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      F1 Russian Grand Prix build-up LIVE: Norris leads Hamilton in dramatic end to race as track slippery with rain

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      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.
      Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
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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.
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      Hamilton wins 100TH F1 Grand Prix with amazing late victory in Sochi to reclaim title lead and deny Norris first win

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      LEWIS HAMILTON claimed his ‘magical’ 100th Formula One victory on a heartbreaking day for Lando Norris at the Russian Grand Prix.Norris led for the majority of the race after his first career pole but it all went horribly wrong when heavy rain fell in the closing laps of the race.
      Lewis Hamilton has his 100th F1 winCredit: AFP
      He produced a stunning late display to snatch victoryCredit: Getty
      Heavy rain denied Lando Norris his maiden F1 winCredit: EPA
      Mercedes pitted Hamilton against his will in second place for intermediate tyres but Norris’ gamble to stay out didn’t pay off, as he spun in the slippery conditions with two laps remaining.
      Max Verstappen had a remarkable recovery drive as he fought from the back of the grid to finish second, meaning he trails Hamilton by just TWO points in the championship.
      Hamilton was relieved to finally claim his landmark victory after his last win came 70 days ago at the British GP.
      He said: “It’s taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn’t sure it would come. It’s a magical moment.
      “I could have only ever dreamed of still being here and having this opportunity to be able to win these races and get to drive with such phenomenal talents, this late in my career.
      “Lando did such an amazing job, he had incredible pace and is doing such a great job for McLaren.

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      “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. 
      “Max must’ve done a really great job to come up to second from last. We’ve got our work cut out. 
      Hamilton congratulated Norris on a superb performanceCredit: Reuters
      “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.”
      Norris was just two laps away from becoming Britain’s youngest ever F1 race winner before the heavens opened.
      The McLaren star was beside himself after he helplessly spun off in slippery conditions while his rivals all pitted for intermediate tyres.
      Norris, 21, said: “I don’t know where to start. I’m unhappy, devastated in a way. We made a call to stay out and we stand by that call.
      “It was the wrong one at the end of the day but I made the decision just as much as the team.
      “It was more that they thought I should box and I decided to stay out. It was my decision, I thought it was the way to go. But it’s just a bit of heartbreak.
      Norris’ wait for a maiden triumph continuesCredit: Getty
      “I felt like I did everything I could, even when it got a bit tricky at the end. I made a couple of mistakes but still kept Lewis behind and managed to pull away a little bit. 
      “A bit of luck like the laps I was out before Lewis boxed was perfectly fine for the tyres I was on and I got told the rain was going to stay the same amount.
      “Had it stayed the same amount we had the right decision, but it obviously got a lot wetter than we as a team expected. 
      “When it’s only two laps to go, when there are 20 to go you’re maybe not as aggressive with decisions. 
      “We did what we thought was right, which I’m happy with. It was wrong at the end of the day but everything until then the guys did an excellent job.
      “I’m happy with everything apart from that one decision which we’ll review and try not to make again.”
      Max Verstappen defied the odds to finish secondCredit: Getty
      Verstappen started at the back of the grid after having a new engine fitted and Red Bull went into the race with a mindset of damage limitation.
      The Dutchman had fought his way up to seventh before the downpour and Red Bull brought him into the pits at the perfect time as he leapfrogged his rivals up into second place.
      Verstappen, 23, said: “With the penalty we had, to only lose one spot is definitely not too bad. 
      “When I woke up this morning I definitely didn’t expect this result.
      “From the back, a lot of things happened on the first lap and first stint. We managed all of that very good and the crucial call to go to the inters worked out.”

      Lando Norris takes shock pole for Russian Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton crashes into pit wall More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s amazing £13m car collection includes a £4m Shelby and a £1.6m Pagani Zonda 760 LH

