2021 Russian Grand Prix

The 2021 Russian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021) was the 15th race of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship, held at the Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Russia between September 24 and September 26 2021.
In a drying qualifying, Lando Norris took a surprise maiden pole position ahead of Carlos Sainz, Jr. and George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth after failing to improve. Hamilton however took his 100th race victory as Norris, who had been leading, dropped down to 7th in the closing stages when rain fell, with Max Verstappen, who started from last with an engine penalty, coming in second and Sainz in third.
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==Background==
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL35M 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
4 	Lando Norris 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL35M 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
5 	Sebastian Vettel 	Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR21 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
6 	Nicholas Latifi 	Williams Racing 	 	FW43B 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN 	 	C41 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
9 	Nikita Mazepin 	Uralkali Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-21 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda 	 	AT02 	 	RA621H 1.6L V6t 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	Red Bull Racing Honda 	 	RB16B 	 	RA621H 1.6L V6t 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	Alpine F1 Team 	 	A521 	 	E-Tech 21 1.6L V6t 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow 	 	SF21 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR21 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda 	 	AT02 	 	RA621H 1.6L V6t 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	Alpine F1 Team 	 	A521 	 	E-Tech 21 1.6L V6t 	
33 	Max Verstappen 	Red Bull Racing Honda 	 	RB16B 	 	RA621H 1.6L V6t 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	F1 W12 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
47 	Mick Schumacher 	Uralkali Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-21 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow 	 	SF21 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
63 	George Russell 	Williams Racing 	 	FW43B 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	F1 W12 	 	M12 1.6L V6t 	
99 	Antonio Giovinazzi 	Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN 	 	C41 	 	065/6 1.6L V6t 	
Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 November 2021
==Practice Overview==
The full practice results for the are outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Team 	FP1 	FP1 	FP2 	FP2
No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	1:36.877 	14 	1:35.630 	17
4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:35.959 	8 	1:34.154 	4
5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	1:35.781 	5 	1:34.837 	9
6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	1:38.155 	18 	1:35.411 	16
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:36.952 	15 	1:35.052 	12
9 	Nikita Mazepin 	 	1:38.586 	19 	1:36.099 	19
10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:35.794 	6 	1:33.845 	3
11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:36.188 	9 	1:34.938 	11
14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:36.225 	10 	1:34.762 	8
16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:35.117 	4 	1:34.925 	10
18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:36.522 	12 	1:35.334 	15
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:37.794 	16 	1:35.954 	18
31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:36.236 	11 	1:34.402 	5
33 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:34.654 	3 	1:34.621 	6
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:34.638 	2 	1:33.637 	2
47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	1:38.977 	20 	1:36.230 	20
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:35.811 	7 	1:34.678 	7
63 	George Russell 	 	1:38.013 	17 	1:35.094 	13
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:34.427 	1 	1:33.593 	1
99 	Antonio Giovinazzi 	 	1:36.795 	13 	1:35.178 	14
Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source: %20-%20P1%20Classification.pdf - FP1 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. - FP2 Classification (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
== Qualifying==
===Q1===
After FP3 was canceled due to heavy rain, the weather improved as the qualifying session began. Hamilton topped the session with Raikkonen, Schumacher, Giovinazzi, Mazepin and Verstappen, who was due to start with an engine penalty and therefore only completed an installation lap, eliminated from Q1.
===Q2===
Hamilton once again topped Q2 with Russell advancing into Q3 for the third time in the season, while eliminated from Q2 were Vettel, Gasly, Tsunoda, Latifi and Leclerc, both of whom would also be starting from the back from engine penalties.
===Q3===
Hamilton set the fastest time on intermediate tires as the track began to dry up, leading to drivers changing into dries for the final half of the session. Hamilton collided with the barrier at pit entry and therefore, lost time to warm up his tires after having his front wing changed, and spinning on his final flying lap, ending up in fourth while Norris took a surprise maiden pole position ahead of Sainz and Russell.
