Motor racing - Hamilton wins in Japan, Vettel sixth

SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday to take a 67 point lead in the Formula One championship and stand on the brink of a fifth title.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, the Briton's closest rival, finished only sixth after an early collision with Red Bull's Max Verstappen left the German fighting back from 19th place.

Finland's Valtteri Bottas secured the Mercedes one-two with second place while Verstappen finished third.

If Hamilton wins the next race in the United States he will be champion with three races to spare in case Vettel finishes lower than second.

(Writing by Alan Baldwin, editing by Amlan Chakraborty)