F1 Russian Grand Prix prediction, betting preview, free tips, where to watch

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Formula One Russian Grand Prix from Sochi on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1, 12.10pm Sunday

Best bets

Valtteri Bottas leader after one lap
1pt 10-1 bet365

Alpha Tauri double points finish
1pt 9-4 bet365

Preview

Lewis Hamilton survived a scare in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix but in the end the world champion comfortably secured his fifth pole position in a row.

Gunning for a spot in the top-ten shootout, Hamilton had his first lap-time deleted for exceeding track limits. When Sebastian Vettel destroyed his Ferrari, bringing out the red flags with little over two minutes left in the session, it threatened to condemn Hamilton to starting 14th on the grid.

But the Mercedes driver was able to begin a quick lap in the dying seconds of Q2 and go fast enough to advance.

Hamilton leads the world championship by 55 points from his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, and the Briton is an 8-15 shot to win for the seventh time this season and equal Michael Schumacher's record of 91 grand prix victories.

Red Bull had appeared to be struggling in Sochi, but Max Verstappen produced a stunning effort to claim second on the grid.

That denied Bottas an eighth straight front-row start, but the Finn won't be too concerned given the nature of the circuit.

There is almost a one-kilometre drag from the startline to the first braking point, which can leave the leader vulnerable to the chasers, who benefit from a slipstream.

In two of the last three years the driver starting third has led after the first lap - Vettel last year and Bottas himself in 2017. The Finn has a fine record in Sochi. He went on to take his first career victory in that race, and would have repeated it the following year had the team not asked him to allow Hamilton to win to aid the Englishman's title charge.

Thirty thousand fans will be allowed into the circuit, and they will be hoping for a strong race from home hero Daniil Kvyat.

The Russian has been outperformed by his Alpha Tauri teammate Pierre Gasly this season, but has three points finishes from his last five starts. Back Kvyat and Gasly to both add to the teams tally this time.

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