Hamilton wins in Russia with help of team orders

SOCHI, Russia -- Lewis Hamilton took a big step toward a fifth world title with victory at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, as title rival Sebastian Vettel finished third.

Hamilton was helped on his way by teammate Valtteri Bottas, who led from the start of the race but was told to move over for Hamilton on Lap 25. Mercedes was concerned that Vettel, who had managed to get ahead of Hamilton at the pit stops only to be repassed by the Mercedes driver two laps later, would take advantage of a blister on Hamilton's left rear tyre and attempt to repass.

Bottas was being held up by Max Verstappen, who had taken a temporary lead with a long first stint from 19th on the grid, and was backing Hamilton into Vettel. The orchestrated move came on the entry to Turn 13, with Mercedes head of strategy James Vowles telling Bottas: "There was a risk with Lewis against Vettel, he had a small blister [on his tyres]. I had to do this to make sure we secure this. I understand." Team boss Toto Wolff also spoke on the radio after the race to reassure Bottas, who had asked if the positions would be swapped again at the chequered flag moments before, that all would be explained after the finish.

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Despite Bottas' disappointment on missing out on his first race victory of the season, Mercedes will leave Russia in high spirits with Hamilton taking a commanding 50-point lead in the drivers' championship with five races remaining. Even if Vettel wins every race until the end of the year, Hamilton only has to finish second once and third four times to secure the title.

Ultimately, Ferrari did not have the pace to challenge for victory in Sochi. Vettel attempted to pass Hamilton at the start of the race following a good start, but was outdragged by the Mercedes on the run to Turn 2 as Hamilton got a tow from teammate Bottas at the end of the straight.

With Mercedes leading Ferrari at the end of the first lap, the attention turned to the first pit stops and whether Vettel could manufacture a way past with tyre strategy.

Mercedes acted first, pitting Bottas from the lead on Lap 12, which appeared to be a strategic move to pre-empt Ferrari. Vettel pitted on the next lap, and with a fresh set of soft tyres had a significant pace advantage over Hamilton, who was now leading but still on the set of ultra-softs he started the race on. When Hamilton pitted on Lap 15, he emerged behind Vettel as a result of the pace difference, creating a huge headache for Mercedes.

"How did that happen, man?" Hamilton asked his race engineer over the team radio. The TV feed didn't broadcast the answer, but Hamilton decided to take matters into his own hands and went on the attack on the next lap.

The Mercedes driver got a good run out of the final corner and moved to the inside of Vettel to pass at Turn 2. Vettel moved aggressively across the track to block the move, giving Hamilton the options of backing out or hitting the wall. Unsurprisingly, he opted for the former, but in doing so set himself up around the outside of Turn 3 before lunging up the inside into Turn 4. It was a fantastic move and Vettel simply had no answer.

While that strategy was playing out at the front of the field, Verstappen was mounting a remarkable comeback from an engine penalty that left him 19th on the grid. Starting on the more durable soft tyre, he carved his way through the field and by Lap 8 was up to fifth. With pit stops playing out in front of him among the top four, he then took the lead of the race on Lap 19, which he held until Lap 43.

Verstappen's presence at the front of the field soon gave Mercedes another headache. Bottas was on fresher tyres but unable to pass the Red Bull and was therefore backing Hamilton into Vettel. With just over a second splitting each driver, and Mercedes concerned about the state of Hamilton's tyres, the team order came and Bottas let Hamilton through.

But it appeared it was sold to Bottas as a way of giving Hamilton a chance to pass Verstappen rather than the race victory, and he asked twice later in the race if he would be allowed back ahead again. With Vettel still a threat behind, that was never going to happen and the positions remained in place until the end of the race.

When Verstappen pitted on Lap 43, he came out in fifth place on ultra-softs but was too far back to challenge Kimi Raikkonen for fourth. Ricciardo finished sixth after he also came from the back of the field, but was 49.435s off his Red Bull teammate after a precautionary nose change at his single pit stop.

Charles Leclerc took seventh for Sauber ahead of Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. The Force Indias of Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez took the last points on offer and also used team orders to allow Perez to attack Magnussen before swapping them back later in the race when the Mexican failed to find a way past

The only two retirements from the race were Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly, who both had brake issues early in the race.

Formula One heads to Suzuka for next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, where Mercedes will look to land another killer blow on Vettel's dwindling championship hopes.