30/09/2018
NEWS STORY
OK, much as we hate these grid penalties, one must admit that they have gone some way to livening up a race that looked likely to be as dull as ditch-water.
The prospect of 'birthday' boy Max Verstappen starting from the back and attempting to carve his way through the field, along with teammate Daniel Ricciardo should be worth the price of admission alone.
Of course, one of the first obstacles they'll encounter will be Fernando Alonso, who is not known as the Samurai for nothing.
Then there are all those drivers who, courtesy of said grid penalties, find themselves at the very front of the grid, almost mixing it with the Ferraris and Mercedes.
As if the prospect of Magnussen, Ocon, Leclerc, Perez and Grosjean fighting for those all-important points wasn't enough, there is the fact that as the race goes on they will face additional opposition in the form of the Bulls.
Clearly lacking speed, Renault opted for the tactical decision not to run in Q2, thereby missing the cut and leaving the drivers free to start on the ultrasofts.
Of course, while we're salivating at the thought of all those various battles, let's not lose sight of the fact that the opening laps at Sochi have been known to produce the odd incident... or two.
Indeed, who will ever forget 2019 returnee Daniil Kvyat hitting Sebastian Vettel in two separate incidents a couple of years back.
Talking of Kvyat, Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley is one driver who needs a good result today. Asked yesterday what the Kiwi must do to keep his seat, Helmut Marko didn't mess around. "Beat Gasly," the Austrian replied.
While 15 of next year's 20 seats are now 'spoke for', there is still an opportunity for drivers to impress... or not.
Though Esteban Ocon appears set to watch from the sidelines next season, would Racing Point Force India tolerate another Singapore-style showing from Sergio Perez.
There's also the little matter of the Constructors' Championship, with today seeming a good opportunity for Haas to snatch back the initiative from Renault, and Sauber to leapfrog Toro Rosso.
Barring Ferrari having watched The Ten Commandments last night and having found the miracle that will help topple Mercedes, this is the German team's race to lose, and with Bottas and Hamilton looking so strong that seems highly unlikely.
While Vettel's claim that talk of Ferrari having the best car was a lie put about by Mercedes is widely regarded as sour grapes on the part of the German, the fact is that other than a few minor blips the Mercedes has remained the class of the field.
With no serious opposition, both Mercedes and Ferrari qualified on the more durable ultrasoft, while the remainder of the top ten were on hypers.
According to Pirelli, the quickest strategy on paper is a one-stopper, starting on ultrasofts for 15 laps, then softs to the end. Almost as quick is to start on hypersoft for 9 laps, then softs to the end. A two-stopper is also possible, but slower, whereby you start on hypersofts for 7 laps, then two 23-lap stints on soft. Or start on ultrasofts for 10 laps, then 21 laps on softs, and a final 22-lap stint on softs.
Worth noting, as one reflects on the previous sessions, this morning Charlie Whiting warned that the stewards will act on those drivers who exceed the track limits.
"If a driver cuts behind the apex of a corner, on the exit of turn 2 for example, but doesn't gain a place or a clear time advantage, no action is likely," he said. "A second occurrence will however result in a report being made to the stewards.
A report will also be made to the stewards immediately if any driver is suspected of deliberately cutting a corner in order to avoid being overtaken, this will be reported as a possible case of leaving the track without a justifiable reason."
So there, you've been warned.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out. Following a little drizzle earlier, including a shower during the F2 race, it is a little cooler than on previous days, with talk of a further rain shower within the hour.
Ahead of the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 24.2 degrees C, while the track temperature is 25.4 degrees.
While the sun is shining, there is a very ominous dark cloud closing in.
Though he is starting from pole, Bottas will have been made fully aware of what is stake in terms of his teammate's title hopes. At the same time however, the Ferraris will be looking for the best possible start, hopefully with Raikkonen riding shotgun for his teammate.
Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sirotkin, Stroll, Vandoorne and Alonso start on ultras, while Magnussen, Ocon, Leclerc, Perez, Grosjean, Ericsson and Hartley start on hypers. The rest, including both Renaults, start on softs.
As they head off on the warm-up lap, Vandoorne is warned of light spots of rain. Vettel is warned of light rain at T10.
All get away cleanly.
