Formula 1: 'Snap-prat' Hamilton will fight to finish, says team Mercedes boss

Lewis Hamilton will take the Formula One title race down to the wire, insisted Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after the Briton was floored by a rampant Nico Rosberg in Japan.

Rosberg has opened a 33-point lead over his British foe with just four races left and will take some stopping in this form.

But while Hamilton's hopes of retaining his crown were left hanging by a thread, Wolff predicted a backlash from the triple world champion.

"It's not over," said the Austrian, who barely had time to savour a third successive constructors' title for Mercedes in Japan.

"Lewis is going to come back strong, he needs the enemy sometimes. That's how he functions."

Rosberg dominated all weekend at Suzuka as Hamilton appeared to lose the plot.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's team principal Toto Wolff, seen at the Silverstone Circuit in England, on July 10, 2016 (AFP/File)