Lewis Hamilton won the race in Sotchi ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Sergio Perez surprisingly finished third, also because Räikkönen caused an accident together with Bottas on the last lap.
by B. Fleckenstein
The two Silver Arrows on the front row of the grid behind them Valtteri Bottas (Williams) followed by Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari), Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Perez, the two Force India drivers, were the first seven drivers on the grid. Nico Rosberg was able to defend his pole against Lewis Hamilton at the start and remained in the lead for the time being. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) overtook Vettel (Ferrari) and then Bottas (Williams). Nico Hülkenberg (Force India) spun in the first corner after the start and touched Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso). Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) drove onto Nico Hülkenberg and thus the safety car was brought onto the track on the first lap. That was the early end for Hülkenberg and Ericsson. Max Verstappen had to pit with a flat rear tire, but was able to continue afterwards. Hülkenberg had this to say about his spin: "We have the opportunity to adjust the brake balance and it was maybe set too much back." On Lap 7, Lewis Hamilton passed teammate Nico Rosberg and took the lead. Rosberg subsequently overestimated himself somewhat at turn 13 and after that it looked as if the Mercedes had a problem, as Rosberg could only roll to the pits and then had to retire from the race on technical grounds.
Horror crash on lap 11 - safety car for the second time
It was Romain Grosjean (Lotus) who lost control of his Lotus at the end of the long corner around the Medal Plaza, where the 2014 Winter Olympics were opened, and drove into the track barrier, destroying a large part of it. That called Bernd Mailänder into action, who kept the safety car on the track for five laps.
After a flying start, Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) managed to overtake Kimi Raikkonen. The latter was then in pursuit of Bottas, who was running in second place behind the leading Hamilton. But there was little change in the standings. Only when Bottas came in for a tire change on lap 26 was Vettel able to take over second place, followed by Kimi Räikkönen. The following pit stops shook up the field and on lap 36 Hamilton (Mercedes) was still safely in the lead, followed by Vettel (Ferrari), Perez (Force India) now in third, Ricciardo (Red Bull), Bottas (Williams), Raikkonen (Ferrari) and Sainz (Toro Rosso).
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) had to retire on lap 47 for technical reasons. Bottas (Williams) and Räikkönen (Ferrari) passed him shortly before. The two were now half a second behind Sergio Perez on lap 49 with four laps to go. On the last lap, both drivers simultaneously overtook Sergio Perez, who had been fighting for third place for a long time. But then the unbelievable mishap happened. Raikkonen tried to outmaneuver Bottas on the inside of a right-hand bend, but he literally shot him down. Sergio Perez was the smiling third-place finisher, and he managed to hold on to his long-defended third place. Felipe Massa was fourth. Lewis Hamilton won ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who again left the championship decision open with his second place.
Ranking GP of Russia
1st Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:37:11.024 hrs.
2nd Sebastian Vettel Ferrari + 5.953 sec.
3rd Sergio Perez Force India + 28.918 sec.
4th Felipe Massa Williams + 38.831 sec.
5th Daniil Kvyat Red Bull + 47.566 sec.
6th Felipe Nasr Sauber + 56.508 sec.
7th Pastor Maldonado Lotus + 1:01 min.
8th Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari + 1:12 min.
9th Jenson Button McLaren Honda +1:19 min.
10th Max Verstappen Toro Rosso + 1:28 min.
11th Fernando Alonso McLaren Honda + 1:31 min.
12th Valtteri Bottas Williams + 1 lap
13th Roberto Mehri Manor Marussia + 1 lap
14th Will Stevens Manor Marussia + 2 laps
15th Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull + 6 laps
16th Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso + 8 laps
17th Romain Grosjean Lotus (11 laps completed)
18th Nico Rosberg Mercedes ( 7 laps driven)
19th Nico Hülkenberg Force India ( 0 laps driven)
20th Marcus Ericsson Sauber (0 laps completed)
English 
Deutsch 
Français 
Español 
Italiano