The grid slowly forms... very, very slowly, the noses on both Mercedes pointing towards the middle of the track.
They're away, and Vettel makes a great start, getting right alongside Hamilton as they pursue Bottas. At the back, Verstappen has also made a great start, slicing through the middle of the pack.
Hamilton and Vettel are side-by-side but the Briton has a tow from his teammate and edges ahead of the Ferrari on the run to T2.
In T2 Bottas hold his line, while Vettel is forced wide in order to avoid Hamilton. Throughout the field drivers appear to have a problem understanding track limits.
Bottas leads Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Leclerc, Ocon, Perez, Ericsson and Grosjean. Verstappen is up to 13th while Ricciardo remains 18th.
Lap 2 sees Leclerc and Magnussen side-by-side all around T3, the Sauber driver eventually getting ahead, even though he is on the outside.
Ocon closes in on Magnussen with Perez close behind.
Verstappen makes quick work of both Renaults, and up to 11th, after just 2 laps, he is hunting down tenth-placed Ericsson.
Going around the outside of the Sauber at T3, Verstappen nails Ericsson under braking for T4.
After 3 laps, Bottas leads his teammate by 1.491, the Finn posting a new fastest lap (38.849).
Verstappen makes short work of Grosjean, and sets about closing the 0.7s gap to Perez.
"You're obviously doing a very good job here Max," Verstappen is told, in what must be the understatement of the season.
Hartley pits at the end of lap and switches to softs following a spin, while Gasly appears to have had a clash with Vandoorne.
Sheesh! Verstappen despatches both Panthers and thereby moves up to seventh. Teammate Ricciardo is up to 12th.
Disaster for Toro Rosso, both cars are in the pits and have retired.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 5 and switches to the softs.
Magnussen can do absolutely nothing as Verstappen closes in and quickly passes, the Red Bull leaving the Haas for dead.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sochi, here.
Lap 6 sees another fastest lap for Bottas (39.517), as he maintains a 1.4s lead. Vettel is 2.5s behind Hamilton with Raikkonen a further 2.4s behind.
Verstappen sweeps by Leclerc to take fifth, and sets about closing the 13.9s gap to Raikkonen.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 7.
From out of nowhere, Vettel goes quickest in S2, subsequently posting a PB.
Ricciardo passes Hulkenberg for 11th.
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 8, as teammate Magnussen battles with Ocon for 7th.
"Plan A, maximum pace," Alonso is told, the Spaniard also informed that both Toro Rossos are out.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 9, as Vettel continues to look stronger on his tyres than the Mercedes pair.
As Ocon complains about Magnussen's earlier tactics, Bottas ups his pace, but Vettel continues to lap around 0.3s quicker.
Leclerc and Ocon both pit at the end of lap 10, rejoining in 11th and 13th, the Force India exiting behind Magnussen. Sirotkin also pits.
After that earlier charge, Verstappen is now losing ground behind Raikkonen.
Courtesy of those pit stops, Ricciardo is now up to 7th.
Ericsson pits at the end of lap 11.
"We might have a little front wing damage," Ricciardo is told. He confirms that he hit some debris on the first lap.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 12, the Finn switching to softs. Perez also pits as Bottas rejoins behind Verstappen.
It's 'Hammertime' as the Briton goes purple in S1 and posts a PB in S2. However, it is Vettel who pits at the end of the lap and not the world champion.
The German rejoins in 5th behind Bottas, who has just gone quickest in the final two sectors.
Losing time behind Sirotkin, Hamilton pits at the end of lap 13, switching to softs he rejoins alongside Vettel. However, the German has the pace - and warm tyres - and maintains his position.
"Guys, how did that happen?" asks the bewildered Briton.
In the midst of all that, on his old softs, Verstappen has posted a new fastest lap (39.718). Moments later, Vettel responds with a 39.353.
Hamilton makes a move on Vettel but has to back off as the pair almost clash, however moments later the Briton is through, the Ferrari no match for the Mercedes which also benefits from the tow.
Raikkonen now leads but still has to stop, as is the case with second-placed Verstappen. Bottas is third, 1.7s ahead of Hamilton who is 1.6s ahead of Vettel.
Hamilton complains that Vettel moved twice while under attack.
