2018 Russian Grand Prix
{{Infobox Grand Prix race report
| Type = F1
| Country = Russia
| Grand Prix = Russian
| Previous_round = 2018 Singapore Grand Prix
| Next_round = 2018 Japanese Grand Prix
| Image = Circuit Sochi.svg
| image-size = 250px
| Caption = Layout of the Sochi Autodrom
| Date = 30 September
| Year = 2018
| Official name = Formula 1 2018 VTB Russian Grand Prix
| Race_No = 16
| Season_No = 21
| Location = Sochi Autodrom,
Adlersky City District, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
| Course = Permanent racing facility
| Course_mi = 3.634
| Course_km = 5.848
| Distance_laps = 53
| Distance_mi = 192.467
| Distance_km = 309.745
| Weather =Cloudy
| Attendance =
| Pole_Driver = Valtteri Bottas
| Pole_Team = Mercedes
| Pole_Time = 1:31.387
| Pole_Country = FIN
| Fast_Driver = Valtteri Bottas
| Fast_Team = Mercedes
| Fast_Time = 1:35.861
| Fast_Lap = 50
| Fast_Country = FIN
| First_Driver = Lewis Hamilton
| First_Team = Mercedes
| First_Country = GBR
| Second_Driver = Valtteri Bottas
| Second_Team = Mercedes
| Second_Country = FIN
| Third_Driver = Sebastian Vettel
| Third_Team = Ferrari
| Third_Country = GER
| Lapchart = {{F1Laps2018|RUS}}
}}
The 2018 Russian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 2018 VTB Russian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 30 September 2018 at the Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Russia. The race was the 16th round of the 2018 Formula One World Championship and marked the 7th running of the Russian Grand Prix and the 5th time the race had been held in Sochi.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw1.htm|title=Grand Prix Winners 1895–1916|website=www.kolumbus.fi|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=13 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413060254/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw1.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/grand-prix-russia.aspx|title=Grands Prix – Russia |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2019}}
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton entered the round with a 40-point lead over Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers' Championship. In the World Constructors' Championship, Mercedes led Ferrari by 37 points.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2018/singapour/championnat.aspx|title=Singapore 2018 – Championship |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2018}} The race was one of controversy, as Mercedes enacted team orders to swap their two drivers, handing Lewis Hamilton the win and Valtteri Bottas would move to 2nd place for the race finish.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/30/lewis-hamilton-wins-russian-grand-prix-mercedes-team-orders-sebastian-vettel|title=Lewis Hamilton wins Russian Grand Prix but is unhappy with team orders|last=Richards|first=Giles|date=30 September 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 January 2019|issn=0261-3077}} The race result sparked discussion regarding the future of team orders in the sport, and some even going as to call for an outright ban on the practice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.opinion-why-mercedes-used-team-orders-and-why-they-were-right-to-do-so.1VZaX1iWz284gcGia6mmC6.html|title=Opinion: Why Mercedes used team orders – and why they were right to do so|website=Formula1.com|access-date=11 January 2019}}
Report
{{Expand section|qualifying|date=January 2019}}
=Background=
The race was moved from its April date to September to fill the vacancy of the Malaysian Grand Prix, which was discontinued at the end of the 2017 Formula One season.{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/sport/4349444|title=Советник Козака: перенос Гран-при России "Формулы-1" на осень сделан в интересах зрителей|website=ТАСС|language=ru|access-date=11 January 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/41401009|title=Malaysian Grand Prix: A final farewell to the Sepang circuit|date=26 September 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 January 2019}} During the weekend, the first DRS zone was extended by 100 meters so that the beginning of the DRS zone started 95 meters before turn 1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.f1today.net/en/news/f1/241621/first-drs-zone-in-sochi-extended|title=First DRS zone in Sochi extended|website=F1Today.net|access-date=11 January 2019}}
=Practice=
Artem Markelov replaced Carlos Sainz Jr. at Renault during the first practice session.
