Sebastian Vettel's Formula 1 championship hopes look all but over after being forced to retire early from the Japanese Grand Prix due to an engine issue, giving Mercedes rival Lewis Ha🍸milton a chance to take a huge step towards the title.

Trailing Hamilton by 34 points heading into the race, Vettel's Ferrari team was sent into a panic minutes before the start when a sparꦿk plug issue emerged, forcing it to make a replacement on the grid.

The team completed the fix so that Vettel could start the race, only fo🧜r the German to report a lack of power and begin to lose a number of positions.

A safety car called following a crash for Carlos Sainz Jr. allowed Vettel to hold on to sixth, only for the race to resume one lap lat♊er, with the Ferrari driver losing more and more places heading down the main straight.

Ferrari told Vettel to bring his car into the pits and retire from the racing, giving h▨im a second non-score in the last three races, acting as another big blow to his title hopes.

Hamilton currently leads at Suzuka༺, with a potential victory extending his lead out to 59 points with 100 to play for heading to the 🍷United States Grand Prix.