Hamilton fights back in Russia to win 100th Formula 1 race, Verstappen P2

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26 September 2021 at 14:33
Last update 26 September 2021 at 14:50
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  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lewis Hamilton has won his 100th Formula 1 race and has regained the lead in the World Championship after a fascinating Russian Grand Prix. The seven-time World Champion had to fight his way through the field after losing three places on the opening lap. He faced a battle with fellow countryman Lando Norris in the closing stages of the race, but the 21-year-old was caught out in the rain at the end of the race. Max Verstappen was promoted into P2. Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium. 

Hamilton lost three places on the opening lap, adding to the hard work he set himself with the mistake in qualifying on Saturday. 

After a phenomenal weekend in Monza for the Woking-based team, McLaren threatened to win back-to-back races but Norris decided to stay out on the slicks when rain threatened in the closing stages. The rain got too heavy and Norris lost out whilst everyone else opted for intermediates. 

Daniel Ricciardo played a pivotal role in the race. The Italian Grand Prix winner kept Hamilton in his mirrors in the first stint, before keeping Verstappen behind in the second stint. The Australian driver was hampered by a slow McLaren pitstop.

Max Verstappen had a strong start to the race but struggled in the second stint with tyre degradation. But he changed the intermediates early and benefited with the weather conditions. On the weekend he took his engine penalty, Verstappen finished in second and limited the damage as much as possible. 

Mixed up grid 

A myriad of drivers took penalties, including World Championship leader Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. Lewis Hamilton started from fourth after a mistake in qualifying which saw George Russell, Carlos Sainz and pole-sitter Lando Norris ahead of him. 

Hamilton lost three places on the opening lap of the race and seven seconds to the race leader Sainz who benefited from the slipstream in his Ferrari. Verstappen was already up to 17th after the opening lap. Hamilton and Alonso renewed their rivalry on lap two but the Brit was able to advance much quicker than the exchange in Hungary. Crucially for Red Bull, Perez didn't lose too much time behind Alonso either. 

On lap six, Verstappen overtook Bottas relatively easily. The Finn didn't put up a strong fight in the battle. Verstappen quickly moved ahead of former teammate Pierre Gasly whilst Bottas struggled. Meanwhile, Hamilton sat eight seconds behind new leader Norris on lap 14. Third-placed George Russell pitted, who fell behind Lance Stroll proving the undercut works. 

Pit stops

On the same lap, Verstappen breached the top ten and was on the charge by setting consecutive fastest laps. Hamilton was stuck behind Daniel Ricciardo for the next stint of the race and asked his Mercedes team to prepare for an undercut move. But it was the Australian who was first to pit. McLaren had a slow stop which put him down in 14th. 

Hamilton and Verstappen pitted on lap 27. The Brit emerged in ninth place, with his Dutch rival in 12th. Race leader Norris pitted on lap 29 and the speed of McLaren's pitstop kept him in the race. Perez led, but the virtual leader was Norris. Hamilton had a seven-second gap to hunt down. It was Verstappen's turn to be stuck behind Ricciardo. Perez and Alonso were the last two drivers to pit. The Red Bull team had a slow eight-second pitstop that put him behind Ricciardo. 

Battle of the Brits and rain

In the closing stages of the race, Hamilton continued to hunt down Norris. At lap 38, Hamilton had a two-second gap to his fellow countryman. But rain threatened in the final three laps of the race. Norris decided to stay out on the slick tyres whilst Hamilton pitted. Hamilton's move proved to be the correct option. Verstappen benefited from these conditions and moved to P2. Norris finished 7th.