Hakkinen backs Ferrari to end Mercedes' Sochi stranglehold

Double world champion Mika Hakkinen believes the Russian Grand Prix could see a first this weekend, with a team other than Mercedes taking victory in Sochi.

The Silver Arrows and Lewis Hamilton might be dominant leaders in both the constructors' and drivers' standings respectively, but come to Russia significantly on the back foot following three successive Ferrari victories in Belgium, Italy and Singapore.

While victories at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza had been predicted for the Scuderia, last weekend's triumph in Singapore came as a great shock, given the SF90's struggles at similar tracks earlier in the year.

Ferrari's recent upgrade appears to have finally unlocked the car's full potential, however, and despite Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas both enjoying fine records in Sochi, Hakkinen believes they could face an uphill task this week.

"This is a track where Mercedes has really dominated since the hybrid era of Formula 1 began in 2014," Hakkinen wrote for Unibet.

"They have won all five Russian Grands Prix, with Lewis winning three times, Valtteri in 2017 and Nico Rosberg back in 2016. The reigning World Champions currently lead both World Championships by a long way but they will arrive in Sochi feeling genuine pressure.

"Ferrari has the performance needed to take the fight to Mercedes this weekend.

"Both their drivers have won in recent weeks, and with Max Verstappen's Red Bull Honda likely to be in the mix, I expect we are in for another unpredictable and close weekend. Fantastic for Formula 1."

Hamilton's victory in Sochi last year came in controversial circumstances, as Mercedes ordered pole-sitter Bottas aside to let his team-mate win as he battled Sebastian Vettel for the world championship.

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