SM
Netherlands vs. Hungary: 3 hrs 24 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Lewis Hamilton wins 100th race as Lando Norris sees victory slip away in Sochi

:Headline: Lewis Hamilton wins 100th race as Lando Norris sees victory slip away in Sochi:
The Mercedes driver won the Russian Grand Prix in thrilling fashion.
Sports Mole

Lewis Hamilton won a dramatic rain-hit Russian Grand Prix after Lando Norris was denied his first victory following a thrilling finale.

Norris, 21, appeared on course to keep Hamilton at bay, and become the youngest British Formula One winner.

But the race turned on its head with just eight laps remaining when the rain arrived in Sochi.

Hamilton moved to the wet tyres with four laps left but Norris stayed out on slick rubber after telling his McLaren team he did not want to stop.

However, the decision came back to haunt the young Englishman as the rain increased and he was unable to keep his McLaren on the track.

Lando Norris was caught by Lewis Hamlton in the closing stages in Sochi (AP/Sergei Grits)

On lap 51 of 53, Hamilton assumed the lead with Norris having to stop for wets and dropping down the order.

Hamilton claimed the 100th win of his career, ahead of Max Verstappen, who drove from last to second, with Carlos Sainz completing the podium.
Norris came home in seventh.

Hamilton moves into the lead of the championship, two points clear of Verstappen with seven races remaining.

Hamilton who embraced Norris afterwards, said: “It has taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn’t sure whether it would come.

“It has taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn’t sure whether it would come”
- Lewis Hamilton on reaching his milestone

“Lando did such an amazing job, he is doing a great job for McLaren, and it was bittersweet to see my old team ahead.

“But my team made a great call right at the end. I didn’t want to let Lando go and I didn’t know what the weather was going to do. Wow. One hundred.”

He added: “It would have been tough to get past Lando but the rain came and we were opportunistic.

“It is also a dream result for Max.”

Verstappen said: “To lose only one spot to Lewis is not bad. When I woke up this morning I didn’t expect this result.”

At the start, Norris flew away from his marks, but the young British star knew he would be vulnerable on the 350-metre charge to the first braking zone, and so it proved.

Lando Norris was quick off the mark (AP)

Sainz, benefitting from the slipstream off Norris’ McLaren, was dragged along at more than 210mph before passing his former team-mate for the lead.

Hamilton started fourth but was seventh by the end of a lacklustre opening lap. The Mercedes driver was blocked by Norris at the first corner, losing out to Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton fought his way past Alonso the next time around to move up one spot before spending the remainder of the opening exchanges tucked up behind Ricciardo’s McLaren.

Up front, Norris was keeping Sainz honest, and on lap 13 he passed the Ferrari man for the lead. “Got him,” the 21-year-old said over the radio.

On lap 22, McLaren called in Ricciardo and Hamilton was released into clear air and 14 seconds adrift of Norris. Four laps later he stopped for fresh rubber before team principal Toto Wolff came on the radio to provide his superstar driver with a rallying call.

Toto Wolff told Lewis Hamilton he could win around the midway mark of the race in Sochi (PA)

“Lewis, you can win this race,” he said.

Hamilton cleared Sainz and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly before setting out to hunt down Norris. Norris stopped for his sole tyre change on lap 28 and emerged from the pits eight seconds clear of his compatriot.

With early leader Sainz now out of the picture, the stage was set for a straight shoot-out between the man chasing his maiden win and the driver bidding for a 100th career triumph.

By the start of lap 38, Hamilton could sense victory, just 1.5 seconds behind Norris’ McLaren – but the young Briton was demonstrating a level of maturity way beyond his tender years to keep Hamilton, 14 years his senior, behind.

However, the late rain changed the run of play. Ricciardo took fourth, ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Alonso.

body check tags ::

amp_article__465528 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-09-26 14:17:27:
html db last update - 2021-09-26 14:17:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Lewis Hamilton

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
How could Carsley make unwanted history in final England game?
Is Havertz still Arsenal's best option? Three "standout" striker targets assessed
A derby drubbing: Arsenal slay Spurs in Women's Super League

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man United have three 16-year-olds who could become world-class in the future

1

MU

Amorim receives major boost ahead of Man United's trip to Ipswich

2

AR

Juventus 'add' Badiashile to shortlist alongside two PL defenders

NEW

3

J'

"No way I could ever give up" - Malacia lifts lid on injury hell at Man United

4

&W

Preview: Croatia vs. Portugal - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PC

Ronaldo gone, Fernandes banned: Predicted Portugal XI against Croatia

6

RG

Five-star Portugal stroll to Nations League quarters with Ronaldo-inspired win over Poland

7

FP

Saturday's Nations League predictions including Turkey vs. Wales

8

SN

"I'll do it spontaneously" - Ronaldo drops retirement hint after Portugal brace

9

&D

Man United 'facing battle' to keep wonderkid amid interest from league rivals

10

MU


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .