- Hamilton third behind Max Verstappen after 10-second penalty
- World champion was bidding to equal Schumacher’s 91 GP wins
For so long the benchmark for almost flawless execution, it is almost disconcerting when the all-conquering Mercedes are found floundering with what must be considered schoolboy errors. Expectations of celebrations for Lewis Hamilton in matching Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins at the Russian Grand Prix turned to bitter ashes, when he took penalties before even turning a wheel in anger.
His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas secured victory in Sochi and the Finn revelled in only his second win of the season. The mood across the garage could not have been more icy however. A frustrated, and disappointed Hamilton who finished third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was left flailing at the stewards and the FIA convinced he and the team were being targeted because of their success.
