lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the inaugural Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, leading a 1-2 finish for Mercedes that clinched its first Formula One constructors’ title and stretched his lead in the championship.
Nico Rosberg placed second despite having to pit early in the race but now trails his teammate by 17 points in the drivers’ standings, with three races remaining.
Hamilton, who was fastest in practice and qualifying, won his fourth straight race and his ninth of the season. He was presented the winner’s trophy by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had pushed for his country to have a Formula One race. “We’ve had an amazing week, Russia’s been so good to me,” Hamilton said from the podium.
“It was kind of surreal for the president to be presenting the award,” he added later.
The British driver started from pole but lost the lead when Rosberg beat him to the first corner. But Rosberg had to brake hard, ruined his tires, cut a corner and was then told by his team to let Hamilton back into the lead because he had gained an unfair advantage. Rosberg replied: “I have to box because of the vibrations.”
After pitting to change tires, he was told by the team he’d have to go the rest of the race on that set. Hamilton took the flag 13.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg. Valtteri Bottas was third in a Williams, 17.4 seconds back.
Hamilton became only the fourth driver in Formula One history to win nine races in a season. He equaled Nigel Mansell’s record of 31 victories for a British driver. The other three with nine or more wins in a season were Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Mansell.
A ceremony to open the circuit included Cossack dancers with sabers and javelins and Russian Air Force jets drawing hearts in the sunny sky with their jet streams.
The Sochi Autodrom in this Black Sea resort was built around the Olympic Park used in February during the Winter Games, another project personally supported by Putin. Ecclestone later welcomed Putin as the Russian president arrived at the circuit about one hour into the race.