Valtteri Bottas took full benefit of a troubled day for his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to assert the ninth win of his career with a measured drive to victory in Sunday’s incident-packed Russian Grand Prix. The Finn swooped to take second place firstly and inherited the lead when the runaway collection chief and six-time champion took an prolonged pit-stop to serve two five-second penalties for irregular pre-race observe begins. A disgruntled Hamilton, aiming to win and equal Michael Schumacher’s document of 91 Grand Prix triumphs, re-joined in 11th place, however fought again to complete third behind Bottas and Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen.
His second win in Russia and second this season reinvigorated Bottas’ problem for the drivers’ title and diminished Hamilton’s result in 44 factors.
Sergio Perez got here dwelling fourth for Racing Level forward of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, who needed to take a 5 second penalty for an infringement, and Charles Leclerc, who was sixth for Ferrari.
Esteban Ocon was seventh for Renault forward of native hero Daniil Kvyat and his Alpha Tauri team-mate Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, who was additionally given a five-second penalty, within the second Crimson Bull.
Hamilton didn’t wish to discuss his penalty
“It does not matter. It is performed now. I will take the factors and transfer on, however congratulations to Valtteri.
“A giant thank-you to the followers right here this weekend – spasibo,” he mentioned. “It is not the best day, however it’s what it’s…”
Bottas mentioned: “It’s totally good to get a win. It has been some time! I must attempt to maintain the momentum. I’ve managed to squeeze a number of factors over Lewis, however there’s nonetheless fairly a number of races to go so that you by no means know. I will maintain pushing. I will not hand over.”
Verstappen mentioned: “We break up the Mercedes once more so that’s good — and we will be pleased with that.”
All three drivers wore their racing overalls on the rostrum after the race, obeying the most recent revised guidelines from the game’s ruling physique to not put on any objects carrying ‘political’ messages.
Hamilton had made a strong begin from his document 96th pole and fended off the slipstreaming Bottas, who had handed Verstappen’s Crimson Bull.
‘That is ridiculous!’
The Dutchman, recovering from a ragged getaway, ran off-line to defend in opposition to a speedy Ricciardo earlier than two first lap crashes behind them ended the early motion and introduced out the Security Automotive.
McLaren’s Carlos Sainz hit a wall within the run-off space at Flip Two after shedding management earlier than Racing Level’s Lance Stroll was nudged from behind by Leclerc and spun into the boundaries.
Sainz nearly collected a number of different vehicles together with team-mate Norris who managed to avert a collision, however felt he suffered some injury.
The motion resumed on lap six, when Hamilton’s penalties had been introduced.
“What occurred? What occurred?” he responded on group radio. “These begins, going to the grid, we acquired 5 seconds for every — out of place,” he was advised.
“The place is that within the rule e-book?” mentioned a disgruntled Hamilton. “Something to sluggish me down, nevertheless it’s okay. I can take it.”
Hamilton was additionally given two extra penalty factors on his racing licence and, with a complete of 10 in 12 months, moved inside two of an computerized one-race ban.
He reacted by pushing to open a 2.5 seconds lead on Bottas earlier than pitting on lap 17 for onerous tyres and his mixed 10-seconds penalty.
“That is ridiculous, man,” mentioned a disgruntled Hamilton earlier than re-joining 11th.
On the entrance, Bottas reeled off quickest laps to open a transparent lead earlier than pitting on lap 27, retaining his benefit forward of Leclerc’s Ferrari with Verstappen, having pitted earlier in third.
By lap 32, Bottas was in command with a 12 seconds lead over Verstappen and Hamilton as much as third after slicing by way of the sphere, lots of whom had pitted.
The cost had given leisure to the 30,000 spectators, the primary vital crowd at a sports activities occasion within the Covid-19 period.
Promoted
With 20 laps to go, he was 22 seconds behind Bottas and 10 off the Dutchman, however his prospects of a 91st win on Russian soil had gone.
The opposite record-chaser Kimi Raikkonen completed 14th for Alfa Romeo on the day when he equalled Rubens Barrichello document of 322 race begins.
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