LEWIS HAMILTON has won a thrilling Russian Grand Prix in a crazy, rain-soaked finale.
The track had been dry for the best part of 48 laps but rain drenched the track in the last five laps.
Stubborn leader Lando Norris insisted on staying on the track, but his tyres could not handle the slippery tarmac.
Hamilton, who pitted for new tyres, took advantage and reeled his fellow Brit in in no time, as Norris slid off the track for an easy overtake for the champ.
And it resulted in 100 GRAND PRIX WINS for Hamilton, a stunning achievement in his trophy-laden career.
Max Verstappen did an outstanding job as well, coming from the back of the field to surge into second on the last lap, thanks in part to Norris’ blunder.
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HAMILTON: ‘TEAM MADE THE RIGHT CALL’
“What a race the weather provided. It’s taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn’t sure it would come.
“Lando did such an amazing job, he had incredible pace and is doing such a great job for McLaren. It was bittersweet to see my old team ahead and they’re doing fantastically.
“The 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 doing. I’m incredibly grateful to all these men and women here and back at the factory.
“Going to bed last night I was not the happiest with the job I did yesterday. I watched the replay and they were subtle mistakes but not ideal. I was so determined when I woke up this morning and I was determined to just do the best job I could. I lost a lot of ground at the start trying to stay out of trouble.
“Max must’ve done a really great job to come up to second from last. We’ve got our work cut out.
“It would’ve been tough to get past Lando unless we came up to some traffic or he made a mistake, which he hasn’t been doing, so then the rain came and it was very opportunistic.”
BIG DAY FOR MAX VERSTAPPEN
After aiming for damage limitation, Verstappen stormed from last palce to second.
He said: “We will definitely take that one.
“Wow, OK that was in the end a good call. We didn’t lose too many points today so that is really really good.”
HAMILTON ON HIS MILESTONE VICTORY
Hamilton: “Great effort guys. That was hard work, it’s taken a long time to get that 100 but so grateful to all of you.
“Fantastic call on the rain tyres.”
TEARS AT MCLAREN
There is absolute heartbreak at McLaren, on what has been a cruel afternoon for Norris.
Norris could also pick up a penalty after sliding and cutting across the pit lane entry on his way to the pits.
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS HIS 100TH F1 RACE!!!!
- Hamilton
- Verstappen
- Sainz
- Ricciardo
- Bottas
- Alonso
- Raikkonen
- Norris
- Perez
- Russell
FINAL LAP
- Hamilton
- Verstappen
- Sainz
- Ricciardo
- Bottas
- Norris
NORRIS FINALLY LIMPS INTO THE PITS
Norris just about manages to navigate his way round the track in the heavy rain for new tyres.
VERSTAPPEN WILL MOVE UP TO SECOND
Verstappen will have gone from last on the grid to second place once Norris has pitted.
NORRIS SPINS OFF THE TRACK!
Hamilton swoops in tot ake the lead of the race.
It’s heartbreak for Norris who spun out, but was able to get back out on the track.
HAMILTON’S GAP TO NORRIS IS 18 SECONDS
Norris is tip toeing all over the track… Hamilton is told Norris will be in trouble if he doesn’t switch his tyres.
Two laps remain.
HAMILTON PITS – NORRIS STAY OUT!
Mercedes tell him Hamilton, more rain is coming after the Brit says “there’s no more rain”.
Norris tells his team to commit to the dry tyres, as his rival for the race win pits.
‘SHUT UP!’
Norris screams to his team telling them to keep out of his ear, after they inform him where the tracvk is getting slippy.
RICCIARDO, SAINZ AND VERSTAPPEN PIT
This is chaos!
STROLL PITS FIRST – HAMILTON IGNORES TEAM
Norris has gone wide again!
Hamilton is told to pit but he ignores the team as he says ‘it’s slippery but it’s not raining much’
‘RAIN WILL GET WORSE’
Vettel is told the rain will get worse before it gets worse.
NORRIS GOES WIDE AS HAMILTON PRESSES ON
Norris went wide as the track begins to get slippery.
Norris is able to come back on the track and maintain his lead.
Hamilton is now all over the back of Norris.
DO YOU PIT FOR INTERMEDIATES?
It’s a headache for the whole field….
Sainz says “”Be ready with inters… or warm softs.”
RAIN ON TRACK
George Russell says: “Spots of rain at Turn 10.”
Before Mercedes tell Hamilton: “Risk of rain increasing.”
Fans begin to put their umbrellas up as we’re expecting big drama in the remaining laps.
HAMILTON NOW HAS DRS – LAP 44/53
The two are split by under one second as we have less than ten laps remaining.
RAIN IS STILL LOOMING
Merc say: “Lewis there is still the threat of rain towards the end”
Before telling Bottas: “Threat of rain in five to 10 minutes”
NORRIS RESPONDS WITH A FASTEST LAP
He is trying his best to keep Hamilton at bay.
Earlier in the race Hamilton struggled against the other McLaren, as he was stuck behind Ricciardo in the first stint.
1.9 seconds separate the two.
LIGHT RAIN IN TEN LAPS – LAP 40/53
Ferrari tell Leclerc “Expecting light drops in 10 laps.”
ALONSO PASSES VERSTAPPEN
Things are even tougher for Verstappen as the Alpine stormed down the inside for an easy overtake on fresher tyres.
HAMILTON IS 0.8 SECONDS QUICKER THAN NORRIS – LAP 38/53
Both drivers are quizzing their engineers as they ask about one another’s lap times.
NORRIS TAKES THE LIEAD
Perez and Alonso both pit, as Norris takes first place again.
Norris leads Hamilton by just 2.3 seconds.
Perez had a shocking stop as he was stationary for 8.9 seconds, meaning he comes in behind Sainz and Ricciardo, in fifth, just ahead of Verstappen.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
