After an exciting qualifying in the wet yesterday, it's time for the race today. Where will Max Verstappen, starting from the back, end up in the Russian Grand Prix?
The Russian Grand Prix isn't exactly the first race that comes to mind when someone asks you 'what is the coolest F1 race of the year?'. But this year almost all races are fun. After yesterday's qualifying, it seems that the Russian Grand Prix will be no exception. It was humid at the Sochi Autodrom. In the end, Lando Norris took the first pole of his career, while Sainz and Russell went up for P2 and P3 respectively.
Of the two championship contenders, Lewis Hamilton did “the best”. However, that has everything to do with the fact that Verstappen did not even try to qualify, as he would start at the back after an engine change. Lewis should of course have taken maximum advantage, but he only starts from P4. The seven-time champion made several mistakes. Whether that was due to the pressure of Verstappen or not, opinions differ on that.
Before the race it became clear that Hamilton's team-mate Bottas also reports at the back of the grid after a mediocre qualifying. The Finn also has a new engine. As a result, he is probably right in front of Max at the start of the race. Team strategy at Mercedes?
Start
The start is often one of the more exciting moments in the race in Russia. The drag strip to the first kink is notoriously long. Starting all the way up front is often not the most favorable in that regard. And also this time polesitter Norris is the kid. Sainz fishes him in and eats him. Russell stays in P3, but Hamilton smokes a heavy pipe. Instead of going forward, the Brit sinks through the ice. Stroll comes alongside and moments later in the lap Ricciardo also pokes his McLaren past the Mercedes.
Hamilton is already lucky that Alonso misses the first corner and has to rejoin behind him and Perez. Perez is the first driver in the list to start on the hard tires, so that is good compared to HAM. These are interesting developments so early in the race.
Bottas and Verstappen have already overtaken the slow divers when Verstappen passes Bottas in lap 6. Hamilton's wingman therefore sees no chance to hold up the Dutchman for very long. Is that also an indication that the Red Bull is faster than the Mercedes today? At least it's not a bad sign for MV33, who is passed by Gasly a little later.
The moment Max joins Charles Leclerc and almost gets a knock from the Monegask, Sainz gets more and more difficult with Norris. The Ferraris are once again going through the tires relatively quickly, it seems. On lap 13 Norris manages to pass Sainz and immediately pulls a gap. The first drivers have already decided to enter for their first stops. Stroll and Russell kick off the ball. Hamilton thus moves up to P4.
Mid Race
But Verstappen is rapidly approaching. On lap 16 he is just eight seconds behind Perez, who is right behind Hamilton. Hamilton still bites Ricciardo. LH44 shouts over the radio that the team must prepare for an undercut. But maybe the game. Ricciardo blinks first and comes in on lap 23. Since the stop is not going well at McLaren, Lewis normally has lost the honey badger.
A few laps later, Verstappen and Hamilton also come in for their stops. The difference when both are out again is only a good six seconds in lap 30. The problem is only from Max's point of view: there are four cars in those six seconds. Fortunately, he can quickly get past Stroll.
Perez, meanwhile, finally looks like a “Perez strategy” by Red Bull to be put. The Mexican whispers his tires towards the front of the field and is seven seconds clear of number two Alonso on lap 34. Behind the eyebrow, Norris passes Leclerc, followed by Hamilton in P5. It may well be an arc of tension that builds up to the dying seconds. But not for Mick Schumacher, because he is out due to technical problems.
On lap 37, Perez and Alonso duck in for their long-delayed pit stops. Norris returns to the lead of the race. However, Hamilton has secretly crawled to the tail of the McLaren and is now second at a good two seconds. Then, of course, we immediately take a look at where Verstappen is driving. But that's disappointing. MV33 is being passed by Fernando Alonso at this very moment and his pace is not very good. Does our hero's impressive advance stop here? And speaking of advances, what about the advance of great guy Bottas? Well, it fails. While Verstappen is seventh, Bottas has to make do with P14.
Finish
And then—of course—delicious. It starts to rain a little at the end of the race. With seven laps to go, the drops hit the lens. Keep it up, or can everyone continue on slicks? On lap 47, Norris goes wide. Hamilton smells his chance, but just can't capitalize. It is clear that the track is very slippery here and there. Several drivers are now also coming in for inters, including Verstappen.
With three laps to go, McLaren asks leader Norris if he wants to stop for inters. It's a diabolical dilemma. If he does, Hamilton will probably drive on. But Norris sticks to his slicks, while Hamilton does stop. Is that the right decision, or will it cost Norris dearly?
The latter is the case. It's heartbreaking, but the rain is pouring down from the sky and Norris shoots off the track with just over two laps to go. The Brit then still has to stop and falls back to P7. Mercedes benefits to the maximum, because not only does Hamilton now take the lead, but Bottas also comes through to P5. The only thing Mercedes will find less is that Verstappen can still come to P2 on his inters in the final phase. Great damage limitation for VER.
For Lewis it is his hundredth victory in the premier class. In addition to Verstappen, Sainz is also on the podium. Behind them finish Ricciardo, Bottas, Alonso, Raikkonen, Norris, Perez and Russell. Alfa Romeo finally takes some points again. Norris will go home with the consolation prize of the fastest lap, but will be very disappointed with his lost victory. What a day and what a race again&8230;
Hamilton takes the lead in the World Cup from Verstappen with his victory, with a margin of two points. The game will (probably) continue in two weeks, with the Turkish Grand Prix.
Full results Formula 1 Russia 2021
- Hamilton – Mercedes
- VERSTEP – Red Bull
- Sainz – Ferrari
- Ricciardo – McLaren
- Bottas – Mercedes
- Alonso – Alpine
- Raikkonen – Alfa Romeo
- Norris – McLaren
- Perez – Red Bull
- Russell – Williams
- Stroll – Aston Martin
- Vettel – Aston Martin
- Gasly – Alpha Tauri
- Ocon – Alpine
- Leclerc – Ferrari
- Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo
- Tsunoda – Alpha Tauri
- Mazepin – Haas F1
DNF
Latifi – Williams
Schumacher – Haas F1