2021 Russian Grand Prix
The 2021 Russian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021) was a Formula One motor race, held on 26 September 2021 at the Sochi Autodrom. It was the 15th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. It was the tenth running of the Russian Grand Prix, and the eighth and final held in Sochi.
| 2021 Russian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 15 of 22 in the 2021 Formula One World Championship
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Layout of Sochi Autodrom | |||||
| Race details | |||||
| Date | 26 September 2021 | ||||
| Official name | Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021 | ||||
| Location | Sochi Autodrom, Krasnodar Krai, Russia | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.848 km (3.634 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 53 laps, 309.745 km (192.467 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Cloudy and rainy | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Time | 1:41.993 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:37.423 on lap 39 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First |
| Mercedes | |||
| Second |
| Red Bull Racing-Honda | |||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
McLaren's Lando Norris took pole position in drying conditions. He would lead a majority of the race, but would lose the lead as he opted not to switch to intermediates amidst worsening conditions. The race would be won by Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who became the first driver to win 100 Grands Prix, ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. Hamilton's victory allowed him to regain the championship lead over Verstappen.
This would be the last Formula One race held at Sochi Autodrom and the last Russian Grand Prix, as of the 2024 season, due to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine that happened five months after the race was held.