Formula 1 2019 Russian Grand Prix Preview

After the Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1 heads to Sochi in Russia for this weekend’s Grand Prix.

The top two

Lewis Hamilton heads to Russia having managed to slightly extend his lead in the championship over nearest rival, Valtteri Bottas.

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The points gap between the two is now at sixty five points with Hamilton having managed to finish ahead of Bottas in two of the last three races.

The battle for third

Thirty one points behind Bottas however is a closer battle as Charles Leclerc is level on points with Max Verstappen who are third and fourth respectively going into this weekend. They are also joined by Sebastian Vettel who thanks to his Singapore Grand Prix victory is only six points behind the two.

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Leclerc is the most inform of the three heading to Russia having finished inside the top two in the last three races compared to Verstappen’s and Vettel’s one.

With Hamilton steadily increasing the points gap between himself and Bottas, this fight for third has become the main focus at the front of the grid for the rest of the 2019 season.

Battle for sixth

The first driver behind the top five is still Pierre Gasly who is eleven points ahead of seventh placed Carlos Sainz. Gasly has scored points in two of the last three races heading to Russia while Sainz has failed to score in all three races since the sport returned from its summer break.

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Twenty seven points behind Gasly, and closing in fast, is Alexander Albon who has finished inside the top six in the last three races, unsurprisingly drastically closing the gap to Gasly.

Ninth to fourteenth

Albon currently occupies eighth in the standings and he has managed to open up an eight point lead over Daniel Ricciardo who is currently ninth.

Ricciardo is the start of a close group of drivers with seven points covering him down to Sergio Perez who is currently fourteenth.

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Closer to Ricciardo are Daniil Kvyat and Nico Hulkenberg, both only one point behind the Australian. Two points behind him are Lando Norris and Kimi Raikkonen.

Of this group of six drivers, Hulkenberg is the most inform having finished inside the points in the last three races while Norris is the next best having finished in the points in the last two races.

Elsewhere

Antonio Giovinazzi continued on from his points finish in Italy with another finish, albeit eventful, inside the top ten in Singapore, taking him to within four points of the driver immediately above him in the standings, Romain Grosjean.

Having had their lead cut in the constructors’ standings in the last two races, McLaren go into the Russian Grand Prix weekend having slightly rebuilt their points advantage over fifth placed Renault, outscoring their engine supplier in Singapore.