Race Notes - Hamilton takes Mercedes 1-2 in Russia

By Mark Karp

Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix in his Mercedes GP, 3.829 seconds ahead of his team mate Valtteri Bottas in second. Polesitter Charles Leclerc finished third in the Ferrari, 5.212 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Hamilton’s 9th of the 2019 season , and 82nd of his career. It was Mercedes GP’s 11th win of the season.

Max Verstappen (14.210s) in the Red Bull-Honda was fourth, followed by his team mate Alex Albon (38.348s) - who started from the back of the field - was fifth, Carlos Sainz (45.889s) in the McLaren-Renault was sixth, Sergio Perez (48.728s) in the Racing Point-Mercedes was seventh, Lando Norris (57.745s) in the second McLaren was eighth, Kevin Magnussen (58.779s) in the Haas-Ferrari was ninth and Nico Hulkenberg (59.841s) in the Renault took the final point in tenth place.

All of the top ten started on soft tyres, except for the Mercedes of Hamilton from second and Bottas in fourth on the grid, both starting on medium tyres.

At the appointed time, the grid came around on the formation lap, the lights went off and the race started with Vettel getting Vettel made a run from third to first in the first corner taking the lead over Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Bottas and Norris.

Ricciardo and Grosjean come together on the first lap, Grosjean ends up in the wall and the Safety car is out.

Kubica pits at the end of the lap and takes on hard tyres. Ricciardo pits for hard tyres as well.

At the start of lap 4 the race resumes with Vettel leading Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Bottas, Norris, Perez and Verstappen. Magnussen passes Hulkenberg for ninth.

Vettel sets fasy lap at 1m39.750s.

The two Ferrari’s start to gain a gap over Hamilton. Ferrari tells Leclerc that Vettel will let him through the next lap.

On lap 6 Vettel sets another fast lap at 1m39.350s.

Bottas passes Sainz for fourth place.

Leclerc tells the team that he respected his part of the deal, and Vettel should let him through.

On lap 8 Verstappen passes Perez for seventh.

On lap 9 Vettel sets another fast lap at 1m39.016s.

Ferrari tells Leclerc that Hamilton is too close and that they will do the swap later in the race.

At lap 10 Vettel leads Leclerc by 2.3s, followed by Hamilton (6.2s), Bottas (12.9s), Sainz (21.1s), Norris (24.9s), Verstappen (25.5s), Perez (27.4s), Hulkenberg (28.2s) and Magnussen (35.6s) in tenth place.

On lap 12 Verstappen passes Norris for sixth place.

Vettel sets another fast lap at 1m38.820s, and then again the next lap at 1m38.543s.

Vettel leads Leclerc by 3.6 seconds.

On lap 14 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m38.533s and follows the leader by 6.6 seconds in third.

Hulkenberg passes Perez for eighth place.

On lap 16 Vettel sets another fast lap at 1m38.245s.

Hulkenberg has a slow stop for medium tyres, and rejoins in 17th.

On lap 17 Verstappen passes Sainz for fifth place.

Albon passes Kvyat for 12th place.

Albon is battling with Gasly over 11th place. Albon tells the team that he is having braking problems.

Hamilton tells the team that he is still pushing.

At lap 20 Vettel leads Leclerc by 4.3 seconds, followed by Hamilton (7.0s), Bottas (18.9s), Verstappen (38.5s), Sainz (44.5s), Perez (50.8s), Magnussen (58.9s), Stroll (60.7s), and Gasly (64.4s) in tenth place.

Norris pits, then Sainz pits the next lap, both for medium tyres.

On lap 22 Leclerc pits for medium tyres and rejoins in fourth.

On lap 23 Perez pits for medium tyres and rejoins in 13th.

Vettel tells Ferrari that his rear tyres are getting worn out.

Albon passes Kvyat for eighth place.

On lap 25 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m37.705s.

Sainz passes Gasly for tenth place.

Ricciardo retires in the pits with damage from his first lap contact.

On lap 26 Vettel pits from the lead for medium tyres, and rejoins in fourth behind his team mate Leclerc. Hamilton takes over the lead ahead of Bottas and Leclerc.

On lap 27 Vettel pulls off the track with an MGU-H problem, the virtual safety car is out.

Vettel says "Are you serious?"

Hamilton and Bottas pit for soft tyres.

Hamilton leads Leclerc, Bottas, Verstappen, Albon, Sainz, Magnussen, Norris, Perez and Hulkenberg in tenth.

Russell has a failure with his car and ends up in the barrier - the full safety car is deployed.

On lap 30 Leclerc pits for a set of soft tyres.

Behind the safety car Hamilton leads Bottas, Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Magnussen, Norris, Perez, Stroll, Albon in tenth, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Kvyat, Giovinazzi and Raikkonen.

At lap 32 the race resumes with Hamilton in front with Leclerc close behind Bottas in second.

Verstappen locks up in the first corner, but continues.

Albon passes Perez for eighth.

Gasly and Kvyat battle over 12th place.

On lap 35 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m37.150s.

Leclerc looks for a way past Bottas, but he is not close enough.

On lap 37 Hamilton sets another fast lap at 1m36.639s, and leads by 3.0 seconds.

Hulkenberg passes Stroll for tenth. Gasly loses a place to Raikkonen.

Leclerc has droped back a bit to cool his tyres, and is making another charge at Bottas.

At lap 40 Hamilton leads Bottas by 3.7 seconds, followed by Leclerc (5.1s), Verstappen (8.4s), Sainz (22.3s), Magnussen (26.7s), Albon (27.9s), Perez (29.2s), Norris (33.5s) and Hulkenberg (34.5) in tenth place.

On lap 42 Albon passes Magnussen for sixth place.

On lap 42 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m36.467s.

Perez passes Magnussen for seventh place.

On lap 36 Hamilton sets another fast lap at 1m36.312s.

Magnussen is handed a 5-second penalty for going wide off the track.

On lap 47 Albon passes Sainz for fifth place.

At lap 50 Hamilton leads Bottas by 4.0 seconds, followed by Leclerc (6.3s), Verstappen (13.2s), Albon (37.2s), Sainz (42.6s), Perez (45.9s), Magnussen (51.5s), Norris (55.7s) and Hulkenberg (57.5s) in tenth,

On lap 51 Hamilton sets fast lap.

At the finish Hamilton crosses the line with the win over Bottas and Leclerc.