Lewis Hamilton WINS Russian Grand Prix – with help from ‘Team Orders’

Lewis Hamilton wins the 2018 Russian Grand Prix, with a little help from Mercedes using team orders to let him pass Bottas. Vettel finished third.

Lewis Hamilton could only manage second spot on the grid after qualifying in Russia, and as the race unfolded he didn’t look to be threatening Bottas at the front.

But a team order at around the halfway stage saw Bottas let Hamilton through to protect his lead in the drivers title race, from where Hamilton went on to win, and grab 25 points.

From the start Bottas lead, and Hamilton followed behind, fending off a challenge from Vettel, with the leaders keeping starting positions until the first pit stop, when Hamilton tried to put in quick times as Bottas pitted but ended up slowed by back-marker Sirotkin in the Williams.

When Hamilton did pit he came out level with Vettel, and although Vettel fought to keep ahead – sometimes over defensively – Vettel eventually had to concede to Hamilton.

By this time Verstappen was in the lead, and Bottas and Hamilton were unable to pass. Mercedes gave the order for Hamilton to pass Bottas in to second place, and when Verstappen pitted Hamilton assumed the lead and stayed until the end, with Bottas second and Vettel third.

Kimi Raikkonen followed Vettel home for a fourth place with Max Verstappen scoring a brilliant fifth place after starting 19th on the grid after penalties, with team mate Ricciardo in sixth.

Charles Leclers took seventh for Sauber, Magnussen eighth in the Haas and the last two points places went to the Force Indias of Ocon and Perez.

Lewis Hamilton is now on 50 points, with a maximum of 125 points available from the remaining races. Barring a real catastrophe, it’s hard to see Vettel being able to catch Hamilton and stop him grabbing another driver’s title.