F1 2018: 5 Early Predictions for the Russian GP

There are only six more races remaining in what has been a gripping Formula One Season in 2018. Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari may conceivably for the first time have the better package than Mercedes since the switch to the Hybrid Era, however, they simply haven't been able to hold the lead in the championships. Mercedes and Hamilton have stolen multiple victories and the Brit seems to be driving as well as he ever has to work his Silver Arrow to the top of the championship standings.

The silly season is still well underway and multiple drivers in the midfield are pushing to prove that they are worth being in F1 in 2019. The midfield championship races is still very much on as Renault, Force India and Haas could all viably grab 4th place. The season is hot all over as Mercedes could still drop the ball, but it will take a miraculous comeback from Ferrari if it is to be.

#1 Bottas gets Pole

While the championship race doesn't really show much hope that Bottas can come away in the number one position, the Finn is still sitting in fourth and has been a vital part of Mercedes campaign for the constructor's title. He is also still a really quick driver, and with Hamilton and Vettel chomping at the bit, it could throw a real wrench in the works for the championship leaders if Bottas picks up pole position in Russia.

Last year in Russia, Bottas showed real speed and clinical driving, managing to go from third on the grid to the race victory ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Russia is clearly a track that the Finn can do well on, and considering the adoration that Lewis has been getting for his pole laps, we see Bottas banging out a fiery one here in the chilly east of Europe.

#2 Sirotkin bows out before one lap

My personal driver of the day at the Singapore Grand Prix was 2018 debutante, Russia's very own, Sergey Sirotkin. The young Russian did not score any points, but in the midst of a heated battle with Sergio Perez showed his class and control by putting on an entertaining defensive driving showcase under the lights.

However, I don't see the hometown favourite having similar success in Russia, simply because of the string of hometown crashes this season. LeClerc, Ocon, Vettel and others have all crashed at their home race, and I believe that Sirotkin will, unfortunately, be the next victim in this trend. His Williams is not the most well functioning car on the track, and we have seen first lap incidents in Russia before, and starting near the back of the grid won't help him.

While we certainly hope for the fans in Russia that they can see their driver put on a show in the race, our senses tell us that Sirotkin will very quickly be Sirotkout.

#3 Perez redeems himself with a podium

One of the most disastrous stories of the 2018 Singapore Grand Prix, was the coming together of the two Force India's that saw Sergio Perez put Esteban Ocon out of the race. The Mexican's race didn't get any better from there, clashing with Sirotkin and essentially ruining his attempted comeback drive. The Mexican received a penalty and the damage on his car put him well back in the race.

Despite the chaos in Singapore, Perez is still an extremely talented driver who is arguably Force India's best and undoubtedly the most talented Mexican to ever grace Formula One. One of the examples of this was his podium in Russia in 2015. Perez came third behind Hamilton and Vettel to take the last spot on the podium, and so far in 2018, he is the only driver to do so that isn't in a Mercedes, Ferrari or a Red Bull.

We see the Mexican coming to Russia with a mission to prove himself and taking advantage of some chaos (that hopefully won't be near him) to push his Pink wagon to third place in the race.

#4 Ricciardo and Verstappen have the battle of the day

With the F1 driver's and constructor's championship essentially in the hands of either Ferrari or Mercedes, Red Bull have resigned themselves to simply do the best they can rather than hope for a miracle. The Austrian outfit is clearly focused on 2019 with their new engine provider in Honda, and although they have two amazing drivers with them, it is hard to imagine either of them winning too many more races this year.

That being said, now that the pressure is off both of them, we see the two young drivers going at it in a clean show of pure driving skill. Ferrari and Mercedes will likely have a big advantage over the Red Bulls, pushing Max & Daniel into their own race. Hopefully, the two don't go overboard and run into each other like in Azerbaijan, and since the long straights of Russia aren't as congested as those of Baku we could see the two boys going overtake for overtake here.

#5 Vettel keeps his title hopes alive

F1 Grand Prix of Singapore

One of the constants of this season has been that Vettel and Ferrari have made a number of mistakes that have let Mercedes get ahead. The slip up in Germany, bad strategy calls in Monza and Singapore, and a whole host of other mistakes across the season that have allowed Hamilton to have free reign over the title.

If we are to have an interesting end of season, Vettel will need to pull some points back over Hamilton and cannot afford to finish behind the Brit any more. Mercedes have a 100% record in Russia from the early 1900's to the last four years of races. It would be symbolic if Vettel broke his streak of bad luck by breaking Mercedes streak of victories in Russia.

The season last year pattered out by the time we got to Abu Dhabi as Hamilton had already clinched the championship, this time no matter who wins, we believe that Vettel can hold out just a little longer and that his comeback will start here in Russia.

Edited by Kishan Prasad