Lewis Hamilton pulled out his first victory since the British Gran Prix and his record 100th Formula 1 win this morning at the Russian Gran Prix at the Sochi Autodrom. Max Verstappen managed P2 from the back of the grid, as Carlos Sainz took P3 at the end of the race.
Lando Norris prevailed on Saturday to achieve pole position on, but Carlos Sainz Jr. who qualified P2 won out on the start on Sunday. morning taking the lead of the grand prix. By Lap 4 Sainz built a 1.5-second gap from Norris in P2. Hamilton dropped down from P4 to P6 by Lap 6. Verstappen didn't qualify on Saturday after receiving a new engine and started at the back of the grid, but by Lap 6 made a super move on Valtteri Bottas for P14.
Norris closed the gap to DRS range by Lap 9 and mounted a challenge for the lead on Lap 11. Norris took the lead from Sainz on Lap 13. Verstappen meanwhile was up into P9. Ricciardo pitted on Lap 23 but was slow out of the box and came out in P14.
Norris Pits for Hard Tires On Lap 29
Norris pitted from the lead on Lap 29 for hard tires and was up into P4 by Lap 32. Hamilton was P5, while Verstappen surged through the field and landed P9 after pitting. Sergio Perez Led the race on Lap 33. Mick Schumacher retired on Lap 33 from an unresolved issue. Fernando Alonso was running P2 from Norris on Lap 34.
Pit stops placed Sainz in P3 from Ricciardo, behind Hamilton who mounted a charge for the lead on Lap 37. However, Norris did well to set the pace and earned a fast lap, extending his advantage to Hamilton to two seconds by Lap 40. Hamilton bridged that gap to 1.5-seconds by Lap 43.
Norris ran wide on Lap 47 but held his lead from Hamilton, as the rain started coming down onto the track. Meanwhile, Perez took P3 on Lap 48 from Sainz in the Ferrari. Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel had a bit of contact but kept going on Lap 49. Hamilton pitted for intermediate tires on Lap 50 and kept P2.
Norris held onto the lead until the rain started coming down in sheets, and couldn't get traction to defend from Hamilton who took the lead on Lap 51 to win the race. George Russell who started in P3 took P10 for another points finish in the Williams. Norris finished P8, as Sainz completed the podium.
The F1 circuit takes a week off and returns on Oct. 10 at the Rolex Turkish Grand Prix on the track at Intercity Istanbul Park.