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WATCH: The moment Lewis Hamilton's F1 season took a fiery turn

Cape Town - With 14 laps remaining of the Malaysian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton led the field in Sepang looked to set to claim his seventh win of the season when disaster struck. 

The 31-year-old's race came to an abrupt end when his engine failed, spitting flames from the rear of his Mercedes. 

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of Hamilton's retirement and  claimed his first win of 2016. 

'It does not sit right with me' 

Speaking to reporters, Hamilton said: "My question is to Mercedes, we have so many engines made for drivers, but mine are the only ones failing this year. Someone needs to give me some answers because this is not acceptable. We are fighting for the championship and only my engines are failing. It does not sit right with me.

"Someone doesn't want me to win this year, but I won't give up. I will keep pushing."

Watch: Hamilton suffers engine failure

The three-time world champion's retirement in Sepang allowed team mate and current drivers' title leader Nico Rosberg to increase his lead in the championship to 23 points.

Work cut out 

There are five races remaining in the season with next weekend's (October 9) Japanese GP at Suzuka on the horizon, can the Briton win his fourth F1 title?

Five races left means a maximum of 125 points are still available, according to the BBC's Chief F1 writer: "If Hamilton wins every race from now on with Rosberg second, it will take four races before the Englishman is back in the lead." 

Can he do it? Well that remains to be seen, all we know is, this promises to be one of the most exciting season's yet. 

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