Ferrari made a big statement on Friday when they landed a 1-2 in the Russian GP practice. Season-leader Sebastian Vettel headed up the action ahead of teammate Kimi Raikkonen and the Mercedes were struggling to find their pace. So that should lead to a pretty interesting race on Sunday because Lewis Hamilton needs to make an impression and take the chequered flag to prevent Vettel getting further ahead of him.
Hamilton is seven points behind the German going into the weekend having won in China and having followed Vettel home in second place in both Australia and Bahrain. One thing in Hamilton’s favour though is that he has won two of the three Russian Grand Prix events since it was put back on the season in 2014. Hamilton is running as even money favourite at bet365 to take the win in Russia on Sunday.
Vettel is behind him at 11/8 with Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas at 11/2. He really doesn’t look to have the pace to match up to the front two, however, in practice, he was showing some good straight-line speed, which was right up there with Vettel. However, it’s hard to see him doing enough on the rest of the circuit to break up Hamilton and Vettel and he could be under pressure from Raikkonen so he’ll have that to worry about.
Nico Rosberg, who has retired, won here last season so there is no defending champion out this year. The way it stands, Ferrari have a clear edge over Mercedes at the moment and therefore, off the grid Vettel is likely to gain a decent advantage and get himself out in front. He will be very hard to reel in if he does that and looks the value in the race to win. Vettel is 13/8 at bet365 to land Pole Position, with Hamilton as 8/11 favourite.
Russian Grand Prix Betting Odds
Lewis Hamilton even money, Sebastian Vettel 11/8, Valtteri Bottas 11/2, Kimi Räikkönen 12/1, Max Verstappen 50/1, Daniel Ricciardo 50/1, bar 250/1
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