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Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the course of the dash qualifying. REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Lewis Hamilton has each probability of celebrating a record-extending one centesimal Method One victory on Sunday, however the seven-time world champion can nonetheless take nothing as a right at Russia’s Sochi circuit.
Hamilton’s Mercedes workforce has received each race on the Olympic Park circuit for the reason that first in 2014, the Briton triumphant in 4 of the seven and present teammate Valtteri Bottas in two together with final yr.
Previous efficiency has not been the best of indicators this season, nevertheless, with Pink Bull and championship chief Max Verstappen, 24 subsequent week, pushing tougher than ever in an more and more intense title battle.
Verstappen’s activity is more durable this time because of a 3 place grid penalty imposed after he and Hamilton collided and retired on the Italian Grand Prix, with stewards ruling the Dutch teenager was largely responsible.
Hamilton has not received since his dwelling British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July however Sochi may deliver him that one centesimal win on the fifth try.
No different workforce, not even Ferrari, has ever received the identical race for seven years in a row, not to mention eight, however Mercedes remains to be favorites.
“Lewis… is laser centered on what he must ship within the subsequent eight races,” stated workforce boss Toto Wolff forward of the Black Sea resort’s penultimate race earlier than the Russian spherical strikes to St Petersburg for 2023.
“As for Valtteri, he’s driving higher than ever… there’s a relaxed willpower concerning the workforce proper now and the enterprise finish of a season, preventing for championships, is precisely what we get pleasure from essentially the most.”
Whereas Pink Bull has by no means been on pole in Sochi, a place solely ever achieved by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers, Verstappen has began from the highest slot in eight of 14 races thus far together with seven of the final eight.
None of his seven wins thus far in 2021 has come from decrease than third on the grid, nevertheless.
The Dutch driver, 5 factors away from Hamilton within the standings whereas Pink Bull is eighteen behind Mercedes, was second in Sochi final yr.
“We now have been extra aggressive this yr and now we have a greater bundle for the time being so it is going to be fascinating to see how aggressive we will be there this yr,” stated Verstappen.
“It will likely be after all utterly totally different to Monza and it seems like there could be some rain this weekend… I’m undoubtedly wanting ahead to going again there and seeing what we will do.
“The penalty is after all not ultimate however nothing is misplaced, that’s how I take a look at it.”
McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo led teammate Lando Norris in a one-two end at Monza however Sochi was McLaren’s solely non-scoring race of the 2020 marketing campaign.
They can even be hoping previous efficiency isn’t any information to present kind, with each drivers fired up by the workforce’s first win since 2012 and first one-two since 2010.
Ferrari, preventing McLaren for third place, can even be within the reckoning for stable factors with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
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