Lewis Hamilton was the beneficiary of Mercedes team orders as he was given victory in the Russian Grand Prix ahead of Valtteri Bottas, helping the Brit open up a 50-point lead in the drivers' standings ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who finished third.
Hamilton had to fight Vettel on-track in order to maintain postition behind Bottas, picking up tyre blisters in the process.
It prompted Mercedes to order Bottas to move aside, frustrating th Finn, but bolstering Hamilton's hopes of a fifth title.