=Qualifying=
Bottas took pole ahead of Hamilton ahead of Vettel with a Q2 exit for Red Bull Racing drivers of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. It was Red Bull's last double elimination until the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
=Race=
At the start, Sebastian Vettel got a better start than Lewis Hamilton but there was no room to overtake heading into turn one.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.report-hamilton-takes-victory-in-russia-as-bottas-moves-aside.1vnirRZFxCsqcwOmgmeuS4.html|title=Report: Hamilton takes victory in Russia as Bottas moves aside|date=30 September 2018|website=Formula1.com|access-date=11 January 2019}} On lap 4, both Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley suffered brake failures which forced both to retire; they were the only retirements of the race. Later on lap 14, Hamilton made his one and only pitstop of the race, putting him behind Vettel. Two laps later, Hamilton made a move on Vettel at turn 3 and passed him into fourth place into turn 4.
The most notable moment of the race came on lap 26, when Mercedes asked Valtteri Bottas to let Hamilton through into second at turn 13, gifting the Briton the race win. Max Verstappen, who led the race since lap 19, came in for his pitstop on lap 42.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2018/russie/en-tete.aspx|title=Russia 2018 – Laps led |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2019}} Hamilton won the race for the third time in his career, with Bottas second and Vettel completing the podium in third place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2018/russie.aspx|title=Russia 2018 |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/circuit-sochi.aspx|title=Sochi |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2019}} As a consequence, Hamilton extended his lead over Vettel in the championship to 50 points.
Classification
=Qualifying=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%"
!rowspan=2|{{Tooltip|Pos.|Qualifying position}} !rowspan=2|{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} !rowspan=2|Driver !rowspan=2|Constructor !colspan=3|{{nowrap|Qualifying times}} !rowspan=2|{{Tooltip|Final |
| Q1
!Q2 !Q3 |
|---|
| 1
|align="center"|77 |data-sort-value="BOT"|{{Flagicon|FIN}} Valtteri Bottas |1:32.964 |1:32.744 |1:31.387 |align="center"|1 |
| 2
|align="center"|44 |data-sort-value="HAM"|{{Flagicon|GBR}} Lewis Hamilton |1:32.410 |1:32.595 |1:31.532 |align="center"|2 |
| 3
|align="center"|5 |data-sort-value="VET"|{{Flagicon|GER}} Sebastian Vettel |1:33.476 |1:33.045 |1:31.943 |align="center"|3 |
| 4
|align="center"|7 |data-sort-value="RAI"|{{Flagicon|FIN}} Kimi Räikkönen |1:33.341 |1:33.065 |1:32.237 |align="center"|4 |
| 5
|align="center"|20 |data-sort-value="MAG"|{{Flagicon|DEN}} Kevin Magnussen |1:34.078 |1:33.747 |1:33.181 |align="center"|5 |
| 6
|align="center"|31 |data-sort-value="OCO"|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Esteban Ocon |1:34.290 |1:33.596 |1:33.413 |align="center"|6 |
| 7
|align="center"|16 |data-sort-value="LEC"|{{Flagicon|MON}} Charles Leclerc |1:33.924 |1:33.488 |1:33.419 |align="center"|7 |
| 8
|align="center"|11 |data-sort-value="PER"|{{Flagicon|MEX}} Sergio Pérez |1:34.084 |1:33.923 |1:33.563 |align="center"|8 |
| 9
|align="center"|8 |data-sort-value="GRO"|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Romain Grosjean |1:34.022 |1:33.517 |1:33.704 |align="center"|9 |
| 10
|align="center"|9 |data-sort-value="ERI"|{{Flagicon|SWE}} Marcus Ericsson |1:34.170 |1:33.995 |1:35.196 |align="center"|10 |
| 11
|align="center"|33 |data-sort-value="VER"|{{Flagicon|NED}} Max Verstappen |1:33.048 |No time | |align="center"|19{{ref|1|1}} |
| 12
|align="center"|3 |data-sort-value="RIC"|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Daniel Ricciardo |1:33.247 |No time | |align="center"|18{{ref|2|2}} |
| 13
|align="center"|10 |data-sort-value="GAS"|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Gasly |{{nowrap|Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda}} |1:34.383 |No time | |align="center"|17{{ref|3|3}} |
| 14
|align="center"|55 |data-sort-value="SAI"|{{Flagicon|ESP}} Carlos Sainz Jr. |1:34.626 |No time | |align="center"|11 |
