© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Lewis Hamilton says “it would have been tough to get past” Lando Norris had the rain not allowed Mercedes to get an “opportunistic” win.
Lewis Hamilton took his amazing 100th win at the Russian Grand Prix. The Briton admits the team’s decision to go on intermediate tyres, three laps before the chequered flag, was what allowed him to overtake Lando Norris, who gambled on soft tyres.
“Lando does such an amazing job, he had incredible pace, he’s doing such a great job for McLaren and it’s very bittersweet obviously to see my old team ahead,” Hamilton said.
“They’re doing so well, they won the last race so, you know, they’re doing fantastic obviously powered by Mercedes, so it’s good to see them united again.
“Obviously the team made a great call right at the end. I didn’t want to let Lando go, and of course I didn’t know what the weather was doing, but I’m incredibly grateful to all these men and women that are here and back to the factory.”
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Lewis added he isn’t sure he would have been able to get past Lando had the rain not come in the final laps of the race.
“It would have been tough to get past Lando, he had great pace and had the fastest lap. It would have been tough to pass unless we caught some traffic or something, or he made a mistake, which he’s not been doing at all.
“Then the rain came and it was very opportunistic. As I said, the team did an amazing job, so a big thank you to them.”
The bad news of the race is the fact that Max Verstappen managed to finish in P2, despite taking an engine penalty and starting the race from last place.
He now had a fresh engine that should last until the end of the season, while Lewis is expected to have to bite the bullet and face an engine penalty at some point in the season.
“There’s nothing I can do about who’s behind me,” Lewis said.
“That’s the dream result for Max, naturally, but I’m grateful for the points.”
