Sports Monday, September 28, 2020 15 Bottas exploits record-chasing Hamilton’s troubles in Russia Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton reacts on the podium after finishing third in the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom Circuit in Russia on Sunday. (AFP) Sochi stewards are Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri ‘trying to stop me’, Bottas celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi says Hamilton Autodrom Circuit in Russia on Sunday. (AFP) AFP Stewards cancel SOCHI (RUSSIA) penalty points AFP SOCHI LEWIS Hamilton accused the The stewards at the Russian stewards at Sunday’s Rus- Grand Prix on Sunday even- VALTTERI Bottas took full Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is congratulated by his team after winning the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom sian Grand Prix of “trying to ing cancelled the two pen- advantage of a troubled day Circuit in Russia on Sunday. (AFP) stop me” after he was handed alty points imposed on Lewis for his Mercedes team-mate two five-second penalties that Hamilton’s super license and Lewis Hamilton to claim the wrecked his hopes of a record- instead fined his Mercedes ninth win of his career with Russian F1 Grand Prix Results Championship standings equalling 91st victory. team. a measured drive to victory 1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1h 34min 00.364sec 12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap Drivers: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 205 pts, 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 161, 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 128, The runaway series leader The six-time champion in Sunday’s incident-packed 2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at 7.729s 13. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1 lap 4. Lando Norris (GBR) 65, 5. Alexander Albon (THA) 64, 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 63, 7. Charles and six-time champion said had been handed the two Russian Grand Prix. 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 22.729 14. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1 Leclerc (MON) 57, 8. Lance Stroll (CAN) 57, 9. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 56, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 45, 11. the stewards’ penalties, given penalties and given two five- 4. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 30.558 lap Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 41, 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 36, 13. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 17, 14. Daniil Kvyat The Finn swooped to take 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 52.065 15. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1 lap to him for a minor infringe- second time penalties after (RUS) 14, 15. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 6, 16. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) 2, 17. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 2, second place at the start and 6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:02.186 16. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap ment when he performed two making irregular pre-race 18. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 1 inherited the lead when the 7. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Renault) 1:08.006 17. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap pre-race practice starts, were practice starts in the pit-lane 8. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:08.740 18. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap Constructors: 1. Mercedes 366 pts, 2. Red Bull-Honda 192, 3. McLaren-Renault 106, 4. Racing runaway series leader and 9. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:29.766 Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:37.030 Point-Mercedes 104, 5. Renault 99, 6. Ferrari 74, 7. AlphaTauri-Honda 59, 8. Alfa Romeo Racing- excessive. exit road. six-time champion took an 10. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 1:37.860 on 58th lap Ferrari 4, 9. Haas-Ferrari 1. “They’re trying to stop me, In a statement, the extended pit-stop to serve two 11. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) Did not finish: Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault), aren’t they? But, that’s ok. sport’s ruling body, the In- five-second penalties for irreg- 1 lap Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) I just need to keep my head ternational Motoring Fed- ular pre-race practice starts. hind by Leclerc and spun into He reacted by pushing to down and stay focussed and eration (FIA), said they A disgruntled Hamilton, given a five-second penalty, in racing overalls on the podium the barriers. open a 2.5 seconds lead on we’ll see what happens.” had been told that the team aiming to win and equal Mi- the second Red Bull. after the race, obeying the Sainz almost collected sev- Bottas before pitting on lap During the race, on team had instructed Hamilton to chael Schumacher’s record of Hamilton did not want to latest revised rules from the eral other cars including team- 17 for hard tyres and his com- radio, Hamilton had described make his practice start in the 91 Grand Prix triumphs, re- talk about his penalty sport’s ruling body not to wear mate Norris who managed to bined 10-seconds penalty. the penalties as ridiculous, a wrong place. joined in 11th place, but fought “It doesn’t matter. It’s any items carrying ‘political’ avert a collision, but felt he “This is ridiculous, man,” term he repeated afterwards “The stewards received back to finish third behind done now. I’ll take the points messages. suffered some damage. said a disgruntled Hamilton and during an interview with information from the team Bottas and Red Bull’s Max and move on, but congratula- Hamilton had made a solid The action resumed on lap before re-joining 11th. Sky Sports. that the driver of car 44 Verstappen. tions to Valtteri. start from his record 96th pole six, when Hamilton’s penalties At the front, Bottas reeled “I’m pretty sure no-one has [Hamilton] had received a His second win in Russia “A big thank-you to the and fended off the slipstream- were announced. off fastest laps to open a clear got two five-second penalties team instruction to perform and second this season rein- fans here this weekend – spasi- ing Bottas, who had passed “What happened? What lead before pitting on lap 27, for something so ridiculous the practice start in the in- vigorated Bottas’ challenge for bo,” he said. “It’s not the great- Verstappen’s Red Bull. happened?” he responded retaining his advantage ahead before,” he said. correct place,” it said. the drivers’ title and reduced est day, but it is what it is...” on team radio. “Those starts, of Leclerc’s Ferrari with Ver- “I didn’t put anyone in “This was confirmed by Hamilton’s lead to 44 points. Bottas said: “It’s very nice ‘This is ridiculous!’ going to the grid, we got five stappen, having pitted earlier danger. I’ve done this at a mil- the stewards having listened Sergio Perez came home to get a win. It’s been a while! The Dutchman, recovering seconds for each – out of posi- in third. lion tracks over the years and to the audio between the fourth for Racing Point ahead I need to try and keep the mo- from a ragged getaway, ran tion,” he was told. By lap 32, Bottas was in never been questioned on it... team and the driver.” of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, mentum. I’ve managed to off-line to defend against a “Where is that in the rule command with a 12 seconds but it is what it is.” It went on to add that the who had to take a five second squeeze a few points over Lewis, rapid Ricciardo before two book?” said a disgruntled Ham- lead over Verstappen and Hamilton was deemed stewards “therefore remove penalty for an infringement, but there’s still quite a few rac- first lap crashes behind them ilton. “Anything to slow me Hamilton up to third after slic- to have broken the rules set the penalty points imposed and Charles Leclerc, who was es to go so you never know. I’ll ended the early action and down, but it’s ok. I can take it.” ing through the field, many of down in the Race Director’s and fine the competitor sixth for Ferrari. keep pushing. I won’t give up.” brought out the Safety Car. Hamilton was also given whom had pitted. pre-race instructions when he (Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Esteban Ocon was seventh Verstappen said: “We split McLaren’s Carlos Sainz hit two more penalty points on his The charge had given en- performed two practice starts Team) EUR25,000.” for Renault ahead of local hero the Mercedes again so that is a wall in the run-off area at racing licence and, with a total tertainment to the 30,000 in the wrong place in the pit- The stewards added that Daniil Kvyat and his Alpha good – and we can be happy Turn Two after losing control of 10 in 12 months, moved spectators, the first significant lane exit road. they were fining Mercedes Tauri team-mate Pierre Gasly with that.” before Racing Point’s Lance within two of an automatic crowd at a sports event in the He started the race from 25,000 Euros (29,000 dol- and Alex Albon, who was also All three drivers wore their Stroll was nudged from be- one-race ban. COVID-19 era. his record 96th pole position. lars) for each infringement. Quartararo wins Catalonia MotoGP to retake championship lead AFP BARCELONA Petronas Yamaha SRT’s French rider FABIO Quartararo produced Fabio Quartararo a thrilling ride to claim a re- competes during sounding victory at the Cata- Results the MotoGP race lonia MotoGP on Sunday, MotoGP: 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha- of the Moto Grand his third of the season which SRT) 40min 33.176sec, 2.