| 15
|align="center"|27 |data-sort-value="HUL"|{{Flagicon|GER}} Nico Hülkenberg |1:34.655 |No time | |align="center"|12 |
| 16
|align="center"|28 |data-sort-value="HAR"|{{Flagicon|NZL}} Brendon Hartley |1:35.037 | | |align="center"|20{{ref|4|4}} |
| 17
|align="center"|14 |data-sort-value="ALO"|{{Flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso |1:35.504 | | |align="center"|16{{ref|5|5}} |
| 18
|align="center"|35 |data-sort-value="SIR"|{{Flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Sirotkin |1:35.612 | | |align="center"|13 |
| 19
|align="center"|2 |data-sort-value="VAN"|{{nowrap|{{Flagicon|BEL}} Stoffel Vandoorne}} |1:35.977 | | |align="center"|15{{ref|6|6}} |
| 20
|align="center"|18 |data-sort-value="STR"|{{Flagicon|CAN}} Lance Stroll |1:36.437 | | |align="center"|14 |
| colspan="8"| 107% time: 1:38.878 |
| colspan="8"| Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2018/races/994/russia/qualifying.html |title=Formula 1 2018 VTB Russian Grand Prix – Qualifying |website=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One World Championship Limited |date=29 September 2018 |access-date=29 September 2018}} |
;Notes
- {{note|1|1}} – Max Verstappen received a 43-place grid penalty: 35 places for exceeding his quota of power unit elements, 5 places for an unscheduled gearbox change and 3 places for a yellow flag infringement in qualifying.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.verstappen-hit-with-further-grid-drop-for-yellow-flag-breach.1qY5fgpWrW4U0aQIQcKSgo.html|title=Verstappen hit with further grid drop for yellow flag breach|website=Formula1.com|access-date=11 January 2019}}
- {{note|2|2}} – Daniel Ricciardo received a 40-place grid penalty: 35 places for exceeding his quota of power unit elements and 5 places for an unscheduled gearbox change.
- {{note|3|3}} – Pierre Gasly received a 35-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.red-bulls-toro-rossos-and-alonso-to-start-russia-race-from-back-of-the-grid.313MzJAMxqaEQGygqoOWeg.html|title=Red Bulls, Toro Rossos and Alonso set for Russia grid penalties for changing multiple power unit elements|website=Formula1.com|access-date=11 January 2019}}
- {{note|4|4}} – Brendon Hartley received a 40-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.
- {{note|5|5}} – Fernando Alonso received a 30-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.
- {{note|6|6}} – Stoffel Vandoorne received a 5-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/906488/1/vandoorne-hit-sochi-grid-penalty-after-gearbox-change|title=Vandoorne hit with Sochi grid penalty after gearbox change|date=30 September 2018|website=Crash|access-date=11 January 2019}}
Despite receiving no penalties, both of the Renault drivers elected not to run any laps on Q2 due to them automatically receiving places 11 and 12. They were then able to start the race on fresh tyres of their choice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.renault-explain-their-q2-no-show-in-russia.6vZv81vhReSOiU6Y2uccGq.html|title=F1: Renault on not appearing in Q2 for qualifying in the 2018 Russian Grand Prix|website=Formula1.com|access-date=11 January 2019}}
= Race =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;"
!{{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} !{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} !Driver !Constructor !class="unsortable"|Laps !class="unsortable"|Time/Retired !Grid !Points |
| 1
|align="center"|44 |data-sort-value="HAM"|{{flagicon|GBR}} Lewis Hamilton |53 |1:27:25.181 |align="center"|2 |align="center"|25 |
|---|
| 2
|align="center"|77 |data-sort-value="BOT"|{{flagicon|FIN}} Valtteri Bottas |53 | +2.545 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|18 |
| 3
|align="center"|5 |data-sort-value="VET"|{{flagicon|GER}} Sebastian Vettel |53 | +7.487 |align="center"|3 |align="center"|15 |
| 4
|align="center"|7 |data-sort-value="RAI"|{{flagicon|FIN}} Kimi Räikkönen |53 | +16.543 |align="center"|4 |align="center"|12 |
| 5
|align="center"|33 |data-sort-value="VER"|{{flagicon|NED}} Max Verstappen |53 | +31.016 |align="center"|19 |align="center"|10 |
| 6
|align="center"|3 |data-sort-value="RIC"|{{flagicon|AUS}} Daniel Ricciardo |53 | +1:20.451 |align="center"|18 |align="center"|8 |
