Photo via motorsport.com
After a week break following two eventful races in Italy, Formula 1 heads to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix.
The 2019 Russian Grand Prix saw Sebastian Vettel dominate the race for the first half after passing teammate Charles Leclerc who was on the podium. However, Vettel’s engine failed on lap 28, forcing him to retire. Lewis Hamilton would win the race with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas finishing second after holding off Leclerc.
Hamilton has dominated in 2020, winning six of the nine races along with seven podiums. He has 90 career wins, meaning a win in the Russian Grand Prix would tie him with Michael Schumacher for the most wins in F1 history. He once again starts on the pole.
Alongside him is Max Verstappen, who sits third in the driver standings with 110 points, 25 behind Bottas and 90 behind Hamilton. He looks to rebound after two DNFs in the last two races. He has three DNFs this season, has reached the podium in all six races he has finished this season. Bottas will start third.
Sergio Perez will start fourth and Daniel Ricciardo lines up fifth. Ricciardo is looking for his first podium on the season after finishing fourth three times in 2020.
Carlos Sainz, who sits 11th in the driver’s standings, will start sixth. Esteban Ocon will start seventh and Lando Norris, who sits fourth in the standings, starts eighth.
This year’s winner at Monza, Pierre Gasly, starts ninth. He crashed on lap one at Mugello two weeks ago, the week after his victory in the Italian Grand Prix. Alexander Albon, who picked up his first career podium two weeks ago, rounds out the top 10.
Daniil Kvyat, whose home track is at Sochi, will start 12th. Vettel who led about half the race in 2019, will start 15th.
If you are watching in the United States, coverage for the Russian Grand Prix will begin at 7:00 a.m. EST. You can catch the race on ESPN2.
Starting grid:
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 1:31.304 |
| 2 | 33 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING HONDA | 1:31.867 |
| 3 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | MERCEDES | 1:31.956 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES | 1:32.317 |
| 5 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RENAULT | 1:32.364 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | MCLAREN RENAULT | 1:32.550 |
| 7 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | RENAULT | 1:32.624 |
| 8 | 4 | Lando Norris | MCLAREN RENAULT | 1:32.847 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPHATAURI HONDA | 1:33.000 |
| 10 | 23 | Alexander Albon | RED BULL RACING HONDA | 1:33.008 |
| 11 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 1:33.239 |
| 12 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | ALPHATAURI HONDA | 1:33.249 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES | 1:33.364 |
| 14 | 63 | George Russell | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:33.583 |
| 15 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | FERRARI | 1:33.609 |
| 16 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | HAAS FERRARI | 1:34.592 |
| 17 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI | 1:34.594 |
| 18 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | HAAS FERRARI | 1:34.681 |
| 19 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:35.066 |
| 20 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI | 1:35.267 |
