Mercedes champions after Kimi Raikkonen penalised for Valtteri Bottas clash

Sergio Perez completed the podium for Force India after Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen were involved in a dramatic last-lap collision.

Bottas was pitched into the barriers and out of the race while Raikkonen limped across the line in fifth.

Vettel moved up to second in the drivers’ championship at the Russian Grand Prix, splitting the Mercedes drivers.

“It just feels special to be a part of it and to have contributed to a team success”, said Hamilton, who will emulate his idol Ayrton Senna with three world titles if he outscores Vettel by nine points and team-mate Rosberg by two at the next race in Texas.

But the Mercedes team were soon celebrating a second consecutive team title when the Finn was handed a 30-second post-race penalty to drop him back to eighth.

“Overall I am very happy,” revealed Vettel.

McLaren also suffered at the hands of the stewards, as their double-points finish was taken away from them with Fernando Alonso receiving a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limitations.

“I can not do anything if he doesn’t see me”, he continued, “he’s turning in and I had nowhere to go”.

He told reporters: “In the final stages, I tried to overtake Valtteri in the same place I had passed him earlier in the race, I had a good run in turn 3 and in the next one there would have been enough space, so I chose to go for it”.

“I got past Perez and approaching Turn Four someone hit me from behind. It’s really a shame, but my move was based on a good chance and not something completely insane”.

“I should be on the podium, but I’m here with zero points instead”.

Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene added that the incident had “clearly looked like a normal race episode”.

The chairman of Mercedes, Dr Dieter Zetsche, declared: “What an incredible moment for Mercedes-Benz!”

“I don’t know, for me it was racing”, said the 2007 world champion.