Indeed, the stewards are investigating the incident.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 18, as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (38.535). Verstappen now leads as Raikkonen rejoins in fifth ahead of Ricciardo.
Lap 18 sees Bottas go quickest (38.535) as he extends the gap to Hamilton to 1.9s.
Down in 11th, Perez is told to push. "Can I overtake," he replies, the car ahead being his teammate.
Vettel goes quickest, the German posting a 38.429 as he maintains a 2.4s gap to Hamilton. In terms of tyres this could all be about the long game.
Lap 20 sees Raikkonen go quickest, the Finn now 9s down on his teammate.
Ocon is told that he has three laps in which to pass Magnussen or he will lose out to Hulkenberg once he pits.
No further action re the Vettel/Hamilton incident.
Hamilton has closed in on his teammate, while Raikkonen posts another fastest lap (38.025).
As Sainz is forced wide by Magnussen, the Spaniard takes to the radio to report that he was given a time penalty for a similar incident in 2016.
On lap 26, Bottas slows and Hamilton is through, once again, the Finn is forced to play 'wingman'.
Radio replay confirms that the Finn was told to allow his teammate through at T13.
Elsewhere, the Panthers have also swapped positions, Perez passing Ocon for tenth.
Were Verstappen not out front dictating the pace, Mercedes would probably have allowed its two drivers to maintain position, but the 'birthday boy' put an end to that.
Despite yesterday's promise, the Haas pair are 9th (Magnussen) and 12th, while Leclerc is 8th.
"We had a risk with Lewis against Vettel," Bottas is told by strategist James Vowles, "he has a small blister." The Finn clearly isn't happy, not only at having to move aside but at the fact Hamilton isn't making a dent in Verstappen's lead.
After 30 laps (of 53), only the Bulls and Renaults have yet to stop.
Hamilton warns of "hesitations", adding that is concerned he has a blister on the left-rear.
Meanwhile, Vettel posts a new fastest lap 37.750) as he remains 1.4s behind Bottas who is 1.9s down on Hamilton.
Advised of the condition of rivals tyres, Ricciardo is told he can extend his stint in order to be more aggressive on his final stint.
Lap 33 sees Sainz finally pit, the Renault driver rejoining in 16th.
Both Panthers are told that Hulkenberg is about to pit and that it will be late, Ocon advised that he will then be able to re-take the position he handed to his teammate.
"You will be given two more laps," Perez is told, "so do your best." The Mexican responds with a PB.
And another fastest lap from Raikkonen, who crosses the line at 37.555.
Verstappen is advised that his pace is better than the three drivers behind him.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 36, the German rejoining in 11th, like his teammate he is on the ultras, 6s down on Ocon.
"If you don't have DRS in T2 on the next lap, on the next lap we will change position," Perez is told. The Mexican isn't close enough and consequently hands back the place to his teammate.
Lap 37 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (37.395).
Ericsson makes his second stop at the end of lap 38, the Swede switching to the ultras.
"Keep going Max," the race leader is told.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sochi, here.
Ricciardo is the first of the bulls to pit, the Australian stopping at the end of lap 39. Switching to ultras, and taking on a new nose, he rejoins in sixth, albeit 53s down on Raikkonen.
"The Red Bull is leading?" asks an incredulous Hulkenberg as he is about to be lapped. As the Dutchman passes the Renault, Hamilton attacks... but fails.
"Tyres are as little bit gone," reports Verstappen, who is told he will pit this lap.
Following that lunge at Verstappen, Hamilton has lost ground to the Red Bull, now over 1.7 behind.
A new fastest lap from Ricciardo (36.345), as Verstappen warns "I cannot follow them... but let's keep going."
At the end of lap 43 Verstappen pits, thereby releasing Hamilton. Switching to ultras, 'birthday boy' rejoining in 5th, 22s down on Raikkonen.
With ten laps remaining, Hamilton leads Bottas by 1.3s, with Vettel a further 1.3s behind and 6.4s ahead of Raikkonen.
As Hamilton posts another fastest lap (36.185), Raikkonen is warned that Verstappen - currently 13.7s behind - could be a threat.
Bored to tears in fourteenth, Alonso enquires who has the fastest lap... you can almost hear the light bulb go on.
