Since its introduction to the F1 calendar in 2014 the Russian Grand Prix has never really set the racing world alight.
It wasn’t really any different in 2020 either, as the 53 lap race petered out to a bit of a damp squib.
There was some commotion before lights out as stewards investigated pole sitter, Lewis Hamilton, for failing to follow the race director’s instructions, specifically article 19.2 of the event notes.
The Mercedes driver twice conducted practice starts outside of the designated area at the exit of the pitlane.
Though it took some time to examine, Hamilton was given a five-second penalty for each infringement. The effective 10-second penalty was served at Hamilton’s one and only pit stop of the race.
The opening stint of the race, led by Hamilton, made it clear, though, that he more than had the pace to hold off his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
But for a minor annoyance of Bottas trying to take the lead, Hamilton led easily off the line and was seemingly able to up his pace at will.
Several drivers didn’t make it to the end of lap one, including Carlos Sainz, who clipped the barrier at turn two when trying to rejoin, and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll, who had tangled with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The safety car was deployed to clear the track of debris and the reset could’ve been a good opportunity for Bottas to snatch the lead off Hamilton, but the Finn isn’t exactly known for bold or aggressive or really any type of moves, especially not against his Mercedes teammate.
The race restarted and, after only one lap, Hamilton had pulled out a gap of 1.5 seconds over Bottas.
Nevertheless, the 10-second penalty still loomed over Hamilton and was sure to drop him out of contention.
In fact it dropped Hamilton to third and though he delivered some quick laps, he never really looked able to threaten Verstappen for second place.
Further down the field, the racing in midfield was the only true highlight of the race.
It might have been for the lower end of the standings at the time, but Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon produced genuinely entertaining scrap between them, which is a sure indication of what the future of F1 could look like.
The ever-dependable Sergio Perez delivered an impressive fourth place finish and has put himself well and truly in the shop window for any team who might in the market for a 2021 driver.
Daniel Ricciardo seems to have finally found his feet at Renault, as he delivered a superb fifth place, despite a five-second penalty for not rejoining the circuit in the correct manner at turn 2.
In sixth, Leclerc thoroughly earned being driver of the day, as he somehow brought the Ferrari home in a position far ahead of what it should be capable of.
The second Renault of Esteban Ocon had made a bright start to the race, but faded throughout the succeeding laps to eventually finish seventh overall.
Daniil Kvyat delivered a strong drive on home soil to finish eighth ahead of his Alpha Tauri teammate, Pierre Gasly, in ninth and Red Bull’s Albon in 10th.
It was yet another forgettable day for Seb Vettel, who finished one lap down in 13th place.
It came as no great surprise that Bottas was able to cruise to his second win of the season, given the pace advantage that Mercedes holds. What was somewhat of a surprise, however, was Bottas’s post-race team radio.
The Finn proclaimed that the win was a “nice time to answer his critics” and added what seems to have become his rarely uttered catchphrase: “To whom it may concern, f@#$ you”. It is sort of comical though that Bottas was this pumped.
His words made it sound as if he’d wiped the floor with Hamilton when in reality he was gifted the race lead.
Maybe he sees Hamilton’s own goal as a change in his fortunes.
But given that he didn’t beat his teammate in a straight fight, his ‘defiance’ feels rather manufactured.
