35. 2021 Russian GP: Hamilton denies Norris at the death

September 26, Sochi

Having already been a podium finisher five times and heading to Russia after celebrating his best-ever result of second place in the Italian GP, Lando Norris was desperate for the top step in this weather-afflicted race. Too desperate, as it worked out.

“McLaren radioed suggesting a stop for inters, only to be met with a firm ‘NO!’ from its driver who was determined to cling on”

Norris started his McLaren from pole but dropped to second before re-passing Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for top spot and then making his only required pit stop to switch to hard tyres. All was going to plan until the rain arrived with six laps to go.

Lewis Hamilton had made steady progress to run second and was soon on the gearbox of the McLaren, using every ounce of his experience to keep the slithering Mercedes on track as conditions worsened.

McLaren responded by radioing Norris to suggest a stop for inters, only to be met with a firm “NO!” from its driver, who was determined to cling on. Hamilton called it with four laps to go, switching to wet rubber. Although it cost a heap of time, when he rejoined the Mercedes carved chunks out of Norris’s lead, whose harder Pirellis offered no traction as the rain increased.

The duel was settled when Norris completely ran out of grip with two laps to go, sliding helplessly off. His day was compounded when he also understeered beyond the pit entry while trying to nurse the car back, picking up a penalty that left him a dejected seventh as Hamilton secured his historic 100th grand prix victory in dramatic fashion. RL

Results

1st Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 1hr 30min 41.001sec, 127.34mph
2nd Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing-Honda)
3rd Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Pole position Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes), 1min 41.993sec, 128.25mph