Tyre-wise the starting grid was extremely interesting. The top four drivers -Mercedes and Ferrari- were on the purple-walled middle compound, whilst the rest of the top ten drivers were on the hyper-softs. The Red Bull duo of Ricciardo and Verstappen had opted for the yellow-marked hardest compound, as they were starting from the back of the grid due to their engine penalties. The pressure was all on the pole-setter Bottas, as the lights went out at Sochi Autodrom. The Finn took a splendid start, and Hamilton played genius team effort, preventing Sebastian from getting in the slip stream of either one of the Silver Arrows. Sebastian was hungry to challenge Hamilton for P2, but there was no chance for overtaking. Sauber's rising star Leclerc, who had started from P7, made an impressive job on the opening laps, making his way past both Force India's Ocon and Haas' Magnussen, claiming P5. Verstappen from P19 took a rocket start and started his glamorous overtaking show right away. The start was surprisingly clean, and there was no need for safety car this time.
Verstappen's storming performance was such a pleasure to watch. He made determinedly his way through the field, one by one. In less than ten laps the flying Dutchman had already climbed up to P5! Teammate Ricciardo had got some damage to his front wing on the opening laps, and the Australian had more difficulties to get past the midfield drivers.
Bottas pitted as the first top driver on lap 12 and switched to the soft rubber. Ferrari's strategy was to try to benefit from the undercut, and the team called Sebastian in on the sequential lap. The German also switched to the soft Pirellis. Hamilton pitted on the following lap, for a similar tyre choice to his rivals. It was extremely tight at the pit exit, and Sebastian managed only just to make it ahead the Briton! Hamilton was clearly extremely unhappy about losing the position to his arch enemy. A couple of laps later the British Mercedes ace decided to attack Sebastian at the start/finish straight. Hamilton got a huge pace advantage after opening his DRS and made it alongside Sebastian. But Sebastian wasn't going to surrender. He defended his position by changing his line, even twice, which isn't allowed by the rules. It was only thanks to Hamilton's supernatural reflexes, that a crash was avoided. However, Hamilton was absolutely stubborn to make it past his arch enemy, and the successful overtaking move took place in Turn 5. Hamilton snatched back his 2nd place. The stewards took Sebastian's move into investigation, but no further action was warranted, which took me by surprise. Without a doubt Sebastian had changed his line twice, which is prohibited by the rules…
Ferrari took Kimi in on lap 19. The Iceman, too opted for a fresh set of the hardest compound, re-joining the track in P5. Unbelievable but true, Max Verstappen was now leading the race, having started from P19! Naturally the Dutchman hadn't pitted yet, but still, what a race the birthday boy was driving! By lap 24 Bottas had chased down Verstappen, and teammate Hamilton was right at the Finn's tail. Sebastian had also closed the gap to Hamilton.
What a crucial turn the race got on lap 25. Bottas was told on the team radio to let his teammate past in Turn 13! Before the race start Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff had said, that Bottas would be given a chance to win the race, but the reality proved different. Hamilton moved past his Finnish teammate, and from the on Bottas' job was to slow down Sebastian.
It was absolutely amazing, how competitive lap times Verstappen managed to set in the lead, although there were already over 30 laps on his tyres. Hamilton was lurking for a chance to overtake Max, but the flying Dutchman was not going to let that happen. He came in not until with only ten laps to go. Max switched to the purple-walled ultra-soft compound and re-joined the track in P5.
The pace of the Mercedes duo was very evenly matched, and there were only two seconds separating the teammates. On the penultimate lap Bottas must have thought, that the previous order would be restored and that he would be given the win he deserved. However, the team told the Finn, that the order was to stay unchanged. So Hamilton crossed the finish line as the race winner. This was one of the very rare times, when Hamilton didn't deserve the victory. Bottas would have won the race, had he not been told to give way to his teammate. Mercedes could have switched the positions back, as Sebastian proved no threat to the Silver Arrows. Had Hamilton finished the runner-up, he would still have had a 43-point lead in the drivers' championship standings! But of course, you can never know, if those 7 points will turn out crucial at the end of the season… Kimi finished fourth, followed by the Red Bull duo of Verstappen and Ricciardo. Sauber's Leclerc was the stunning best of the rest and proved again, why he has been given a race seat for Ferrari next season. Magnussen finished 8th for Haas, and the Force India duo of Ocon and Perez rounded out the top ten. Force India also resorted to a team order during the race, but the pink team restored the order of the drivers at the end of the race.
It was no wonder, that the atmosphere on the podium almost reminded of a funeral. Hamilton knew he didn't deserve the win, and Bottas was deeply disappointed due to being robbed of the victory. Sebastian's P3 meant, that he is already massive 50 points down on Hamilton in the drivers' standings. Ferrari are now 53 points down on Mercedes... However, Sebastian's dream of winning the championship is still very much alive. And I believe, that with hard work he can still make the tables turn! He has my support -always. The battle continues in Japan already next week!
P.S. Happy 21st birthday Max! Continue being as awesome as you are!
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