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Bottas beats Vettel in Russia for 1st F1 win
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VALTTERI Bottas claimed his first Formula One win yesterday after holding off a late charge from Sebastian Vettel at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
Mercedes driver Bottas, who started third but slipstreamed into the lead off the start, finished 0.6 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Vettel. Kimi Raikkonen took third in the second Ferrari, 10.3 seconds further back.
“Took quite a while, more than 80 races,” said Bottas, who had his debut with Williams in 2013. “Worth the wait.”
The 27-year-old Finn joined Mercedes after last year’s champion, Nico Rosberg, announced his retirement.
Vettel, who had started on pole, hunted Bottas down in the latter part of the race. However, he was left fuming after his hopes of passing the Finn on the last lap were dashed by having to lap the Williams of Felipe Massa. “What was that?” Vettel asked over the team radio in frustration that Massa hadn’t moved out of his way swiftly enough, though the German was in conciliatory mood afterward.
“It doesn’t matter,” Vettel said of the incident with Massa. “This is the man of the race today, big congrats to Valtteri.”
Vettel’s second place meant the German extended his lead to 13 points over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who trailed in fourth after suffering overheating trouble. It was a lonely race for the Briton, who had large gaps with Raikkonen ahead and Max Verstappen behind.
With Russian President Vladimir Putin looking on, Red Bull driver Verstappen claimed fifth, ahead of the Force India’s of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. Eighth went to Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, with Massa and Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz claiming the final points.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was the most notable retirement, parking his car on lap 6 after the right-rear brakes caught fire. There was a safety-car stoppage after barely half a lap when Romain Grosjean’s Haas hit the Renault of Jolyon Palmer on the inside of a right-hand bend, putting both cars into the wall.
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