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	 	5 	1:47.238 	 	4 	1:45.827 	 	1 	1:41.993 	1
2 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	 	8 	1:47.924 	 	10 	1:46.521 	 	2 	1:42.510 	2
3 	63 	George Russell 	 	 	11 	1:48.303 	 	9 	1:46.435 	 	3 	1:42.983 	3
4 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	1 	1:45.992 	 	1 	1:45.129 	 	4 	1:44.050 	4
5 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	 	13 	1:48.345 	 	8 	1:46.361 	 	5 	1:44.156 	5
6 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	7 	1:47.877 	 	3 	1:45.514 	 	6 	1:44.204 	6
7 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	 	2 	1:46.396 	 	2 	1:45.306 	 	7 	1:44.710 	16*
8 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	 	12 	1:48.322 	 	7 	1:46.360 	 	8 	1:44.956 	7
9 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	 	3 	1:46.455 	 	5 	1:45.834 	 	9 	1:45.337 	8
10 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	 	9 	1:48.099 	 	6 	1:46.070 	 	10 	1:45.865 	9
11 	5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	4 	1:47.205 	 	11 	1:46.573 	 	 	 	10
12 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	 	6 	1L47.828 	 	12 	1:46.641 	 	 	 	11
13 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	 	15 	1:48.854 	 	13 	1:46.751 	 	 	 	12
14 	6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	 	10 	1:48.252 	 	14 	No time set 	 	 	 	18*
15 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	 	14 	1:48.470 	 	15 	No time set 	 	 	 	19†
16 	7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	16 	1:49.586 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13
17 	47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	 	17 	1:49.830 	 	 	 	 	 	 	14
18 	99 	Antonio Giovinazzi 	 	 	18 	1:51.023 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17‡
107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411** 	107% Time: 1:53.411**
19 	9 	Nikita Mazepin 	 	 	19 	1:53.764 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15
20 	33 	Max Verstappen 	 	 	20 	No time set 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20§
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*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
** Bottas and Latifi were required to start from the back of the grid for exceeding their quota of power unit elements.
* † Leclerc was required to start from the back of the grid after changing into a new power engine specification, and also for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.
*‡ Giovinazzi was given a 5-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change. This made little difference as he qualified near the back of the grid.
*§ Verstappen was originally given a 3-place grid penalty for his collision with Hamilton in the previous race. He was then required from the back of the grid for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.
*** As qualifying was held on a wet session, the 107% Rule was not enforced.
===Grid===
The starting grid of the feature race of the is outined below:
Show Grid
== Race==
=== Report ===
At the start, which was dry, Sainz took the lead from Norris coming out of Turn 2, with Hamilton dropping to 7th place behind Ricciardo, Stroll and Alonso, with Stroll getting to fourth behind Russell. Among those starting from the back, Leclerc made the best start into 13th. Hamilton passed Alonso on the next lap, with Sainz and Norris pulling away as Russell held a train of cars behind him. Verstappen and Bottas meanwhile, started carving up the field, though Verstappen had a better recovery drive.
After briefly dropping back, Norris began to close into Sainz, and passed him on the 13th lap. Stroll was the first of the runners to pit on Lap 12, with Russell following suit on the following lap but failed to undercut him. Sainz then pitted, and rejoined in front of Stroll. Ricciardo, who was trailed by Hamilton and Perez after those in front of them had pitted, stopped on Lap 22 but a relatively slow stop left him out of podium contention. Hamilton, now with clear air, started to close the gap to his countryman Norris. He then pitted on Lap 26, at the same time as Vettel and Verstappen. Norris then pitted two laps later and emerged in front of Gasly, thus handing Perez into the lead with Alonso and Leclerc behind, all three of whom are on hard tires and are yet to stop. Hamilton soon was 8 seconds behind Norris after passing driver by driver, and began to carve into Norris, though biding his time as both of them had matching paces. Schumacher meanwhile had his first career retirement when he came into the pits on Lap 32 due to a hydraulic issue.
With almost ten laps remaining, rain began to fall. As rain intensified in the next few laps, with drivers losing control and spinning, the majority started pitting for intermediate tires, while the leaders still stayed out for several laps, Norris keeping the lead despite running off a few times. Stroll meanwhile forced his Aston Martin team-mate Vettel into the wall, before tipping Gasly into a spin, damaging his front wing and sliding into the barriers, yet continued with little damage. With three laps remaining, Hamilton pitted for intermediates, as Norris, unlike most drivers, stayed outhttps://f1-analysis.com/2023/11/06/russia-2021-strategy-review/. He eventually paid the price when he ran deep at Turn 5 and dropped down, allowing Hamilton through.