| 7
|align="center"|16 |data-sort-value="LEC"|{{flagicon|MON}} Charles Leclerc |53 | +1:38.390 |align="center"|7 |align="center"|6 |
| 8
|align="center"|20 |data-sort-value="MAG"|{{flagicon|DEN}} Kevin Magnussen |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|5 |align="center"|4 |
| 9
|align="center"|31 |data-sort-value="OCO"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Esteban Ocon |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|6 |align="center"|2 |
| 10
|align="center"|11 |data-sort-value="PER"|{{flagicon|MEX}} Sergio Pérez |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|8 |align="center"|1 |
| 11
|align="center"|8 |data-sort-value="GRO"|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Romain Grosjean |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|9 | |
| 12
|align="center"|27 |data-sort-value="HUL"|{{Flagicon|GER}} Nico Hülkenberg |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|12 | |
| 13
|align="center"|9 |data-sort-value="ERI"|{{Flagicon|SWE}} Marcus Ericsson |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|10 | |
| 14
|align="center"|14 |data-sort-value="ALO"|{{Flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|16 | |
| 15
|align="center"|18 |data-sort-value="STR"|{{Flagicon|CAN}} Lance Stroll |52 | +1 lap |align="center"|14 | |
| 16
|align="center"|2 |data-sort-value="VAN"|{{nowrap|{{Flagicon|BEL}} Stoffel Vandoorne}} |51 | +2 laps |align="center"|15 | |
| 17
|align="center"|55 |data-sort-value="SAI"|{{Flagicon|ESP}} Carlos Sainz Jr. |51 | +2 laps |align="center"|11 | |
| 18
|align="center"|35 |data-sort-value="SIR"|{{Flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Sirotkin |51 | +2 laps |align="center"|13 | |
| data-sort-value="19"|Ret
|align="center"|10 |data-sort-value="GAS"|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Gasly |{{nowrap|Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda}} |4 |Brakes |align="center"|17 | |
| data-sort-value="20"|Ret
|align="center"|28 |data-sort-value="HAR"|{{Flagicon|NZL}} Brendon Hartley |4 |Brakes |align="center"|20 | |
| class=2sortbottom" |
Championship standings after the race
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
! !{{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} !Driver !Points |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|1 |data-sort-value="HAM"|{{Flagicon|GBR}} Lewis Hamilton* |306 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|2 |data-sort-value="VET"|{{Flagicon|GER}} Sebastian Vettel* |256 |
| align="left"|10px 1
|align="center"|3 |data-sort-value="BOT"|{{Flagicon|FIN}} Valtteri Bottas* |189 |
| align="left"|10px 1
|align="center"|4 |data-sort-value="RAI"|{{Flagicon|FIN}} Kimi Räikkönen* |186 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|5 |data-sort-value="VER"|{{Flagicon|NED}} Max Verstappen |158 |
| colspan=4|Source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2018/russie/championnat.aspx|title=Russia 2018 – Championship |website=StatsF1|access-date=11 January 2019}} |
|---|
{{col-2}}
;Constructors' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
! !{{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} !Constructor !Points |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|1 |{{flagicon|GER}} Mercedes* |495 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|2 |{{flagicon|ITA}} Ferrari* |442 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|3 |{{flagicon|AUT}} Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer* |292 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|4 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Renault |91 |
| align="left"|10px
|align="center"|5 |{{flagicon|USA}} Haas-Ferrari |80 |
| colspan=4|Source: |
|---|
{{col-end}}
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
- Bold text and an asterisk indicates competitors who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{F1 race report
| Name_of_race = Russian Grand Prix
| Year_of_race = 2018
| Previous_race_in_season = 2018 Singapore Grand Prix
| Next_race_in_season = 2018 Japanese Grand Prix
| Previous_year's_race = 2017 Russian Grand Prix
| Next_year's_race = 2019 Russian Grand Prix
}}
{{F1GP 10-19}}
Category:2018 in Russian sport