Lewis Hamilton claimed his 100th Formula 1 victory in a Russian Grand Prix thriller, which saw heavy rain arrive for the final few laps, ultimately costing McLaren’s Lando Norris his maiden victory.
Norris had led for much of the race and looked comfortable in the lead, despite pressure from a chasing Hamilton, but with just a handful of laps remaining light rain arrived before turning heavier for the final three laps.
Hamilton would pit for intermediate tyres, whilst Norris braved the conditions on slicks, a decision which would prove disastrous as he tiptoed around the Sochi circuit before running wide and spinning, which allowed Hamilton through to take the lead and the win just two laps later.
Norris would eventually pit, but with such a late call and his rivals having already made the decision several laps earlier, he would tumble down the order to eighth, passing Kimi Raikkonen to finish seventh at the flag.
A lost victory for Norris
Norris was no doubt the driver of the day as he took an impressive debut pole position on Saturday and came within a whisker of converting that into his maiden win. Although he lost the lead at the start of the race – something he predicted given the long run to Turn 2 – he would later find a way back past Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
From there Norris controlled the race, putting in fast laps when needed and conserving his tyres at crucial moments, which allowed him to extend his stint and pit later than his rivals, to eventually emerge in the lead after his stop with a healthy eight-second lead over Hamilton.
Hamilton had lost places at the start but worked his way through the field in a quicker Mercedes to put himself in contention for the win. It turned into a two horse race in the final third as Hamilton chased down the McLaren driver, gradually closing in lap after lap before arriving on Norris’ gearbox with ten laps to go.
The youngster held off the seven-time champion, even after the raain arrived, but as it fell harder and harder, the decision not to pit for intermediate rain tyres would prove crucial and would cost Norris the win.
Verstappen recovery drive
Max Verstappen finished second after starting down in P20. An impressive feat which was aided by the late rain and an early decision to switch tyres.
The Dutchman made slow progress at the start, but once he cleared Valtteri Bottas – who started near the back following an engine change – he picked up place after place to eventually reach the top ten, then ninth, eighth and seventh. However progress soon slowed as his tyres wore down.
Late rain and an early call saw Verstappen pick up several positions in the closing laps to finish second and limit the damage, although he drops behind Hamilton in the championship standings.
Completing the podium was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who again benefitted from the rain.
Daniel Ricciardo was fourth, but could have been higher had it not been for a very slow pit stop. He finished just ahead of Bottas who struggled on Sunday, with very slow progress through the field. Again, it was rain that aided the Finn’s rise through the order.
Fernando Alonso, Norris – who is under investigation for missing the pit entry – Raikkonen, Sergio Perez and George Russell completed the top ten.
[motorsport_result id=’73523′]
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