SINGAPORE — Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton promised to come out fighting at this week's Japanese Grand Prix after a freak technical mishap in Singapore opened the door to his rivals. The Mercedes driver failed to finish a race for the first time in more than a year after a simple metal clamp came loose in his engine, leading to a sudden loss of power. Nico Rosberg finished fourth to lie 41 points behind Hamilton in the standings, while Sebastian Vettel won the race to move within eight of the second Mercedes driver. It capped a woeful weekend for Hamilton, who earlier failed to earn a record-equaling eighth straight pole position and was seeking his eighth win of the year. While he still enjoys a healthy lead in the standings, any more gremlins in the remaining six races could bring Rosberg and Vettel right back into the title race. But the 30-year-old Briton said he had been driving well until the technical failure, and vowed to resume his hot run of form when he arrives at Japan's Suzuka circuit. “It's still a long way to go and I know I lost some points today, but I was fast and on form and I will make sure I bring that out to Suzuka to fight back,” Hamilton said. He added: “The race was going very well. For me it felt like I was driving at my best in the race. I think I had the pace to win. I did everything.” Team principal Toto Wolff called it a “character-building” weekend after Vettel earlier loosened Mercedes' 23-race hold on pole position, demonstrating their lack of pace. The slow corners and short straights of Singapore do not play to the strengths of the Mercedes engine, but Wolff said the race was a warning-shot to his team. Lotus extends Maldonado deal Cash-strapped Lotus Sunday extended Pastor Maldonado's deal to drive with the team in 2016 despite his modest record over the last two years. The Venezuelan driver is believed to bring around £30 million a season to the team courtesy of his lucrative deal with oil giant PDVSA. “It's great that the team can confirm my position as race driver for 2016,” said Maldonado. “Obviously, there has been a lot of speculation about the future and whilst I have remained focused on my job on track it is also positive to know that my future is confirmed.” — Agencies
