Hamilton wins inaugural Russian GP as Mercedes take constructors’ title

Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural Russian Formula One Grand Prix and extended his championship lead on Sunday in a Mercedes one-two that clinched the team’s first constructors’ title. The Briton, who started on pole position, chalked up his fourth win in a row and ninth of the season to forge 17 points clear of German team mate Nico Rosberg with 100 still to be won. Finland’s Valtteri Bottas finished third for Williams in a race watched by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a circuit snaking around some of the landmark venues from this year’s Winter Olympics.

We’ve had an amazing week, Russia’s been so good to me.

Lewis Hamilton, speaking from the podium

The pageantry of the first race in Russia became a more sombre affair just before the start when the drivers lined up at the head of the grid – along with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt – as a mark of respect for their colleague Jules Bianchi, who is fighting for his life following a crash in Japan last week. There are 100 points at stake in the last three races of the season in the United States, Brazil and the double-pointer Abu Dhabi.

Sports Sochi