Hamilton wary of team’s vulnerability in title run-in

Sochi (Russia), Sept. 26: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will venture into this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix with a rare sense of vulnerability after suffering three successive defeats by Ferrari ahead of a race they have dominated for five years.

Defending five-time champion Hamilton should have every reason to feel confident — he has won three times at the former Olympic Park venue, including last year, and Mercedes have won every contest since 2014.

But after seeing Charles Leclerc triumph in Belgium and Italy and Sebastian Vettel win in last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, he knows Ferrari have the car performance and the power to end the Silver Arrows’ supremacy by the Black Sea.

And, more than that, he also knows that his own team-mate Valtteri Bottas has a sense of unfinished business to attend to at one of his favourite circuits where, irked by finishing second last weekend, Leclerc has extra motivation to succeed.

For Hamilton, what was once seen as a comfortable run-in to his sixth drivers’ title now looks to be a perilous prospect. “These next races are going to be tough,” admitted Hamilton.

Penalty for Verstappen Max Verstappen is set to take a grid penalty that will hit his hopes of a podium success at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix. The Dutchman and his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon, along with both Toro Rosso drivers, will be using an updated version of Honda’s latest engine.