Sochi (Russia) (AFP)

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) won the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on Sunday, ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull), while third and angry Lewis Hamilton will have to wait to equal Michael Schumacher's record for wins (91).

"I want to go home": a few minutes after the arrival of his 259th F1 GP, which he experienced as an unfair test, the Briton could not be clearer.

He first received two penalties of five seconds, validated by the marshals at the start of the race, for having trained at the start, twice, at an unauthorized place in the pit lane.

The penalty, which he applied during a pit stop, was first accompanied by a withdrawal of two points on his Super License, the drivers' points license.

Hamilton was then only two small points of a suspension for a GP.

Then the marshals listened to the radio messages between the six-time world champion and his Mercedes team, noting that the error came from the team.

The two points withdrawn were then returned to the Briton, and transformed into a fine of 25,000 Euros for Mercedes.

Shortly before learning that the sanction was lightened, Hamilton seemed very angry with the FIA ​​Stewards.

"Either way, the rule is ridiculous, but you have to live with it. I just want to make sure that I quickly leave it all behind me and don't give them the opportunity to harm me in some way. another "he declared, with difficulty swallowing his anger.

Previously, during the race he had also shown his nervousness, furious at having made a beginner's mistake.

He first reacted by asking, on the radio, where the point of detail incriminating him was in the regulations.

His race wasted, he also asked his engineer not to give him any more information on the race after having criticized him for having stopped it too early to change tires.

"It wasn't a good day, that's how it is. Spassiba (thank you) to all the fans," said the six-time world champion after the arrival, preferring to greet the spectators rather than answer journalists' questions.

- See you at the Nürburgring -

To equal the record of victories of "Schumi", Hamilton will have to wait for the next GP of the Eifel, scheduled for October 11 in Germany, on the Nürburgring circuit, and therefore on the land of the seven-time world champion.

In the meantime, Hamilton keeps the controls of the world championship, with 44 points ahead - his favorite figure - on his Finnish teammate, victorious for the second time this season, the ninth of his career in F1.

For the anecdote, Mercedes remains undefeated on the circuit laid out in the Olympic Park of the 2014 Winter Games. And for fans of improbable suspense, Hamilton is only 77 points ahead of Verstappen, only 3rd in the drivers' championship. .

Behind the leading trio, Sergio Pérez managed a solid race that ended with a nice 4th place, while he will leave Racing Point at the end of the season, replaced by Sebastian Vettel, and that he still does not have a steering wheel for 2021.

At Renault, Daniel Ricciardo, also hit with a five-second penalty for overshooting the limits of the track while his teammate Esteban Ocon let him pass, finished fifth.

What still bring points to Renault F1, which will become Alpine F1 next year.

In the constructors' standings, the French team remains fifth with 99 points, very close to McLaren (106) and Racing Point (104), and especially ahead of Ferrari (74).

At the heart of a good fight in the middle of the table, Ocon finally ranked seventh, just behind Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) who saved appearances for the Scuderia.

As often in 2020.

© 2020 AFP