This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton secured a strategic victory at the Russian Grand Prix on September 29, 2019, extending his world championship lead to 73 points.
Hamilton came home 3.829 seconds ahead of his teammate and nearest championship rival Valtteri Bottas, as Mercedes took advantage of Ferrari's reliability and tactical problems to deliver a Silver Arrows one-two.
Sebastian Vettel, who had started from pole position, ignored team orders to let Hamilton pass and suffered a mechanical failure on lap 28, resulting in a Safety Car period that gifted Mercedes a chance to extend their Sochi supremacy to six consecutive wins.
Charles Leclerc came home a frustrated third, claiming he expected Vettel to repay him for his slip-stream in a race punctuated by two Safety Car interventions and one use of the Virtual Safety Car.
Hamilton's win was his first since the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 4, his ninth in 16 outings this year, and the 82nd of his career, lifting him 73 points clear at the top of the drivers' title race.
He scored an additional point for fastest lap, and his team's flawless strategic performance was hailed as 'exactly what we needed' by a delighted Hamilton.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fourth, ahead of team-mate Alex Albon, while Carlos Sainz was sixth for McLaren ahead of Sergio Perez of Racing Point.
