Hamilton’s penalties prove costly in Sochi
SOCHI, Russia — Lewis Hamilton's toughest opponents in the Russian Grand Prix weren't even on the track. They were in the stewards' office.
Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas cruised to the win Sunday after Hamilton, who was leading, was penalized 10 seconds for practicing his starts in the wrong place before the race.
Hamilton was looking to match Michael Schumacher's record of 91 wins in Formula One but had to settle for third behind Bottas and Max Verstappen.
Hamilton was already under investigation by the stewards when he started the race from the pole position. Before the race, he twice stopped to perform practice starts at the exit of the pit lane, rather than in the designated area. That eventually earned him two five-second penalties.
Hamilton said sometimes felt as if that he and Mercedes were being targeted by the stewards “to keep the racing exciting” because of their dominant position in the standings.