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      TO be Lewis Hamilton for a day.The F1 ace has amassed a £300m fortune that allows him to indulge in the best boys’ toys around.
      Lewis Hamilton has amassed a £300m fortune from motor racing and sponsorshipsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton’s wealth means he can afford life’s greatest luxuries and has a £13m car collectionCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      And boy does the racing legend know how to spend it – splashing his cash on the best cars that could earn him the title of ultimate celebrity petrol head.
      The eco-warrior equalled Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles last season and has a deal with Mercedes to race till 2023.
      Join SunSport in taking a look at the staggering fleet of cars that sees Hamilton, 36, live like a king.
      I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”Lewis Hamilton on motors
      CARS
      Lewis has a fleet of motors worth around… wait for it… £13 million.
      Of course, being a driver, he’s a car fanatic and collects everything from supercars to vintage classics that he divides between two garages – one in Monaco and another in LA.
      “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them,” he once said.
      Amusingly, so they keep their value, when Hamilton doesn’t want to drive them back home – he reportedly has a tow-truck that comes to pick them up from whatever restaurant or club he’s at.
      Here’s just some of his extravagant collection.
      PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
      The rarest motor in Hamilton’s possession is a £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
      The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
      Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hates driving itCredit: Rex Features
      His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
      “The Zonda is terrible to drive!” he once said.
      “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
      That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
      The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
      Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
      Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which would have him standing out from the crowd.
      A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      LAFERRARI
      Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £1m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
      Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s Hamilton’s fastest car he owns.
      Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must be just like handling a racing car.
      A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
      MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
      Lewis has already got his hands on a Project One, that’s not even supposed to be out till next year.
      He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217mph.
      Only 275 are going to be released at a cost of around £2m.
      Make that 274 now, since Hamilton has one.
      Hamilton has managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
      Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
      MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
      He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
      Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
      Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
      It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
      Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      MCLAREN P1
      Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers because in 2015 he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
      The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
      In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top of 217 mph and 0-60mph in under 2.7 seconds.
      In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton didn’t hold any grudges with McLaren despite splitting from the team and drives their car still on the streets of MonacoCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
      The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
      Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma shop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
      At auctions, these can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
      Lewis Hamilton says he feels like ‘giving up on everything’ in post about environment that has fans fearing for the F1 superstar
      BEST OF THE REST
      When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
      The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
      Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
      Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
      And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
      Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
      Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
      Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Max Verstappen is a better driver than Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes ace would struggle in his car, claims Red Bull boss

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN is better than Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes champ would struggle if they had to swap cars, claims Red Bull boss Christian Horner. Brit chief Horner – married to former Spice Girl Geri – reckons fellow Englishman George Russell’s outing in Hamilton’s car last season proved Verstappen, 23, is superior.
      Christian Horner (left) thinks Max Verstappen is a better driver than Lewis HamiltonCredit: Reuters
      Hamilton has a deal with Mercedes until the end 2023Credit: Getty – Pool
      Seven-time world champion Hamilton, 36, was KO’d by coronavirus for the Sakhir Grand Prix and Williams driver Russell deputised.
      Russell qualified in second place just 0.026s behind the other Mercedes driven by Valtteri Bottas and was leading the race by ten seconds before problems in the pit and with his tyres cost him a maiden win.
      Horner, 47, told RacingNews365: “I think Verstappen is the best, and George Russell’s performance at Mercedes confirmed that for me.
      “Max and Lewis stand out for me but, while we should definitely not be blind to what Hamilton has achieved, he does have a good package at his disposal.
      “While Max has to get more out of his car.
      “At Mercedes, a Williams driver can qualify himself directly on the front row and Russell almost won the race. 
      “However, if at Red Bull someone has to get into Verstappen’s car, for example if Max had corona, then nobody will reach his level.”
      Red Bulls’s Verstappen is hoping to challenge Brit Hamilton’s F1 supremacyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

      Hamilton was knighted by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours list and also picked up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong for 2020.
      The Stevenage-born icon eclipsed Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins last year to fuel the GOAT debate.
      Rival Sebastian Vettel insisted Schumacher is the greatest while Hamilton slammed critics ‘with a bee in their bonnet’.
      Verstappen finished third behind the two Mercedes in 2020 and Horner thinks there is plenty more to come from the Dutch star after confirming he hasn’t reached his full potential yet.
      He added: “The others have a hard time compared to Max’s performance.
      “If you look at his performance in Abu Dhabi: his pole was phenomenal and then he controlled the race in a very mature way from start to finish.
      “His racing craft is excellent, as is his tyre management.
      “Max has become better at ‘reading’ the race, giving feedback to the team, but also, for example, in dealing with disappointment. He has matured very much in those areas.”
      F1 champ Lewis Hamilton hikes up mountain in the snow in intensive altitude training More

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      Lewis Hamilton crashes into pit wall and damages car as Lando Norris takes shock pole for Russian Grand Prix

