second race in a row after a big spin on lap 45 nearly took out both backmarkers.

The British driver – who only just kept his car on the track – was last of the finishers a week after coming in one place behind the American new boy in Singapore as well.

“It's a shame,” said Stevens, “as my pace was strong all weekend. So that's what I'm focusing on and I'm looking forward to getting things back on track in Russia.”

The Manor driver can guarantee that he won’t lose out to Rossi in the next race in Sochi, as the latter won’t be there. Roberto Merhi will be back in the other car for Manor, as the Spaniard takes part in what will be his penultimate race of the year before the finale in Abu Dhabi. Share nicely, boys.