(Skysports) – Lewis Hamilton won a simply astonishing Russian GP after long-time race leader Lando Norris suffered late heartbreak by spinning his McLaren off in heavy rain, with Max Verstappen benefitting to complete his comeback from the back of the grid to an unlikely second.

Following a dramatic and soaking-wet finale, Hamilton took both the championship lead and his 100th Formula 1 victory – but the Sochi race was destined for his young British compatriot who was so close to his very first triumph.

Pole-sitter Norris was heading towards that maiden F1 win after re-overtaking Carlos Sainz and then leading the majority of the race, even keeping his cool as Hamilton came charging through in the Mercedes after a difficult start of his own.

But as rain started falling with just eight laps to go, then getting increasingly heavier, Norris opted to stay on his slick tyres while Hamilton and the majority of the field changed for intermediates.

The decision turned out to be catastrophic as he could not control his McLaren in the conditions, spinning off into the barriers on Lap 51 of 53. Hamilton, who also wanted to stay out before being overruled by Mercedes, was then there to capitalise.

“I’m unhappy, devastated in a way,” said a tearful Norris after the race. “It was my decision, I thought it was the way to go.”

“Lando did such an amazing job, he had incredible pace,” added Hamilton, who recovered after dropping from fourth to seventh on the first lap.

“It would’ve been tough to get past Lando unless we came up to some traffic or he made a mistake… so then the rain came and it was very opportunistic.”

Hamilton claimed victory, although Verstappen was arguably the big winner as the Dutchman, who was running seventh before the rain as his early charge through the field from the back faded, changed tyres earlier than many others and finished second.

The end result means Verstappen has lost his title lead – which Red Bull expected with their engine penalty – but Hamilton is only two points clear in the standings.

Sainz completed the podium, finishing ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, another driver to benefit from the rain, and Fernando Alonso.

Norris fell to seventh, although mercifully he avoided a penalty for crossing the white line when finally entering the pits for the wet tyres.