GP Sakhir: Russell’s bitter debut – Perez scores his first win!

This is so bitter for Mercedes rookie George Russell! The young Briton (22) drives sensationally in his first GP in the world team championship, but only in ninth place!

Pit chaos at Mercedes on laps 63 and 64 ties Russell and Bottas down. Make way for a winner from another team. Sergio Pérez goes ahead and wins at Racing-Point! The Mexican celebrates his first victory in his 190 Formula 1 career. Behind him: Esteban Ocon at Renault and his Perez teammate Lance Stroll.

George Russell starts off brilliantly, takes the lead after the first corner and drives away. In his first GP in the world team championship, the young Briton led in the style of Lewis Hamilton. Until lap 63, then the events happen in Mercedes.

Both Mercedes pit in the virtual safety car due to Nicolas Latifi (Williams) being out. And these pit stops are fatal! Mercedes puts the wrong rear tire on Russell. And with Bottas, bolting the left front wheel is not successful, it even catches fire for a short time.

Russell isn’t giving up just yet, he begins to catch up. Great class as it overtakes Bottas. And even Leader Pérez. Then the second impact: the rear wheel is not correctly positioned, Russell has to go back to the pits!

Now of course the win is gone, but Russell is at least ninth directly behind Bottas in points. They are his first, he never succeeded in the 36 races at Williams. Bottas cannot be satisfied with the number 77 at his 77th Mercedes GP and on the Finnish national holiday.

After the pit debacle at Mercedes, Sergio Pérez’s race point is suddenly in front. Incredible: After the clash with Leclerc on the first lap, which saw Leclerc and Verstappen withdraw, Pérez was now at the end of the race.

So Perez drives to victory in the background! The Mexican has already been on the podium nine times, for example in mid-November in Turkey in second place and three times in 2012 for Sauber. He was never in front.

Pérez achieves it for the first time now, in his 190th GP: “My first victory after ten hard years,” he says happily. And the Sakhir winner has no booth for next season. Pérez after the victory on the side of the track: «I want to continue. And if I don’t start in 2021, I’ll be back in 2022. “

It is Mexico’s first triumph in Formula 1 since Pedro Rodríguez’s victory at Spa 20 years ago.

Immediately after the start, the too impetuous Leclerc collides with Pérez, Verstappen can no longer avoid it. The Dutchman puts his hands away and says over the radio: “I couldn’t do anything about it.”

He and Leclerc both started from the second row, land in the gravel trap and stop at the pile of tires. For them the race is over. Leclerc rewards his outstanding fourth starting position, which he achieved on Saturday.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc retired early on the first lap because of him. And Sebastian Vettel’s stop on lap 55 fails. In the virtual safety car phase, it takes 6.5 seconds to stop. Vettel does not get points, he turns 12 years old.

Alfa-Sauber was also scoreless in the 502 Hinwiler Autos race: Antonio Giovinazzi drove around the 13.14 position throughout the race, finished 13th, Kimi Räikkönen finished 14th.

A few hours before the race, fire hero Romain Grosjean announces that he will no longer be able to get into the cockpit in Abu Dhabi next week. Fly back to Switzerland. The Genevan with a French license: “I have to live with these hands for another 60 years …”

A difficult decision, because the 34-year-old will leave Formula 1 without another race. It will no longer have a cabin next season. Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, who clinched the Formula 2 title on Sunday despite their 18th spot (reported BLICK), will start at Haas Ferrari in 2021.

With the last 17th race of this season from Corona next weekend. From Bahrain to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.