Sochi, Russia - Predicting which Mercedes driver might win the next race has become all too routine, but Sebastian Vettel’s occasional cameo appearance on the top step of the podium has at least prevented this from being one of the dullest Formula One seasons in recent memory.
The world’s most expensive racing show moves to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix this weekend as the season winds down to its final five races. After Vettel took his Ferrari to a surprise victory in Singapore on 20 September – his third win in an otherwise Mercedes-dominated season – the normal pecking order resumed a week later in Japan with another untroubled Mercedes one-two result.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton scored his seventh win for the triple-pointed star this year to extend his lead over team-mate Nico Rosberg to 277 points versus 229. Vettel is third on 218 points and still theoretically in championship contention with a maximum 125 points up for grabs.
Despite winning the inaugural Russian Grand Prix at Sochi last year, Mercedes isn’t taking anything for granted and is wary that the track has similar asphalt to Singapore, where the team couldn’t get its tyres to work and resulted in Rosberg being its best-placed finisher in fourth.
SOCHI SEEMS TO SUIT WILLIAMS
Williams is also hoping to be closer to the front-runners this weekend. Valtteri Bottas and team-mate Felipe Massa have only three podium finishes between them this year, but the track seems to suit the car as Bottas qualified and finished third behind the Mercedes duo at Sochi last year. Williams is currently third in the Constructors’ championship, 129 adrift of second-placed Ferrari.
A further 49 points behind is Red Bull, which is fighting for its F1 future after so far being unable to secure a competitive power unit for 2016. Since 2008 the Red Bull-Renault partnership has netted 50 race wins, four Drivers’ championships and four Constructors’ titles, but Renault’s struggle to produce a competitive power unit since the introduction of new hybrid technical regulations in 2014 has soured relations.
It leaves Ferrari as the most likely power source for Red Bull next year, after Mercedes said it would not make its dominant-performing units available to the team. - Star Motoring
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