Hamilton and his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg finished first and second to hand the Constructors' Championship to the German manufacturer for the first time.

Williams' driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland completed the podium in Sochi ahead of McLaren's British driver Jenson Button.

Hamilton and Germany's Rosberg began the race on the front row with just 10 points separating them at the top of the drivers' standings and an early overtaking manoeuvre at turn two went wrong for Rosberg.

His attempt to overtake pole-sitter Hamilton saw him carry too much speed into the corner forcing him to lock up his front tyres, causing flat-spotting.

Rosberg was forced to take to the escape lane and although he ended up in front of his team mate he was ordered to give back the position for an illegal move.

But worse was to follow as he was forced to pit at the end of lap one to change his front tyres leaving him at the back of the field.

But he put in arguably the drive of the race as he battled back through the field to eventually finish just over 13 seconds behind Hamilton.

The British driver was in total control throughout the race following that early scuffle with Rosberg and comfortably secured his ninth race win of the season.

Nico Rosberg locks his front wheels during his ultimately fruitless attempt to overtake Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton during lap one of the Russian Grand Prix
©Getty Images



It was also his fourth consecutive win of the year - the second time this season he has achieved that feat - and puts him level with former world champion Nigel Mansell as the most successful British Formula One driver in history with 31 wins.

Hamilton now leads the Drivers' Championship by 17 points from his team mate and with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo - who finished seventh in today's race - 92 points adrift of Hamilton, it is now a straight shoot-out between the Mercedes men for the World Championship crown.

"Nico did a great job to recover," said Hamilton, who is chasing his second drivers crown after winning with McLaren in 2008.

"The car was performing really well.

"It's history for us.

"I feel very proud to be a part of it.

"To get the first Constructors' Championship for Mercedes-Benz is a wonderful day."

With three races remaining on this year's calendar in the United States, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and a maximum 100 points available, the Drivers' Championship is set to go right to the wire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the closing stages of today's Grand Prix in Sochi with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone ©Getty Images



After watching the closing stages of the race in the main grandstand with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, Putin made his way to the pre-podium room to shake hands with the drivers before joining them on the main stage to present Hamilton with the drivers' trophy and Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe with the constructors' equivalent.

Back in 2010 Putin signed the deal with Ecclestone to bring Formula One to Russia for the first time and the 5.8 kilometres Sochi Autodrom circuit, in the shadow of the indoor venues used for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games this year, will host the race up until 2020.

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