Russian Grand Prix LIVE: Result and reaction as Lewis Hamilton wins 100th career race in Sochi
Hamilton fights back to win in Sochi
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lando Norris started on pole for the first time in his F1 career and was largely in the lead through to lap 51 of 53 - but as the rain played havoc, he spun off the track allowing Lewis Hamilton to pass him and win in Sochi - the 100th race victory of his career.
With Max Verstappen starting at the back of the grid, the opportunity was there for Lewis Hamilton to close the gap at the top of the drivers’ championship, though he only started in fourth himself.
Norris and Carlos Sainz battled for the lead for a large part of the race as Hamilton dropped back initially, but after the weather change, a rush of tyre swaps left some spinning and others colliding, with Hamilton finally passing Norris just a couple of laps from the end.
Verstappen worked his way through to finish second, with Sainz completing the podium spots and Norris ending up back in seventh.
Follow the reaction from the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi below:
Horner says Hamilton is favourite to win from fourth
Red Bull team principal has been discussing his driver’s chances this afternoon, and believes Mercedes are still favourites to win the race with Lewis Hamilton despite him starting in fourth place.
“We can’t control what Mercedes are doing. We’re going to attack this race and see where we come out”, he told Sky Sports.
“Any variable [rain] when you’re starting at the back is useful. If Max can get into the top five from where he is, we’d take that. Lewis has got to be favourite for today.”
Hamilton must break tough record to win
Lewis Hamilton hasn’t won having started in fourth place since Hungary back in 2009 in just his third season in Formula 1, but that is what the seven-time world champion must do if he is to take maximum points at Sochi.
The Mercedes man is five points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers Championship and with slower cars in front of him here, will be looking to make moves as soon as the lights go out.
It is almost a kilometre between the start line and the first ‘real’ turn of the circuit, and Hamilton will have at least Russell in his sights by then.
Russell continues sensational qualifying streak
George Russell has outqualified both Hamilton and Bottas twice in the past three races despite his vastly inferior machinery, ahead of his transfer to the Merc squad in time for the 2022 campaign.
The Kings Lynn-native secured second place in the wet in Belgium and mastered the damp conditions once again yesterday afternoon in Russia to start in third place today.
Norris rightly took the Saturday headlines but Russell is the real deal too, and both drivers are capable of fighting for championships in the near future.
Bottas demoted by Mercedes in tactical Verstappen plan
The reason that Bottas starts in lowly 16th is that Mercedes have made a cunning tactical move in order to try and block Verstappen’s match forward.
The Finn qualified in seventh place originally but Toto Wolff explained yesterday evening that changing engine components and accepting the resulting penalty would allow Bottas to impede Verstappen’s progress and theoretically give Hamilton a bigger advantage.
Bottas has always been Hamilton’s rear gunner in his five years with the team but this is perhaps the most flagrant strategic move he has been instructed to undertake.
Fast cars starting from the back of the grid
Max Verstappen starts dead last this afternoon after Red Bull decided to change various engine components in the Dutchman’s car prior to the weekend, resulting in a grid penalty.
The 23-year-old currently leads the championship but will have to make significant in-roads if he is to limit the damage Lewis Hamilton is able to do to his five-point margin, with the Mercedes man starting fifth.
Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari and Hamilton’s team-mate Bottas are also starting from 19th and 16th respectively after changing engines themselves, meaning we have plenty of fast cars starting at the rear, which should mean plenty of overtaking right from the get-go. Lovely.
Norris faces big challenge into turn one and two
21-year-old Lando Norris is on pole for the first time in his Formula 1 career in Sochi this afternoon, but said afterwards that Russia is probably the worst circuit on the calendar to start from the front of the grid.
The run through turn one and down to the heavy braking zone of turn two is so long that pole-sitters here often struggle to maintain the lead because of the slipstream effect that drivers behind are able to take advantage of.
With former McLaren team-mate and Ferrari man Carlos Sainz starting alongside him on the front, Norris will need a lightening start to hold onto first place.
Russian Grand Prix live - all the action and updates from F1 in Sochi
Welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Russian Grand Prix, round 15 of the 2021 season as Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton will look to make the most of an opportunity to catch the drivers’ championship standings leader Max Verstappen. He starts at the back of the grid after being handed a place penalty, while four-time Sochi winner Hamilton will be in fourth from the start. Lando Norris secured pole position for the first time in his career in qualifying, while last year it was Valtteri Bottas who emerged triumphant - he’s on row four to start on Sunday.
Five points separate Hamilton and Verstappen ahead of the race, with the Red Bull driver saying he was “very relaxed” ahead of Sunday’s event, in contrast to all the heated emotions and comments last time out as the pair crashed out in Monza. Follow all the updates and live action from Sochi right here, with lights out at 1pm BST.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments