Sochi, Russia - Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff isn't taking anything for granted
despite Lewis Hamilton leading the Formula One standings by 40 points
with just six races left. The Russian Grand Prix has been won every
year by the Silver Arrows, but a change of date could cause problems.
Mercedes has won at Sochi on each of the
four occasions the Russian Grand Prix has taken place but team chief
Toto Wolff says it cannot rest on its laurels as Lewis Hamilton
closes in on a fifth Formula One title. Victory for Hamilton last time out in Singapore, after a stunning
pole lap which came out of nowhere, put him 40 points ahead of
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel with six races remaining this season.
Hamilton won in 2014 and 2015 in the Russian Black Sea resort when
the race took place in October. It was moved to May and April in the past two years, when team-mates Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas
prevailed. Wolff is a little concerned by the switch in date.
"With the race being held in late September, we're going back to
weather conditions that will be similar to those of 2014 and 2015,
when the Russian Grand Prix took place in early October," he said. "We don't have any data from the current regulation cars in those
conditions in Sochi, so this adds another challenge to the race.
"We have a good track record in Sochi but we know that Ferrari and
Red Bull will give it everything to break our winning streak, so we
must fight as hard as ever to make sure we bring home as many points
as possible."
Questionable tactics
Vettel could only finish third in Singapore after questionable
Ferrari tactics but has not given up hope of somehow overhauling
Hamilton and snatching his own fifth world title, having won four at
Red Bull.
"I think Russia has improved in recent years for us, so it should
suit our car," he said, having taken two second places in Sochi, in 2015 and 2017.
"I don't think we have to worry about races that are yet to come. I
think our car works pretty well everywhere. That's one of the
strengths of our car, so there's no reason to be afraid of what's
coming," Vettel added.
On-form Bottas
Counting against Vettel is the form Bottas has previously shown in
Sochi. As well as winning in 2017, he made the podium in 2014 with
Williams and was fourth in 2016. He would have been third in 2015 but
for a Kimi Raikkonen calamity on the final lap.
If Bottas produces another good showing, then the chances of more
Hamilton success is increased given Bottas is a good team player and
will try to help his fellow Mercedes driver in the title race.
Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo look out of the
running as they are expected to incur grid penalties for switching
power units, but the long straights at Sochi mean the circuit does not especially help
Red Bull anyway.
"Sochi is going to be a tough weekend for us," said Red Bull team
boss Christian Horner. As for pit stops, a one-stop strategy looks the only way to go with
no one having finished in the top four following multiple stops.