2014 Russian Grand Prix F1: Readers’ Top 10 Results!

The sixteenth Grand Prix of the season in Sochi was won by Lewis Hamilton ahead of Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas. The rest of the top 10 included, in order, Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen, and Sergio Pérez. Let’s see what the 132 voters decided…

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 25 points

As in Singapore, the Briton was quickly deprived of his main opponent but unlike the race on the streets of the City-State, the one in Sochi was only about managing fuel, tires, and efforts, ultimately resulting in a victory that strengthens his position as the championship leader.

2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – 18 points

Slower in qualifying, the German had the opportunity to take the lead at the first corner but missed the braking and had to pit at the end of the first lap. This was followed by a comeback from 20th to 2nd place and a 52-lap stint on the same set of tires.

3. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) – 15 points

For a time in the rhythm of a conservative Lewis Hamilton, the Finn, who could have started from the front row with a very fast but poorly finished last lap in qualifying, could do nothing against the pace of the Silver Arrows, whether it was the one ahead of him or the one that – for a moment – followed him.

4. Jenson Button (McLaren) – 12 points

Like his three predecessors, the 2009 world champion finished in the position he started from. His race was that of a solitary driver, too slow to keep up with the pace of the Mercedes and Williams No. 77 but managed to widen the gap with his teammate and Alonso’s Ferrari.

5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 10 points

He is the first driver to finish in the top 10 at a position different from his own. Driving a Ferrari that is still trailing, the Spaniard at one point hoped to catch up to Magnussen’s McLaren but ultimately remained at a distance and in his place, still far ahead of his teammate.

6. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) – 8 points

The Dane had a good start, allowing him to quickly get ahead of the Red Bulls. He eventually got the better of the struggling Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne before setting off in pursuit of Alonso, whom he overtook during the pit stops, particularly benefiting from the calamitous stop of Ferrari No. 14, before maintaining his position.

7. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) – 6 points

With a stop on the 10th lap, the Australian somehow attempted a long-range undercut on his teammate whom he considered slower. The maneuver succeeded, as on the 30th lap, when Vettel stopped, Ricciardo got ahead.

8. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 4 points

On a different strategy, as he started with new soft tires, the German couldn’t really make a difference at the end of his 30-lap stint, after which he came out of the pits having been overtaken by his faster teammate.

9. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) – 2 points

The Toro Rossos sank throughout the Russian race and the essential difference between the Frenchman and Daniil Kvyat is certainly the start, during which he took advantage of a scramble to break away from the pack and, despite an exciting maneuver on Magnussen in turn 3 of the third lap, he could do nothing and finished well outside the points.

10. Sergio Pérez (Force India) – 1 point

Once again, the Mexican finished ahead of his teammate, who was admittedly penalized with a 5-place grid drop due to a gearbox change. His race was particularly marked by an attack that was a bit too aggressive for his race engineer’s liking, who kept reminding him that his fuel level was low.

2014 Readers’ Rankings

(to come)