After 46 laps, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Magnussen, Ocon and Perez.
Strangely, despite being on the softer rubber, Verstappen is lapping slower than before and is losing ground to Raikkonen.
As if to prove a point, lap 49 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (36.137), as Vettel complains that he lost 1.5s in trying pass Magnussen.
Bottas responds to his teammate's pace with a 35.861.
Hamilton is warned - with a mind on Singapore - that there is a group of four backmarkers ahead and that they are racing.
"How are we going to finish the race?" asks Bottas. "Positions stay as they are," he is told, "we will talk about it after the race."
Hamilton takes the flag, and for the third time wins the Russian Grand Prix.
Bottas is second, ahead of Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Magnussen, Ocon and Perez.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Alonso, Stroll, Vandoorne, Sainz and Sirotkin.
"Valtteri, this is Toto... a difficult day for you, a difficult day for us, let's discuss later..." clearly a conversation the Austrian isn't relishing.
If Bottas isn't happy, what of Vettel, Hamilton having extended his title lead to 50 points. With only five races remaining the German is beginning to rely on his rival suffering a brace of DNFs, at a time the Silvers Arrows are leading the way in terms of reliability as well as points.
Now we head to Suzuka, a real racers circuit, and one where Ferrari must produce something special.
"Valtteri did a fantastic job all weekend," says Hamilton after the race, "and he was a real gentleman to let me by.
"Obviously he's not fighting for the championship, whereas we are. It's just been such a great weekend for the team. The team have done such an exceptional job to have this advantage on Ferrari and to have a one-two.
"Usually you would be just elated, but I can understand how difficult it is for Valtteri but really he did a fantastic job today and he deserved to win. But championship-wise, as a team we are trying to win both championships and I think today it was a real team effort. Whilst it doesn't feel spectacular, I know he is going to do great in the following races to come."
Referring the Vettel incident, which the stewards cleared, he said: "Ultimately, for me, he did move over to the inside and then he moved again and nearly put me in the wall. I thought that was a double move. I guess they didn't see that. Nevertheless, fortunately I was able to stay out of the wall and still get round the corner, and then it was a question of who was going to brake earlier in the next corner and I wanted it more at the time.
"We shouldn't have even been in that position. I don't really understand how we strategically ended up in that place but obviously the overcut or undercut or whatever it is I did... but anyway, ultimately, we're really grateful to be here in Russia. The weather has been fantastic; the crowd has been amazing. The team here and back home, whilst it's difficult, as I said, hopefully they're proud of what they've built and the results that we have been able to achieve with their car."
"A difficult day," adds Bottas. "Obviously a good result for us as a team; we got maximum points. But personally, as everyone saw, it was quite a difficult race.
"For sure, we always go through all the scenarios, all the facts," he continues. "Lewis is now fighting for the championship and we are fighting for the Constructors', so we always have a plan, but yeah today is... it's always difficult to predict what's going to happen in the race, how it is going to go, but it is what it is."
"Well it was tricky," admits Vettel, "obviously you saw they worked very good together and at the start I had nowhere to go, no tow.
"Then I think we surprised them with a very good out lap and managed to jump Lewis but at the same time Valtteri was backing off a bit, and then I was struggling in the last sector, so Lewis was close and then had a run into Turn 2. I managed to cover and then I didn't see him through the left-hander, I wasn't really sure where he was. I saw that he was somewhere on the outside but then I think you also need to be at some stage fair enough and give room, even if I didn't want to, but I had to, to make sure that it remains fair, tough or hard but fair, but then he obviously got past.
"Then, yeah, I think everybody more or less the same pace. I think we were better with the tyres but probably not better in terms of pace. I tried my best then to put pressure on Valtteri but, yeah, I couldn't get close enough.
Referring to the error at T13 that allowed Hamilton through, he adds: Yeah, as I said, obviously Valtteri, as soon as he saw that I was behind, he backed off and I lost like 1.5 seconds to make me run into him, which I didn't mind initially because I thought I could sneak DRS. But I had a tiny lock-up there and then, as I said, the last two corners were in particular difficult, so Lewis was close and he was on really new tyres, mine were just a lap old but not new.
"Anyway, it was a good race. I think we were closer today but obviously not the result we wanted."