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      LANDO NORRIS took his first ever Formula One pole position at the Russian GP after a nightmare session for Lewis Hamilton.The young Brit will start on the front row alongside Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz with George Russell third on the grid for Williams.
      Lando Norris was all smiles as he emerged from his McLarenCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton hit the pit-lane wall during final qualifying session
      Hamilton made a costly mistake as he hit the pit-lane wall during Q3 as he starts fourth on the grid.
      Torrential rain eased in Sochi and as the session progressed the track dried out in the dying minutes of Q3.
      As the field dived into the pits for dry tyres, Hamilton clipped the pit-lane wall putting himself and Mercedes on the back foot.
      The mid-field pounced on his error as Norris, Sainz and Russell dramatically improved their times.
      Hamilton was struggling to get heat into his tyres and as he pushed on his final lap, he spun out and bumped the barriers.
      A dejected Hamilton said: “Twice in the wall… that’s very rare for me.
      “I’m really sorry to all the team because that’s not what you expect from a champion.”
      Russian GP – Top 10
      1) Norris
      2) Sainz
      3) Russell
      4) Hamilton
      5) Ricciardo
      6) Alonso
      7) Bottas
      8) Stroll
      9) Perez
      10) Ocon

      Norris is continuing McLaren’s stunning form in Sochi after he finished second behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardo last time out at the Italian GP, as the team secured their first win since 2012.
      After clinching pole, Norris said: “Oh boy. It feels amazing. Manic session. We made the decision to go slicks, you never think you will get pole until you get it. Extremely happy, big thanks to the team. They have done an amazing job.
      “It was tough. I am going to make myself sound good but it was tricky. The lap before I was two seconds down and I was not confident we would improve. I kept the tyres warm, I risked quite a bit but it paid off.
      “We are in the best position we can be in. I am happy, it is my first pole position and hopefully the first of many.”
      Mercedes’ garage scrambled to switch his front wing
      Two young Brits George Russell and Lando Norris put in sensational lapsCredit: Reuters

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      Lewis Hamilton sorry after wiping out mechanic as he misses his Mercedes box in Russian Grand Prix pit lane

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      HORRIFIED Lewis Hamilton has apologised for wiping out a mechanic during practice for the Russian Grand Prix.Hamilton says “my heart was in my mouth” after knocking the man over when he broke too late entering Mercedes’ box in the pit lane.

      Lewis Hamilton was late in braking, flooring this ‘courageous’ mechanic
      The mechanic had stood his ground but scrambled backwards quickly when he realised Hamilton’s car was going to hit him.
      But after he was sent flying to the ground he climbed back up and gave a thumbs-up sign.
      Britain’s seven-time world F1 champ Hamilton could be heard saying: “Man, Magic, sorry about that. Is he OK?”
      Mercedes confirmed their team member was uninjured, leaving Hamilton to admit just how scared he was by his error.
      He posted on Instagram: “I believe this is the first time I’ve taken out a mechanic in 14 years. 
      World champ Lewis Hamilton admits he was worried for the mechanic’s safetyCredit: Splash
      “My heart was in my mouth, I was so worried. 
      “Thankfully he was OK, pretty courageous to stand in front of the car like that. 
      “We all make mistakes, it’s part of the journey, but it’s how we come back from them that matters.”
      Mercedes added: “For everyone asking, our front jack man is OK.”

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      The mechanic tried to shuffle backwards quickly but it was too late to stop the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton bowling him over
      Reigning champ Hamilton had otherwise shone in practice as he seeks to erase Max Verstappen’s five-point lead.
      Only Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was quicker than Hamilton.
      And Verstappen will start Sunday’s race at the back of the grid after being penalised for changing his engine.
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      F1 Russian Grand Prix LIVE: Bottas goes fastest in FP1, Hamilton and Verstappen next – stream, TV, latest updates

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      GET ready for more high-octane racing as the Formula One season moves to Russia.Sochi plays host to what could be a pivotal race in the Driver’s Championship, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen grappling for crucial points.
      First up though there are two practice sessions today, before qualifying on Saturday.