Hamilton ultimately led the last tours without incident and came home to take his 100th race victory, becoming the first driver to reach the centurious record, at the same time maintaining Mercedes' 100% win record at Sochi, by nearly a minute from Verstappen, who made a podium finish after starting from last, with Sainz following behind. Bottas finished an impressive fifth place behind Ricciardo, having been one of the first drivers to make the switch to inters. Completing the points-finishing positions were Alonso, Norris, Raikkonen, Perez and Russell, Perez dropping down from the front as he was among those the last to swap to intermediates.
Post-race, Norris was given a reprimand for a pit entry violation, while Stroll was given a 10-second post-race penalty for the collision with Gasly.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	53 	1:30:41.001 	4 	25
2 	33 	Max Verstappen 	 	53 	+53.271 	20 	18
3 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	53 	+1:02.475 	2 	15
4 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	53 	+1:05.607 	5 	12
5 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	53 	+1:07.533 	16 	10
6 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	53 	+1:21.321 	6 	8
7 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	53 	+1:27.224 	1 	7FL
8 	7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	53 	+1:28.955 	13 	4
9 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	53 	+1:30.076 	8 	2
10 	63 	George Russell 	 	53 	+1:40.551 	3 	1
11 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	53 	+1:56.198* 	7 	
12 	5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	52 	+1 lap 	10 	
13 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	52 	+1 lap 	11 	
14 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	52 	+1 lap 	9 	
15 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	52 	+1 lap 	19 	
16 	99 	Antonio Giovinazzi	 	52 	+1 lap 	17 	
17 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	52 	+1 lap 	12 	
18 	9 	Nikita Mazepin 	 	51 	+2 laps 	15 	
19† 	6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	47 	Accident damage	18 	
Ret 	47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	32 	Hydraulics 	14 	
Source:	Source:	Source: 	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source:
** Stroll received a 10-second post-race time penalty for causing a collision with Gasly.
*† Latifi was classified for completing 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
*Final Russian Grand Prix held, as the race was discontinued the following year due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
*300th race entry for , including their previous name as .
*Maiden pole position for Lando Norris.
** Norris becomes the 102nd different person to achieve pole position. He is also the fifth youngest driver to achieve his maiden pole position.
* 's 156th pole position, their first since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
*First front row start for Carlos Sainz, Jr.
*100th race victory for Lewis Hamilton.
*First retirement for Mick Schumacher.
==Standings==
Hamilton's win predictably saw him reclaiming the drivers' championship lead, though by two points due to Verstappen's second place finish. Their team-mates' finishing positions meant that Mercedes extended their advantage ahead of Red Bull by 15 points to 33 points. Bottas managed to extend his gap from Norris to 12 points after Norris' late-race heartbreak, with Sainz getting ahead of his team-mate as the Monegasque dropped out of the points positions. Raikkonen came to within one point of Latifi with his and Alfa Romeo's best finish of the season so far.
Sainz' podium finish meant that McLaren only extended the gap from Ferrari by four points, while the difference between Williams and Alfa Romeo was reduced to 16 points.
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Lewis Hamilton 	246.5 	1
2 	Max Verstappen 	244.5 	1
3 	Valtteri Bottas 	151 	
4 	Lando Norris 	139 	
5 	Sergio Pérez 	120 	
6 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	112.5 	1
7 	Charles Leclerc 	104 	1
8 	Daniel Ricciardo 	95 	
9 	Pierre Gasly 	66 	
10 	Fernando Alonso 	58 	
11 	Esteban Ocon 	45 	
12 	Sebastian Vettel 	35 	
13 	Lance Stroll 	24 	
14 	Yuki Tsunoda 	18 	
15 	George Russell 	16 	
16 	Nicholas Latifi 	7 	
17 	Kimi Räikkönen 	6 	
18 	Antonio Giovinazzi 	1 	
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	397.5 	
2 	 	364.5 	
3 	 	234 	
4 	 	216.5 	
5 	 	103 	
6 	 	84 	
7 	 	59 	
8 	 	23 	
9 	 	7 	
Only point-scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2021 Formula One Season
Category:Russian Grand Prix