Five things we learned from the Russian Grand Prix

Sport360 staff 11:43 03/05/2016
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  • Nico Rosberg claimed victory once again in Russia.

    Nico Rosberg extended his lead in the Formula One World Championship with his fourth win of the season in Russia.

    Here are five things we learned:

    1 ROSBERG ON EASY STREET

    Nico Rosberg insisted his seventh successive Formula One victory was not an “opengoal” win, but it was hard to agree with the championship leader. With Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton hamstrung it was an easy win. Indeed it could be argued that Rosberg, whose two pole positions this year have also come with team-mate Hamilton out of the frame, has won four races without pulling off a single overtaking manoeuvre.

    2 NO CONSPIRACY AT MERCEDES
    The conspiracy theorists were out en mass following yet another car failure for Hamilton in Sunday’s race. The
    suggestion is that Mercedes are sabotaging his season in a bid to pave the way for Rosberg – a German driver – to win the title for a German team. Toto Wolff said it was a school of thought assembled by “a bunch of lunatics”, and of course he is right.

    3 HAMILTON DOWN ON HIS LUCK
    Hamilton must be praised for his admirable response to a season fraught with difficulties, but it appeared on Sunday, that another car failure, this time a water leak from within his Mercedes engine, was starting to take its toll. The world champion dodged spraying any champagne on the podium, and then cut a rather sombre figure
    in his post-race media duties.

    4 NO HOME COMFORTS FOR KYVAT
    Daniil Kvyat will want to forget his home race in a hurry. The young Russian was the centre of attention in front of his home support after hitting Sebastian Vettel not once, but twice, on the opening lap – the force of the second impact causing the Ferrari driver to crash out. A red-faced Kvyat later revealed he called Vettel to apologise.

    5 MCLAREN SHOWING ENCOURAGING SIGNS
    McLaren secured their first double-points finish since last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix – an unwanted streak of 12 races. This should hardly be cause for wild celebrations for a team which has won 12 driver championships,
    but there is now at least an air of optimism.

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