Four talking points from the Russian Grand Prix

Hamilton’s unnecessary penalties

“Where is that in the rules?” Hamilton complained on the radio after being told he’d earned a pair of five-second penalties for two practice starts carried out in what was deemed the wrong place during the reconnaissance laps. The punishments, for what amounted to minor transgressions before the race had even begun, do seem harsh. But in truth, Hamilton and Mercedes only really have themselves to blame for losing this race.

The sporting regulations state “all drivers going to the pit exit at this time must do so at a constant speed and with constant throttle”, which doesn’t give much clue to what is allowed regarding practice starts. But at each grand prix, an area is usually allocated for the purpose and in Russia, race director Michael Masi’s notes for the event stated, as is typical: “Practice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side after the pit exits lights.” Now, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff claimed this was exactly what Hamilton did, that Masi’s note didn’t specify where and how far beyond the pit exit lights practice starts could be carried out. But he was splitting hairs. After getting the green light from his race engineer Pete Bonnington that he was clear to do so, Hamilton chose an odd place right at the point where pit exit meets race track to make his starts, avoiding the designated area that had been heavily ‘rubbered up’ by other cars. No one else diverted from the norm in this way. As harsh as the penalties were, Hamilton and Mercedes left themselves open to scrutiny.

Beyond whether it was fair or not, his response sure was interesting. Hamilton didn’t exactly take it well during the race and although he salvaged third place, his head – for once – seemed to drop. As for his ill-considered comment on the stewards – “They are out to stop me” – there were shades of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna in those sentiments. No need for conspiracy theories here. But like Senna, Hamilton seems to feed off an ‘us against the world’ attitude during pinch-points of pressure.

The reconnaissance incident followed on the back of team and driver mistakes in qualifying that could have left him 15^th on the grid and led to him starting the race from pole position on the ‘wrong’ soft-compound tyre. Sochi was simply one he’ll quickly want to forget.

Bottas answers his critics – in two words

“A nice moment to thank all the critics,” said Bottas on the radio directly after taking the flag for his ninth grand prix victory. “To whom it may concern, **** you.” It’s hard to blame him for such a response after the summer he’s had as brow-beaten team-mate to Hamilton, and there were clear echoes to his similarly fired-up response when he won the opening grand prix of 2019, in Australia. But while his victory was well taken, had the Finn really answered his critics as directly as his profanity claimed?

In qualifying, Bottas was six-tenths down on Hamilton despite the champion’s stresses and only lined up third behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. He made a great start and nosed ahead towards Turn 2 – in effect the first proper corner on the Sochi track – only to be distracted by a “massive bee” on his visor. Thereafter, he was certainly on a better tyre strategy to Hamilton, but would he really have beaten Lewis without those penalties? That’s a big question mark.

Bottas has closed the championship points gap to his team-mate, to a still substantial 44. It’s hard to believe Sochi will be a genuine turning point for his title challenge.

Embarrassment for Sainz Jr and Albon

Luck has played against Carlos Sainz Jr. in his final season for McLaren, but this time his downfall was all his own. Verstappen had shown the best way to take the mandatory overshoot chicane at Turn 2 when he ran wide on lap one. It looked incredibly tight, but the Red Bull successfully threaded the needle. Sainz’s McLaren certainly did not.

How he violently caught his left-front wheel on the barrier looked amateur, from a driver usually considered one of the most professional on the gird. His sheepish admission on the radio said it all. Like Hamilton, this is one he’ll want to quickly forget.

Alexander Albon at least made the finish, but on the back of his first podium secured last time out at Mugello, qualifying and finishing 10^th was also somewhat humiliating. Especially when his team-mate finished second and Pierre Gasly – the man he replaced mid-season last year – passed him after Albon fudged a challenge on Lando Norris. A five-place penalty for a gearbox change was hardly his fault, but the Thai did himself no favours in his bid to keep his drive for 2021. Reb Bull has been uncharacteristically patient with Albon this year. Others have been dropped for less.

Kvyat and Perez shine

Daniel Kyvat knows all about Red Bull’s usual ruthless streak when it comes to under-performing drivers and indeed, the Russian might well find himself dropped again from AlphaTauri after too many lacklustre performances this season. But on home ground, Kvyat banked a handy reminder of what he’s really about, making the most of starting on the hard tyre to finish eighth, and crucially ahead of Gasly.

Sergio Perez also deserves credit for seeing off the Renaults to finish fourth, the Mexican’s best finish since his podium at the 2018 Azerbaijan GP. Perez started the weekend voicing his doubts about Racing Point hiding information now the team has signed Sebastian Vettel to replace him for next year. He ended it with a performance that should remind the team what it has chosen to throw away. Vettel finished 13^th, by the way, seven places behind his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Photography courtesy of Motorsport Images.