      Practice start times: 9.30am/1pm BST
      TV channel: Sky Sports F1

      Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
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      MAX STILL OPTIMISTIC
      Max Verstappen had the penalty hanging over his head and he explained the reasoning behind the decision to take it in Russia.
      He told Sky Sports: “It’s not only the results, we took everything into account, also the weather for tomorrow. We thought it would be best to take it here.
      “In 2018 the gaps to the midfield were bigger so I think it will be a bit more difficult to cut through. We had to take a penalty anyway and if we hadn’t have taken it here we’d have to take it somewhere else so we thought we’ll decide to do it here and try and make the best of it.
      “We just try to make the best possible race car for this weekend after we decided to take that engine. Of course it’s going to work out and let’s first see how the weather will be tomorrow.”
      ‘NOTHING TO LOSE’
      Christian Horner believes that Lewis Hamilton is “under way more pressure” to win the 2021 title than Max Verstappen is.
      Ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, Hamilton suggested that Verstappen was feeling the pressure of going for his first World Championship and said he could empathise as he felt the same when he was doing so in 2007.
      He said: “I think Lewis trying to get his eighth title is under way more pressure than Max going for his first.
      “Max is just enjoying what he’s doing, he’s driving better than ever. If you want to look at how he deals with pressure just go and look at Zandvoort, the intense pressure that he was under that weekend.
      “Look, he’s driving better than he’s ever driven, he’s enjoying driving the car, he’s enjoying the challenge, he’s enjoying the competition.
      “He’s got nothing to lose.”
      ‘BIG SHAME FOR MAX’
      Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes must make the most of the opportunity offered by Max Verstappen’s grid penalty at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.
      Hamilton, who lies five points behind Verstappen at the top of the championship table, said the development “doesn’t really change anything for us” but admitted it gave him a valuable opportunity.
      He said: “We’ve just got to do our thing and focus. It’s a tough year, I think, for everyone with reliability. That’s definitely a shame for him.
      “But we’ve got to try and capitalise on that, get a maximum result. A one-two would be spectacular for us as a team.”
      LEW-K OUT
      Lewis Hamilton had a successful practice run but he messed up when he arrived back in the pits.
      The Brit pressed on the brakes a fraction too late and almost hit his mechanic.
      The mechanic quickly took a few steps backwards but lost his balance and ended up on his back – fortunately he got up right away and appears to be okay.

      CRASH!
      Giovinazzi crashes his Alfa Romeo! Red flag!
      He’s understeered at Turn 8 and spins and then slams backwards into the barriers.
      That’s made a mess of his rear wing, and the barriers.
      The session is suspended to recover the car, and fix the barriers.
      LANDO GOING WELL
      In third is Pierre Gasly with Brit Lando Norris finishing up fourth.
      Max Verstappen could not improve on his FP1 run and is down in sixth place.
      MERCEDES HIT BACK
      FP2 ends in the same way as FP1 with Valtteri Bottas leading the way followed by Lewis Hamilton.
      The pair recorded times of 1:33:593 and 1:33:637 respectively.
      LECLERC THE MAN TO BEAT
      Charles Leclerc is the early pacesetter in FP2, and is now ahead of Mercedes pair Valteri Bottas and lewis Hamitlon.
      The Ferrari driver recorded the third-fastest time in FP1 but has improved on that return.
      MAX BLOW
      Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid after being hit with a penalty due to Red Bull opting to take a new Honda power unit at Sochi.
      Verstappen lost his second engine of the season after his heavy crash at Silverstone, caused by contact with title rival Lewis Hamilton.
      He had to switch to a brand new power unit for the next race in Hungary, as a crack was discovered in the repaired engine after qualifying, which moved him onto his third set of major engine components of the season.
      Drivers can only use three each of the international combustion engine, MGU-H, turbocharger and MGU-K in a season before grid penalties start being applied.
      Honda attempted to salvage the cracked power unit but it cannot be used in races again this season, leaving Verstappen with only the engine introduced in Hungary and a high-mileage engine from early in the season to get to the end of the year without a penalty.
      ‘LEWIS WON’T BAIL’
      Lewis Hamilton has decided not to back out of on-track battles when he believes he has a right to the corner, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says.
      Wolff said it followed discussions over the aggressive approach to racing of title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
      Wolff said: “The change in approach is that Lewis pretty much decided not to bail out any more when he thinks the corner is his.
      “Now it needs two to understand when a collision can be avoided.”
      ‘NICE TO BE FIGHTING’
      Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in practice one and he is glad to be competing with the race leaders.
      Leclerc told The Race: “They have two different styles. Max is a bit more on the aggressive side, Lewis a bit more on the clean side. It’s nice to be fighting with both of them.
      “Lewis is always very, very clever in the way he positions his car to put you in a difficult situation. And he most of the time manages to make the pass in a clean way.
      “But I enjoy racing with both, and if anything I quite like fighting with Max because it’s always really on the limit.”
      NINTCHDBPICT000682061343Credit: Reuters
      ‘WE NEED CHAOS’
      Fernando Alonso is feeling confident ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix but admits he would near close to a miracle to win.
      He told Autosport: “I think we are the fifth or sixth team in the field. So to take a podium we need a very chaotic race. Without that, P6 or P7 is our maximum achievable position.
      “A clean Friday is important, because it could be the only dry run of the weekend.
      “You never know, but at least we have more confidence here than in Monza.”

