Lewis Hamilton has every chance to celebrate a record 100th Formula One victory on Sunday, but the seven-time world champion still can’t take anything for granted at Russia’s Sochi circuit.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team has won every race on the Olympic Park circuit for the first time in 2014, with the Briton victorious in four out of seven and current teammate Valtteri Bottas in two, including last year.
Past performance hasn’t been the biggest indicator this season, however, with Red Bull and championship leader Max VerstappenNext week, 24, push harder than ever in an increasingly intense title fight.
Verstappen’s task is tough this time due to a three-place grid penalty imposed by him hamilton The Italian clashed at the Grand Prix and retired, mostly to blame for the stewards who ruled the Dutch youngster.
Hamilton has not won since his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July, but Sochi could give him his 100th win on his fifth attempt.
No other team, not even Ferrari, has won the same race for seven consecutive years, let alone eight, but Mercedes is still the favourite.
“Lewis … is laser focused on what he needs to deliver over the next eight races,” team boss Toto Wolff said ahead of the final race at the Black Sea resort before the Russian round of moves to St Petersburg for 2023.
“As far as Valtteri is concerned, he is driving better than ever… There is a quiet determination about the team right now and the commercial end of the season fighting for the championship is exactly what we enjoy the most. take.”
While Red Bull has never been on pole in Sochi, a position achieved only by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Verstappen has so far started from the top spot in eight of the 14 races, including seven of the last eight.
However, none of their seven wins so far in 2021 have come from less than third on the grid.
The Dutch driver, five points clear of Hamilton in the standings while Red Bull is 18 points behind Mercedes, finished second in Sochi last year.
“We have been more competitive this year and we have a better package at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how competitive we can be this year,” Verstappen said.
“It will definitely be completely different for Monza and it looks like there might be some rain this weekend … I’m definitely looking forward to going back there and seeing what we do.” can.
“Punishment is certainly not the norm but nothing is lost, that’s how I see it.”
McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo-led teammate Lando Norris finished a one-two at Monza, but Sochi was McLaren’s only non-scoring race of the 2020 campaign.
They will also be hoping that past performance is no guide to current form, with both drivers fired off the team’s first win since 2012 and the first one-two since 2010.
Ferrari, fighting for third place against McLaren, will also count on solid points Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team has won every race on the Olympic Park circuit for the first time in 2014, with the Briton victorious in four out of seven and current teammate Valtteri Bottas in two, including last year.
Past performance hasn’t been the biggest indicator this season, however, with Red Bull and championship leader Max VerstappenNext week, 24, push harder than ever in an increasingly intense title fight.
Verstappen’s task is tough this time due to a three-place grid penalty imposed by him hamilton The Italian clashed at the Grand Prix and retired, mostly to blame for the stewards who ruled the Dutch youngster.
Hamilton has not won since his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July, but Sochi could give him his 100th win on his fifth attempt.
No other team, not even Ferrari, has won the same race for seven consecutive years, let alone eight, but Mercedes is still the favourite.
“Lewis … is laser focused on what he needs to deliver over the next eight races,” team boss Toto Wolff said ahead of the final race at the Black Sea resort before the Russian round of moves to St Petersburg for 2023.
“As far as Valtteri is concerned, he is driving better than ever… There is a quiet determination about the team right now and the commercial end of the season fighting for the championship is exactly what we enjoy the most. take.”
While Red Bull has never been on pole in Sochi, a position achieved only by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Verstappen has so far started from the top spot in eight of the 14 races, including seven of the last eight.
However, none of their seven wins so far in 2021 have come from less than third on the grid.
The Dutch driver, five points clear of Hamilton in the standings while Red Bull is 18 points behind Mercedes, finished second in Sochi last year.
“We have been more competitive this year and we have a better package at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how competitive we can be this year,” Verstappen said.
“It will definitely be completely different for Monza and it looks like there might be some rain this weekend … I’m definitely looking forward to going back there and seeing what we do.” can.
“Punishment is certainly not the norm but nothing is lost, that’s how I see it.”
McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo-led teammate Lando Norris finished a one-two at Monza, but Sochi was McLaren’s only non-scoring race of the 2020 campaign.
They will also be hoping that past performance is no guide to current form, with both drivers fired off the team’s first win since 2012 and the first one-two since 2010.
Ferrari, fighting for third place against McLaren, will also count on solid points Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
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