F1 GP Russia: Bottas wins his first GP, the Ferraris also on the podium

A magical one Valtteri Bottas is going to win the Russian GP, conquering the top step of the podium for the first time in his career, ahead of Sebastian Vettel e Kimi Raikkonen. The pilot of Mercedes he didn't make a single mistake, immediately making a masterly start. Hag he tried until the end to catch the Finn but had to settle for second place, while maintaining the leadership in the general classification, given that Hamilton, absolutely colorless on this Russian Sunday, crossed the finish line in fourth place. Verstappen, Perez, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Massa and Sainz complete the top ten.

News –  US ultrasoft rubber used for all top 10 on the grid. The training tour begins. US new from 11th to 16th place, as well as for Grosjean. New S soft compound for Wehrlein, Ericsson and Vandoorne. The air temperature was 26°C and the asphalt temperature was 40°C when the formation lap of the Russian GP started. Alonso's McLaren immediately complained of power problems and was unable to line up: the Spaniard abandoned his car to the track marshals and set off towards the pits on foot, while he was given another training lap on the track. When the traffic lights went out, Vettel got a good start, but Bottas immediately got in his wake and managed to take the lead at turn 2. Raikkonen slipped to third and at least managed to keep Hamilton behind. Followed by Verstappen, Massa, Ricciardo, Perez, Ocon and Hulkenberg. The safety car was immediately on track: contact between Grosjean and Palmer and Stroll spun. Haas and Renault are out, while Williams manages to restart. Vandoorne immediately goes from the pits and mounts the ultrasofts, as does Ericsson. On lap 4 the safety car returns and on the following lap Ricciardo also retires, with hot brakes. Bottas meanwhile has a 2.4s lead over Vettel. On lap 10: Bottas, Vettel, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Verstappen, Massa, Perez, Ocon, Hulkenberg and Magnussen.

Meanwhile, Hamilton tries to get close to Raikkonen, but the mechanics tell him he needs to cool the engine. Between Bottas and Hamilton, however, the gap is 11 seconds. Back and forth with fast laps between the leader and Vettel, to which Hamilton then responds, who in the meantime has "solved" the overheating problems and is back in the hunt for Raikkonen. On lap 21 the blister problems begin for Ferrari and Mercedes, with the Silver Arrows appearing to suffer the most. On lap 22, pit stops for Wehrlein and Massa, who ride ultrasoft and supersoft respectively. Pit stop also for Sainz, who switches to supersoft and returns 11th. On lap 27 it's Bottas' turn: supersoft tire and fourth position when he returns. Pit stop and same tire for Perez too. On lap 29 the stop falls to Raikkonen, who returns to fourth. Verstappen follows him, returning to the track behind the Finn. Hamilton also stops on lap 31 and rejoins fourth. Vettel stays out trying to gain as much ground as possible on Bottas.

The German from Ferrari stopped on lap 34: a pit stop that wasn't perfect for him and he returned behind Bottas, in second position. Followed by Raikkonen, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Massa, Perez, Ocon and Sainz. Only Renault has yet to stop, the others have all already switched to SS tyres. Vettel is 4.4s behind the leader, Hamilton 14s. Bottas blocks and almost kisses the wall, but resists and continues, albeit losing some ground to Vettel, who tries everything to catch the Mercedes at the end...

With about ten laps to go, the gap between Bottas and Vettel was reduced to 1.8s. The last one to pit in the top 10 and switch to supersoft is Hulkenberg. Second pit stop meanwhile for Massa, who remounts the ultrasofts and returns ninth. The last laps are all a chase by the German on the Finn. Vettel gets ever closer, but Bottas resists and, thanks also to the last lapping of Massa, goes on to win the Russian GP ahead of the two Ferraris.

F1 GP Russia – Times, results and laps Race
1 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes + 0″000 1:28’08″743 52
2 05 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari + 0″000 + 0″617 52
3 07 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari + 0″000 + 11″000 52
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes + 0″000 + 36″320 52
5 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull + 0″000 + 60″416 52
6 11 Sergio Perez Force India + 0"000 + 86"788 52
7 31 Esteban Ocon Force India + 0″000 + 95″004 52
8 27 Nico Hulkenberg Renault + 0″000 + 96″188 52
9 19 Felipe Massa Williams + 0"000 + 1 lap 51
10 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso + 0"000 + 1 lap 51
11 18 Lance Stroll Williams + 0″000 + 1 lap 51
12 26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso + 0″000 + 1 lap 51
13 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas + 0″000 + 1 lap 51
14 2 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren + 0″000 + 1 lap 51
15 09 Marcus Ericsson Sauber + 0″000 + 1 lap 51
16 94 Pascal Wehrlein Sauber + 0″000 + 2 laps 50
17 03 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull + 0″000 DNF
18 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren + 0″000 DNF
19 30 Jolyon Palmer Renault + 0″000 DNF
20 08 Romain Grosjean Haas + 0″000 DNF