      Lando Norris crashed into the wall and damaged the front wing on his McLaren as he made his way back to the pits at the end of first practice at the 2021 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix.
      He somehow managed to clip a concrete barrier on his way into the pits and ended up in a spin.
      It was a momentary lapse in concentration of an otherwise positive opening session for the Brit, who recorded the sixth-fastest time in first practice.
      MERCEDES ON TOP
      We’re halfway through first practice and it is Mercedes pair Valterri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton who have set the fastest times so far.
      Charles Leclerc follows closely behind and then comes Hamilton’s rival Max Verstappen, just under a second down on the Brit.
      It is heating up to be an exciting qualification.

      FP1 LATEST
      More good speed from Bottas on a glorious morning in Russia, with the Mercedes man going fastest to top the leaderboards.
      Let’s hope that the rain forecast doesn’t wreak havoc on FP2 and FP3, because the track looks in terrific condition for racing.
      TO THE MAX
      Verstappen on the soft tyres and he finally puts his foot to the floor.
      The Driver’s Championship leader goes fastest in FP1.
      BOTTAS ON THE CHARGE
      Valtterri isn’t half bad at this track – and is showing good early pace on the hard tyres.
      A terrific last sector puts him fastest with a 1:36.4, Leclerc and Hamilton nex.t
      FP1 LIVE
      Hamilton, Bottas and Leclerc showing good early pace on this pancake of a track.
      There’s just under 2m of elevation through the entire thing.
      We mentioned the weather earlier and that’s something to keep an eye on for qualifying and the race itself on Sunday – the forecast is for heavy rain…

      LECLERC PENALTY
      An upgrade to Ferrari’s power unit has put Leclerc on the back of the grid on Sunday.
      Carlos Sainz though, he still has the old unit and will have NO penalty. Ferrari didn’t want both their cars starting at the back.
      They’re out on the track now, with the two Mercedes’ also joining the fray.
      HAMMER TIME
      Lewis Hamilton is adamant he will not crack under the pressure of his intense F1 title fight with Max Verstappen.
      The rivalry has exploded on track with the two coming to blows at the British and Italian Grands Prix.
      Last out at Monza, Hamilton said he was lucky to be alive after Verstappen landed his Red Bull racecar on to the top of his Mercedes – earning the Dutchman a three-place grid penalty here in Sochi.
      Hamilton, who is locked in to his 10th title fight, was quizzed whether Verstappen’s actions were showing he is struggling to cope with the added pressure.
      He said: “Obviously he won’t admit to it, I’m not going to make an assumption.
      “But I’m just saying I remember [my first one] was difficult. It was intense. I was going through a lot of different emotions, I didn’t always handle it the best. And that’s to be expected, it’s a lot of pressure.
      “You’re working in a big team, there’s a lot of self-expectation and pressure because the desire to win is huge.”

      MERC TERRITORY
      This is Mercedes’ track, if previous years are anything to go by.

      FP1 IS GO!
      Time for action in Russia, where there’s just been an impressive fly-past from the military.
      This could be one of those practice sessions that tells us everything – or nothing.
      But it wouldn’t be F1 without that unpredictability.
      The drivers just about to head out on track under clear skies.
      MAX ATTACKS
      Max Verstappen has taken another swipe at Lewis Hamilton as their F1 battle is set to erupt in Russia.
      The two clashed at the Italian GP where Hamilton claimed he was lucky to be ALIVE after Verstappen launched his Red Bull off a kerb and on to the roof of the Brit’s Mercedes.
      And they have looked horns again after Hamilton had hinted that the pressure could be getting to the 23-year-old, who is in his first title fight, with Verstappen hitting back saying: “You don’t even know me.”
      Hamilton was quizzed whether Verstappen’s desperate lunge in Monza showed he is struggling to cope with the added pressure.
      He said: “Obviously Max won’t admit to it, I’m not going to make an assumption!
      “But I remember [my first title battle] was difficult. It was intense. I was going through a lot of different emotions.
      “I didn’t always handle it the best. And that’s to be expected, it’s a lot of pressure.”

