After a two-week hiatus, Formula One action returns with a bang this weekend with the Russian Grand Prix. All eyes will be on Nico Rosberg as he looks to consolidate his 36-point advantage at the top of the driver’s standings.
Can the Mercedes driver continue his dominance at Sochi? Or will another driver spoil his party this coming weekend? Read on below for a complete preview of this much-anticipated 53-lap race. While you’re at it, you can check out our NASCAR preview for the GEICO 500 race.
Lewis Hamilton may have struggled in his last race at Shanghai but he is still the odds-on favorite to win the Russian Grand Prix this coming weekend. He has fared extremely well in this event before, winning the Russian GP in each of the last two years. Hamilton cruised to victory in last year’s race, beating runner-up Sebastian Vettel by six seconds. That experience will prove vital for the Englishman as he looks to secure his first race win this season.
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton may be the favorite to win the Russian Grand Prix but you can never count out Nico Rosberg from grabbing the race win this coming weekend. The German driver is off to a strong start this year, capturing Grand Prix wins in Australia, Bahrain and China. He will fancy his chances of extending that incredible form this coming weekend as he has tasted some success at Sochi in the past. He finished second in the 2014 edition of the Russian Grand Prix.
Sleepers
Daniil Kyvat (Red Bull)
One driver who can definitely surprise this coming weekend is Daniil Kyvat. The Russian star is coming off a third-place showing at the Chinese Grand Prix, his first podium finish in the 2016 Formula One season. It was a huge bounce-back performance by Kyvat who failed to progress to the third segment of qualifying in each of his first two races.
What makes Kyvat such an enticing pick this week is Red Bull’s strength in this particular race track. Red Bull had the strongest car in the slow final sector in last year’s Russian Grand Prix, and with improvements made to the Renault power unit this past winter, this year’s RB12 should be a major threat on the long straights. Look for Kyvat to contend for the podium places for the second race running.
Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
Another driver who’s tipped to have a great race this week is Valtteri Bottas. He loves racing at the Sochi Autodrom as evidenced by his third-place finish here in 2014. He came so close to duplicating that feat last year but Kimi Raikkonen cruelly assaulted his car on the final lap. Bottas will look for another strong showing here and in the process kick start Williams’ flagging Formula One campaign. Williams have qualified no higher than sixth in the year’s opening three races.
Long Shot
Jenson Button (McLaren)
It has been a frustrating season thus far for Jenson Button who’s still scoreless in this year’s Driver’s championship. The 2009 Formula One world champion has struggled mightily of late with his last race win coming four years ago at the Brazilian Grand Prix. If there’s one place, though, that can change his Formula One fortunes, it’s got to be Sochi.
Button loves racing in this track as he has finished every single Russian Grand Prix since the Sochi circuit joined the calendar in 2014. He finished fourth in the inaugural Russian GP, trailing eventual winner Lewis Hamilton by 30.23 seconds. Last year, he ended up in ninth place after starting 13th on the grid. Button is definitely one long shot you should watch out for this week.
Writer’s Prediction
Lewis Hamilton ends barren run with a victory in the Russian Grand Prix.
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