VALTTERI Bottas’ second victory in the Russia Grand Prix was very well deserved, and he was right to point out that winning Grands Prix is the best response to his critics. 

Winning at this level is never easy, but Valtteri has now scored nine victories in Formula 1 and, while he has the quickest car, he is also up against the dominant driver of the current era.

Valtteri is very quick in Sochi, a track he clearly enjoys.  In the seven years since Russia joined the World Championship he has finished in the top four six times, with five of those on the podium.  It’s an impressive set of performances, and this latest victory was an important one.

Yes, Valtteri!!!

Bottas takes his second win of 2020!

Max Verstappen comes home second, Lewis Hamilton takes third#RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/IBqgTERm4q

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 27, 2020

After qualifying 3rd on Saturday Valtteri pointed out that would be starting the race on medium compound tyres, a better option that the soft tyres with which Lewis Hamilton had qualified on pole position.

Due to the very long run down to the first proper corner in Sochi – Turn 2 – it is a little better to qualify 2nd or 3rd because it gives you a good opportunity the slipstream the guy in front.  Therefore it was absolutely critical that Valtteri made the best possible start to take advantage of this trick and he did exactly that, overtaking Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and even challenging team mate Lewis.

Max’s start was not perfect, and he also was challenged and overtaken by Daniel Ricciardo, whose Renault team have really started to make good progress in recent times.  Although Max was able to retake the position it was good to see Daniel pushing hard, with one of his typically strong overtaking manoeuvres.  

Although Daniel eventually finished 5th, the work he is doing for Renault is helping the team’s development as they prepare for the return of Fernando Alonso next season.  This was his fourth consecutive top six finish for the French team.  His move to a Mercedes-powered McLaren is something I am looking forward to watching next year.

The 10-second penalty issued due to the two practice starts by Lewis Hamilton on the way to the grid was a very unusual mistake to make, especially for a team and driver who are normally very careful to obey the correct rules and procedures. 

It is difficult for a driver to remember all the rules all of the time, which is one reason why the pre-race briefing meetings are so important as it gives the engineers and team management the opportunity to run through what you can – and cannot – do, especially when some rules might be unique to a specific race or circuit.  Lewis checked he could do practice starts with his engineer, but unfortunately chose to do them in the wrong location.

These penalties came on top of an unusual situation in final qualifying which meant Lewis took pole position on the less-favoured soft tyres.  His mistake in Q2 – exceeding the track limits – and the red flag caused by Sebastian Vettel’s accident meant that he was forced to use the softs for his final run.  

This was a weekend on which the World Champion leader saw a series of small issues come together to prevent any chance of victory.  I have experienced this many times. Small things really matter, which is why attention to detail is so important.  It makes the difference between winning and losing, every time.

Lewis Hamilton at @MercedesAMGF1:

8️⃣ years
1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ races
2️⃣7️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ points
1️⃣1️⃣0️⃣ podiums
6️⃣9️⃣ wins
5️⃣ world championships

And still he rises…#F1 @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/gDmB6LoIG6

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 28, 2020

Back in July I predicted that this short but intense Formula 1 season would lead to drivers pushing harder than ever, and sometimes making mistakes.  We saw a lot of drama in Mugello, and the first lap in Sochi again produced a series of incidents including both Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll hitting the concrete walls which line this circuit. 

With the fight at the front of the grid being between the two Mercedes and Max’s Red Bull, the midfield battles are very intense.  Only seven points separates McLaren, Racing Point and Renault in the World Championship for Constructors, so every point counts and the teams needs their drivers to race hard – but also finish.  

It seems strange to say that Ferrari is not in the middle of this fight, but they are back in 6th position, 25 points behind Renault. 

The next Grand Prix will be at Germany’s Nurburgring, a track at which I have some good memories having won the Luxembourg Grand Prix back in 1998.  Valtteri will want to maintain momentum with another victory, while Lewis will be aiming to achieve his 91st race win, matching Michael Schumacher’s record at a track which my rival always enjoyed.  

In Michael’s final year at Ferrari he won the 2006 European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, cheered on by the large crowd which always supported him.  With Nurburgring potentially allowing up to 20,000 fans to attend the race in two week’s time – depending on the level of Coronavirus cases in the region – it will be fascinating for them to be able to see whether Lewis can finally achieve the huge target set by Michael 14 years ago.  Valtteri and Max will be trying to make sure that does not happen.