Hamilton wins Russian GP: How Mercedes beat Ferrari in Sochi

Russian GP

Hamilton wins Russian GP: How Mercedes beat Ferrari in Sochi

Ferrari fell apart!

Matthew Scott

Sunday 29 September 2019 14:47 Updated: 17:18

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Ferrari snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as Mercedes somehow extended their 100 per cent winning record at the Russian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton led a one-two from Valtteri Bottas.

Charles Leclerc took a fourth pole in succession, with Sebastian Vettel in prime position to benefit from the slipstream from third on the grid.

Ferrari did run one and two after Turn Two of the opening lap, but controversy reigned as the Scuderia fell into yet another team orders farce.

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As the team went into meltdown, their race utterly fell apart, giving Hamilton his first win since Hungary and ninth of the season. Here's how it played out.

Vettel jumps Hamilton and Leclerc

Leclerc had warned that starting on pole might not be ideal and his fears were realised as Vettel got a mighty start, aided by a slipstream from his team-mate to move past Hamilton and Leclerc into the lead of the race.

Vettel defies Ferrari team orders

Clarity soon followed, with Ferrari's radio messages suggesting they had planned to slipstream Vettel into the lead before giving P1 back to Leclerc.

However, when Vettel was asked to cede to his team-mate, he said he would have to catch up before bolting clear, with Ferrari telling Leclerc they would attempt the switch later in the race.

Ferrari take control, but Vettel retires, putting Hamilton in front

Leclerc pits before Vettel, who is left out on worn tyres until the Monegasque closes the pit window.

Vettel pits and emerges behind Leclerc, but immediately runs into trouble, with an MGU-K failure ending his race. "Bring back the fucking V12s," is the German's lament.

It has further ramifications for Ferrari, however, as the VSC allows Hamilton to pit from the lead and maintain position.

Leclerc gives up P2 to Bottas

George Russell suffered a brake failure during the VSC triggered by Vettel's retirement, bringing out the full safety car.

On medium tyres, Leclerc faced a speed deficit to the Mercedes either side of him, so Ferrari bring in Leclerc to fit barely used soft tyres, giving up P2 to Bottas in the process.

Bottas holds off Leclerc as Hamilton opens up lead

Hamilton bolted clear as the safety car peeled in, almost immediately jumping a second clear of Bottas, who has Leclerc in close quarters.

Despite Leclerc calling for "everything you have" from Ferrari, he cannot make the most of DRS on the run down to Turn 2 and eventually has to back out, giving Mercedes yet another one-two.