Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley has failed to capitalise on his superb qualifying effort, finishing 13th at the Japan Grand Prix.
Hartley earned a career-best sixth place in Saturday's (NZ time) qualifying, but was unable to take advantage of his improved grid position.
Lewis Hamilton earned the chequered flag to edge closer to his fifth championship title.
Meanwhile, Ferrari's title contender, Sebastian Vettel, collided with Red Bull's Max Verstappen in yet another blow to the German's fading Formula One championship hopes.
Vettel - who started eighth, after a failed tyre gamble in qualifying - was trying to pass the young Dutch driver for third place at the fast left-handed sweep of Suzuka's Spoon Corner.
Instead, they made contact, with Vettel spun around. He resumed in 19th place, with a damaged car.
Stewards reviewed the incident and decided to take no further action.
Verstappen was already carrying a five-second penalty for forcing Vettel's teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, off the track earlier in the race and would have dropped behind Vettel anyway at the pitstops.
AAP/Newshub.
