Max Verstappen demoted to back of the grid as Lewis Hamilton aims to regain F1 lead

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are in a title fight (Tim Goode/PA)

Lewis Hamilton has been handed the opportunity to regain the lead of the world championship after Max Verstappen was thrown to the back of the grid for Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was already due to serve a three-place grid drop in Sochi following his extraordinary crash with Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix.