Hamilton wins Russian Grand Prix

SOCHI — Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the inaugural Russian Grand Prix yesterday, leading a 1-2 finish for Mercedes and clinching the team’s first Formula 1 constructors’ title.

Nico Rosberg finished second despite having to pit early in the race, but now trails his team-mate by 17 points in the drivers’ standings, with three races remaining.

Hamilton won his fourth straight race and his ninth of the season. He was presented the winner’s trophy by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in what Hamilton described as a “kind of surreal” moment, with the drivers making sure Putin had left the podium before spraying the champagne that had lain virtually untouched last weekend following Jules Bianchi’s horrific accident in Japan.

“Nico did a great job to return from his mistake,” said Hamilton.

“To get the first championship for Mercedes Benz is amazing, a beautiful day. It’s very cool to have won the first race here.”

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas finished third for Williams, at a circuit snaking around some of the landmark venues from this year’s Winter Olympics.

Before the race started, the drivers lined up on the grid as the old Soviet anthem rang out, but that was overshadowed by the show of support sent to the stricken Bianchi, as the drivers held a short huddle before hopping in their cars.

The stage was set for what Putin hoped would be a spectacular inaugural Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Overall, the event fell flat, but the start did not disappoint.

Hamilton was quick out of the blocks, before almost immediately, Rosberg got in his slipstream. The German pulled out to the right, ducked down the inside, and eased past the Englishman.

However, after fiddling with a few switches — presumably adjusting the brake balance — he locked all four tyres, producing huge plumes of white smoke and forcing evasive action; Rosberg missed the second part of the corner, but was leading Hamilton for now.

He was swiftly ordered to give the place back, and that was not the last of it. The lock up had totally obliterated his brand new tyres.

“I have to pit because of vibrations”, he said agitatedly.

While Hamilton eased away at the front, Rosberg pitted on lap one, falling to the back of the field.

It was yet another blow for the German, and underlined a now undeniable fact: In wheel-to-wheel racing, Hamilton more than has his number.

If the track and the venue in Sochi are fairly dreary, the race overall was even more so.

The only narrative worth following was how quickly Rosberg was able to make his way through the field to finish second. That will at least keep the drivers’ championship alive and kicking for another day.