By Joe Murphy
There can be no denying that rain brings the drama when it chucks itself down at a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Russia is just the latest venue to witness unpredictability, joy and desolation all in the space of a few laps. After a crazy weekend of pulsating weekend’s action, let’s take a look at what went down, across the grid.
‘100 Up’ for championship leader Lewis Hamilton…
Lewis Hamilton made it a remarkable 100 race wins in one of the most u likely scenarios when the Brit claimed history thanks to the changeable weather of Sochi. The race win was made much more unlikely after a challenging qualifying session left him in P4 with work to do. Moreover, a poor start left the seven-time world champion further down the field and with it all to do.
The class and experience told in the end, as Hamilton stuck with leader Lando Norris before capitalising on the sudden downpour to change tyre compound at the right time and, with only a few laps to go, take the lead of the race. Norris chose to stay out, and this mistake meant that Lewis glided by to move in front, just as the younger Brit skidded off of the track, barely missing the barriers.
The subsequent win was not only his century in Formula 1,but also meant that Lewis re-took the lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings in this already topsy-turvy season. It is bits of luck and skill like we witnessed this weekend that could be the difference in Lewis winning or losing this battle with Max Verstappen. With races getting fewer and fewer, all our questions will be answered sooner rather than later. It is hard to predict who will end up the eventual victor. One thing is for sure, however, and that is there will be many twists and turns still to come between now and December, much like we witnessed in Sochi.
A note on the constructors. It was yet another positive weekend for Mercedes who managed a strong points haul by the conclusion of the weekend’s events. Valtteri Bottas somehow managed to claim fifth, whereas Hamilton’s win extended their lead over Red Bull and the rest of the pack.
Land-Noooo as it’s heartbreak for Norris…
That first race win for Lando Norris is surely a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’. Lando drove incredibly all weekend and deservedly scored his maiden pole position on Saturday, in Sochi.
Once he retook the lead from the Ferrari of former teammate Carlos Sainz, the win almost seemed inevitable. Lewis Hamilton may have closed the gap and mounted the pressure, but the McLaren appeared to have enough to hold out and make it back to back wins for the constructor, following success for Daniel Ricciardo, back in Monza, last time out.
However, it was not meant to be. There were only a few laps remaining at the time the rain started to fall, and Norris made the ill-fated decision not to box for intermediate tyres, instead opting to stay out, confident in his own ability to stay out and, literally, weather the storm. The vapour turned into a shower, and then the shower became stronger, and it was like driving on ice. By the time the young Brit decided he had to pit, he had lost the lead and re-emerged in a lowly seventh. The silence on the team radio following the race was deafening, and he was clearly emotionally wrecked at the conclusion of Sunday’s events. It may take a while to shake this one off, but so he must. Lando Norris illustrated to all Formula 1 fans that he has the ability to compete at the top. If McLaren can keep improving and rediscover their former years pedigree, then Norris won’t just be a race winner, but surely a future world champion as well.
Norris’ misfortune eventually enabled Carlos Sainz to recover a mid race setback to take another podium for the ‘Prancing Horses’. Another strong weekend for the Smooth Operator then, whilst his former McLaren amigo ensured the aforementioned contrasting fortune.
Max makes the best of it from the back, but it’s less straightforward across the garage…
With all eyes, understandably, on Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris for much of this race, the fact that Max Verstappen turned 20th into 2nd May go somewhat under the radar. Perhaps this is because we take the Dutchman’s talents for granted, and the fact that luck and timing played a big part in his recovery. Nevertheless, with the penalty served, Max limited damage in the best possible way, to leave himself only a couple of points behind driver number 44. There is no doubt that Max himself would have snapped your hand off, if you were to offer him second place before lights out.
With Lewis to surely serve a penalty of his own in the coming races, you can expect the pendulum to swing in the direction of the Red Bull driver, once again.
Speaking of Red Bull, it was another poor weekend for the other car across the garage. Sergio Perez has only been able to replicate the points of George Russell, since the summer break. In a much faster car, there is clearly something wrong. We all know that Red Bull is a difficult car to drive, but more is certainly expected of the Mexican, if Red Bull are going to have a chance at overhauling Mercedes for the constructors’ title. This bad luck, poor form and unpredictable weather are things Perez and Red Bull alike, will hoping to overcome sooner rather than later.
Veteran drivers very much still got it…
Points finishes for Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso may be something we only get to see once or twice more in the sport. Alonso seems to be getting the maximum out of his car whilst the Iceman showed no signs of slowing down prior to his impending retirement or that he had been away the last few weeks in isolation. Both drivers capitalised on errors from others and the late wet weather to score points for their teams, with the only real disappointment coming for the Spaniard with the regret he couldn’t capitalise further, with a potential podium opportunity, passing him by. With young drivers such as Nikita Mazepin, Mick Schumacher, Yuki. Tsunoda and Antonio Giovinazzi all have poor weekends (albeit in different cars), they could learn a thing or two from the old guard, it would appear.
This weekend saw difficult conditions and changeable racing strategies. The results in Sochi highlighted that whereas form is unquestionably temporary, class, clearly, is permanent.
Aston Martin and Alpha Tauri have a weekend to forget...
Disappointment is the word I would use to summarise the Russian Grand Prix for these two teams. And there probably wouldn’t be too much disagreement from members of Aston Martin or Alpha Tauri. Results across the grid show that this was an opportunity to score serious points. With both championships fairly close in the lower midfield, it is more true now than ever that every point counts.
Alpha Tauri were shown to be almost tactically inept, with even Pierre Gasly sounding off his frustration on the team radio after crossing the chequered flag. In comparison, Aston Martin also struggled across the weekend, aside from a brief spell where Lance Stroll, once again, showed his talents for wet weather driving. With these two teams seemingly battling it out with each other and Alpine for P5 in the constructors’ championship, and drivers from all teams competing against each other for a decent personal finish in the drivers’ standings, expect yet more drama as we approach December and the season’s climax.
It is true, however, these midfield teams need to be the one’s taking advantage of other teams misfortunes ahead on the grid. Much like they have done before with Estaban Ocon’s win and Sebastian Vettel’s and Pierre Gasly’s podium finishes earlier in the campaign.
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