It was a nefarious plan by Mercedes. Max Verstappen took his new engine and the accompanying penalty in Sochi and started at the back of the field. The Brackley-based team sacrificed Valtteri Bottas, who will be leaving at the end of the season, to thwart the Dutchman's attempt to get to the front. It seemed like a stroke of genius, but the Finn's final performance quickly scuppered the plan. No defence Bottas It took Verstappen exactly six laps to show the Finn his heels. The seemingly poor defence of Bottas made many people think that Hamilton's teammate didn't care anymore. We saw something similar before at the Dutch Grand Prix, when Bottas took the fastest lap, forcing Hamilton to...
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