[Official] Driver of the Grand Prix: Russian Grand Prix 2021

[Born Racer]

Who's yours?

[chillibowl]

Lando coming over to hug LH during the interview was pure class!

congrats to LH for 100.

[Greem]

I wanted to give it to Lando. But Verstappen coming up from the back, and Hamilton making the right decision on inters at the end when Norris didn't...

Hard decision.

Ah sod it. Norris.

[F1Pete]

I was too hyper-focused on Raikkonen and Bottas and their positions on the race chart to notice what was happening at the front. Bottas top 5 and Kimi in 8th. Amazing drives by them to overshadow the others.

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[Adam43]

Norris

Good drive by Hamilton and got a break at the end. Verstappen, got a bigger break at the end. Bottas super big break to get 5th.

[Dutch chap]

Obvious, Verstappen. Coming from 20th on the grid to finish 2nd was superb.

[bathurst77]

max rear to 2nd in a thrilling eer changing race sealed it

[peebee2]

Has to be Max, ahead of Carlos.

Lando was great but ignored the instruction to box, which was a total disaster.

[steve_r]

Call me controversial, but maybe the guy who won by nearly a minute.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Call me controversial, but maybe the guy who won by nearly a minute.

Very good point, he drove a very smart race.

[Aysedasi]

Lando. An emotional decision.

Max did well, but finished nearly a minute behind Lewis and was aided by the weather. He was actually pretty lucky in this damage limitation exercise. I would have expected nothing less so I don't see it as the drive of the race.

If not Lando, Lewis, aided by the correct call from Mercedes.

[TrapezeArtist]

My head says Lewis. He had a poor early laps from a poor (for him) grid position, but he didn't panic, kept plugging on, and made the most of the rain (along with Merc's strategy call).

I couldn't give it to Max. 2nd from 20th on the grid looks impressive on paper, but the cards fell his way at the end. He wasn't looking that impressive in the first half of the race.

My hear says Lando. He was super-impressive on Saturday, then did a great job for 50 laps of the 53. Sadly, he was too determined to stay out, and McLaren were not decisive enough to call him in, so it all slipped away at the end. The race is another sign that he's the real deal though, and his day will come.

[Tourer]

Lando for mine - not some emotional need to give him a consolation prize - qualified well, raced really well and had the same approach on tyres as the 7 time champ behind him - difference in outcome down to team insistence from the bunker.

[GORDON STREETER]

All "If's n Buts", I gave it to the one who drove a sensible race and finished almost a minute ahead to his rival. Yes I was impressed by Nando, but when I heard him say that he was stopping out on slicks when us "sofa racers" had seen what other parts of the track were like I guest that it wasn't going to work ! Ok Hammy could also have spun off but he has been there before and kept his head to take his 100th win.

[E.B]

I feel the Merc insisting that Lewis stop was their realisation that bottom line was they were racing Max for the big picture rather than Lando for the win..... Max had pitted already the lap prior to Lewis, Merc had a mountain of time up their sleeve, and staying on slicks could well have ended with Lewis in the barriers and facing a much increased championship deficit. Safety first and cover Max.

[Neil22]

Lewis, with kudos to Max and Lando.

[S griffin]

I'm gonna give it to Sainz, nice solid weekend.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by E.B

I feel the Merc insisting that Lewis stop was their realisation that bottom line was they were racing Max for the big picture rather than Lando for the win..... Max had pitted already the lap prior to Lewis, Merc had a mountain of time up their sleeve, and staying on slicks could well have ended with Lewis in the barriers and facing a much increased championship deficit. Safety first and cover Max.

Makes a lot of sense.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Makes a lot of sense.

Yep. Absolutely the right call.

[chillibowl]

The benefits of being P2. Lewis and Merc let their experience show but so did RB by trusting their driver.

Lando will learn from this and I like that McLaren let him (or unable to stop him or made the same mistake even) make this mistake...everything that we have seen from Lando suggests that he will be the better driver for it in the long run imo.

Cant wait to see how he adjusts the next time there is rain/variable conditions.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

The benefits of being P2. Lewis and Merc let their experience show but so did RB by trusting their driver.

I'm reading reports that there is an agreement in the Merc team that was evidenced at the weekend. Namely that, when a tactical call is made the driver gets the option. Only when the team reassess and are certain that the driver has it wrong will they overrule.

McLaren may not be there yet in their resurgence - they let the drivers make the call (commendable), but when they can see something the driver doesn't, they have to agree on how they assert that call.

[BertMk2]

Lando - a shower away from a well deserved win.

Kudos to Hamilton, Sainz, Raikkonen and Verstappen.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Makes a lot of sense.

Exactly. When you are battling for the title, 9 times out of ten you should cover what your main rival does. Better both of you get it wrong, than you get it wrong and the other gets it right. Something should have worked out at Suzuka in qualifying a few years ago

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hamilton. Used his experience and go that 100th win.

[GT6]

llando was supreme for 95% of the race and for quali, but even though he messed up at the end he gets my vote today, but Lewis and Max could have got my vote both drove very well