      SCHEDULE
      There’s no sprint qualifying at the Russian Grand Prix, so the weekend takes on a familiar pattern.
      First and second practice will be held on Friday, September 24 at 9.30am BST and 1pm BST.
      Qualifying follows on Saturday, with the action getting underway at 1pm.
      And the big race itself will be held on Sunday, September 26 with lights out at 1pm.
      You can catch all of the action live on Sky Sports F1.
      Coverage of first practice begins at 9am on Friday, with streaming available on Sky Go.
      WE GO AGAIN
      Ready for more?
      After Monza threw up thrills and spills galore, F1 is back this weekend for the Russian Grand Prix.
      Neither Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen finished the race in Italy, crashing together mid-race and further fuelling their ongoing rivalry.
      The Dutchman has been slapped with a three-place grid penalty ahead of this weekend’s Russian GP for causing the smash that took them both out.
      Ahead of the big race on Sunday, we have two practice sessions today (9am and 1pm) before qualifying tomorrow.
      We could be in for a real treat – don’t miss a second with our live blog from Sochi.

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      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton handed huge boost in F1 title race with fierce rival Max Verstappen to start Russian GP from back of grid

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON has been handed a major boost in his battle with Max Verstappen for the Formula One title after the Dutchman was demoted to the back of the grid.Verstappen, who came into this weekend’s Russian GP with a three-place grid penalty for causing the crash that took both drivers out in Monza, has now been shifted to the very back for Sunday’s race.
      Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid at the Russian GP in Sochi after replacing his engineCredit: AFP
      Verstappen had already been handed a three-place grid penalty following his Monza smash with HamiltonCredit: Getty
      It comes after his Red Bull team decided to replace his engine and components on his car, triggering a number of sanctions.
      It is a blow to Verstappen and his Red Bull team given Mercedes’ domination of the Sochi circuit where they have never lost.
      And it puts Hamilton in pole position to overturn Verstappen’s five point advantage in the title race.
      Hamilton said: “[Max’s penalty] does not really change anything for us. We have to focus and do our thing.
      “It is a shame for him but I have to try to capitalise on that and go for the maximum result and a one-two finish would be a great result for the team.
      “It seems like we have started on the right foot and we are trying to progress but generally it was a good session pace-wise.”

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      Meanwhile, Merc boss Toto Wolff says Hamilton WILL now change his driving style to combat Verstappen’s aggression after the two clashed at Silverstone and the Italian GP.
      Hamilton has backed out of three close calls with Verstappen this season – on the first laps of the Emilia Romagna, Spanish and Italian Grands Prix – while the Dutchman has never given way.
      Wolff said: “The change in approach is that Lewis pretty much decided not to bail out any more when he thinks the corner is his.
      “Now it needs two to understand when a collision can be avoided.”
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he has spoken to his driver about their on-track incidents but also says he does not expect him to shirk his gung-ho approach.
      He added: “We always review any incident and look at it very carefully and you always think ‘could I have done anything different? Could I have done anything better?’
      “Max is always very open to that. He is extremely self-critical. You’re always learning.
      “But he’s a hard racer. It is part of his character – it is part of why he has the following he does.
      “You know he is going to give 110 per cent and that has an impact on the driver he is racing, because they just know he is going to go for it.
      “It’s part of his make-up and I don’t think it’s going to change.”

      🏁 F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
      Lewis Hamilton holds the advantage now going into Sunday’s race in SochiCredit: AP
      Valtteri Bottas set the pace in Sochi having topped both practice sessions on Friday with Hamilton finishing second-quickest in FP2.
      However, the Brit did have a nervy moment when he overshot his pitstop and floored his front jack-man, who was thankfully not hurt despite being sent flying.
      Sky F1 analyst Johnny Herbert said: “Lewis commented that the brake magic button wasn’t doing what he wanted it to do.
      “Luckily the mechanic is OK, which is great, and hopefully they will be able to carry on in the normal way.
      “But it’s the situation, with the Championship how it is, none of this stuff can happen when it comes to the race on Sunday, that’s for sure.”
      Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen react to dangerous crash More