Nice one, centurion

Turkish GP

THERE WAS A REMARKABLE synergy about this pair of races out beyond eastern Europe. Each of the two title contenders took grid penalties for power unit changes – Max Verstappen in Russia, Lewis Hamilton in Turkey – defining their tasks in those respective races as points damage limitation. Furthermore, the outcome of each race was randomised by the weather forcing late agonising decisions on pitting or staying out. As that process played out in Sochi, Lando Norris lost out on what was shaping up into his first career victory – and it passed instead to Hamilton, for an historic 100th time. In Turkey, with Hamilton grid- penalised and Red Bull less competitive than usual, Valtteri Bottas took his first victory of the season.

Verstappen, second in both races, and six points in the lead of the championship after Turkey with six rounds remaining sounded a note of caution about his prospects in light of Mercedes’ relentless performance. “We have been at tracks that naturally were a bit better for Mercedes but then this track was a bit unknown and clearly they were ahead of us. I do think we need to step it up a bit to be in the fight until the