via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 30, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the race with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who finished in second place | Courtesy: Pool via REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 30, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the race with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who finished in second place | Courtesy: Pool via REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
Defending Constructors’ Champion Mercedes has unsurprisingly dominated throughout this season. With the next stop being the Russian Grand Prix, Mercedes has once again dominated by winning every single race on that circuit. Moving into the race weekend, the team will look to maintain that streak by going after the win yet again.
2014 🏆 2015 🏆 2016 🏆 2017 🏆 2018 🏆 2019 🏆@MercedesAMGF1 have taken victory in every #RussianGP 🇷🇺
Who can dethrone the Silver Arrows this weekend? 👑#SkyF1 | #F1 pic.twitter.com/AOZwWfGqyv
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 21, 2020
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Out of the two drivers, Lewis has won the race four times while his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, has one. The domination started when the circuit made it to the calendar in 2014. Lewis controlled the debut race by leading his former teammate, Nico Rosberg, by 13 seconds.
Lewis Hamilton scored yet another win in 2015 for Mercedes, while Rosberg retired from the race. In 2016, Sochi witnessed a new winner in Rosberg who went on to win his first championship title that year as well.
Valtteri Bottas joined the Silver Arrows in 2017 and achieved his first win in Formula 1 at the Russian Grand Prix. While Lewis failed to finish the race in the Top-3.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Tuscan Grand Prix – Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero, Italy – September 13, 2020, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the race alongside Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
But since then it has been complete supremacy from Lewis snd Bottas in both 2018 and 2019. Ferrari did mount a decent challenge to Mercedes. But it was not enough.
Though Bottas led most of the race in 2018, he was asked to let Lewis pass as Sebastian Vettel behind them was closing in. Lewis went to win the race that season.
In 2019, Ferrari handed over the win to the Mercedes. The drivers were leading the race, but an MGU-K failure for Vettel forced him to stop his car on the track.
Eventually, the Stewards brought out the VSC. Mercedes used that as an advantage to pit both cars. Ultimately, they finished ahead of Charles Leclerc to take home a second consecutive 1-2 finish for Mercedes.
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Could this year’s race at Sochi be another 1-2 finish for Mercedes?
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Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 30, 2020, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in action during the race | Courtesy: Pool via REUTERS/John Thys
The ban of “party mode” has certainly pulled the Mercedes back and closer to the Red Bull. But it still does not seem to be enough for Red Bull to contend for a win.
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Considering Lewis Hamilton’s form this year, it will be a matter of concern for the other teams. Bottas has also produced convincing performances at Sochi following his move to Mercedes. And Max Verstappen will be looking to make a comeback after two back-to-back DNFs in Monza and Mugello.
A Top 3 of Lewis, Bottas, and Max look more likely for this weekend. But if the race does throw some surprises, like the Tuscan Grand Prix, the fans could very well witness yet another unpredictable race.
