Source 1 Source 2 + Photoshop + PhotoFunia Weather Effect

After being dealt a 3 place grid penalty for his collision with Lewis Hamilton at Monza, Max Verstappen and the Red Bull team decided to bite the bullet and take the additional hit of an engine penalty to start at the back of the grid.

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Qualifying

Having rained all morning, the Sochi track was wet meaning that all cars entered qualifying on Intermediate (or in Alonso's case Wet) tyres with times slowly improving as the track started to dry out. Unsurprisingly, it was the 2 Alfa Romeos and Haas cars eliminated in Q1, along with Verstappen who chose to save his shiny new engine for race day.

Having also taken engine penalties, Latifi and Leclerc didn't set a time in Q2 and joined Vettel and the 2 Alpha Tauris in being eliminated.

It was in Q3 however that things got interesting. Hamilton set the fastest lap on Inters and sensing an opportunity, George Russell gambled on slick tyres on the drying track. After taking an extra lap to warm the tyres, those who gambled on the softs were rewarded with Norris taking pole from Sainz and Russell, leaving Hamilton in 4th after driving into the pit wall.

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Race Day

With all of the engine penalties being taken, Mercedes and Valtteri Bottas didn't want to miss out and also took a 10 place grid penalty, importantly still starting ahead of Max Verstappen in the expectation of slowing down the Red Bull surge.

In an eventful start (devoid of any crashes), Sainz led from Norris and then Russell with Hamilton dropping to 7th after backing out going into turn 1, losing out to Stroll, Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo. Hamilton slowly starting making his way back through the field, overtaking Alonso on the 2nd lap whilst Verstappen had made his way up to 17th by this point.

It didn't take long for Verstappen to catch Bottas' Mercedes and any thoughts that Bottas would hold up the Red Bull driver were quickly dismissed as Verstappen overtook the Finn with ease. It was almost embarrassing how easily Verstappen got past and if any more justification for him losing his place in the team were needed, this was most certainly it.

It was Leclerc and Vettel who gave Verstappen his biggest challenge with the former nearly taking out Verstappen's front wing, presumably not noticing the Red Bull coming up the inside. With Verstappen moving up the field quickly, Norris got past Sainz and started to open up a lead at the front of the race.

The pit stops were kind on Hamilton and when everything had settled, he was sitting in 2nd and hoping to find a way past an impressive Norris in front. And then with 6 laps to go, it started to rain and the neutrals started rubbing their hands at the impending chaos as drivers didn't know what to do.

Initially, Norris and Hamilton stayed out - Norris being told that the rain wouldn't worsen, Hamilton being told the opposite. With 2nd place secure, Hamilton pitted whilst Norris stayed out, proving to be a masterstroke as the rainfall increased. When Norris lapped and then was unlapped by the useless Mazepin, he must have known the writing was on the wall. Norris eventually pitting and finishing a disappointing 8th.

The biggest gainer was Verstappen who was sitting in 7th and pitting a lap before everybody else, took full advantage whilst those in front of him slid around, struggling for grip and put his Red Bull on the Podium, in 2nd place behind Hamilton.

Such a shame for Lando Norris who was on course for his first win in F1 and a mistake that he and his team will surely learn from.

Hamilton's win marked his 100th in Formula 1 - a remarkable achievement and moved him to of the drivers championship in his quest for a record 8th title. I'm sure there'll be some disappointment though that the opportunity to establish a gap ahead of Verstappen in the title race didn't transpire.

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Race Highlights

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Final Result

1. Hamilton
2. Verstappen
3. Sainz
4. Ricciardo
5. Bottas
6. Alonso
7. Raikkonen
8. Norris
9. Perez
10. Russell

Very little was made of Raikkonen finishing 7th so I've only just realised this. An incredible result for him.

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