2021 Formula One Russian Grand Prix race preview

Mercedes driver and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton will be racing to notch up his 100th F1 win at this weekend's Formula One Russian Grand Prix, the 15th round of the 22-race calendar in 2021.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen heads into this weekend's round five points ahead of reigning Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-AMG).

However, Verstappen will be forced to take a three-place grid penalty – no matter where he qualifies for the race – after colliding with Hamilton in Monza.

Verstappen was hit with the penalty after race stewards deemed the Dutch driver to be at fault over the incident on lap 26 of the previous round at Monza, which took both drivers out of the race.

UPDATE 25 September 2021: Since this article was published, Verstappen will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after the Red Bull team decided to take the opportunity to make an engine change. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will also start from the back row after his team opted to change the engine in Leclerc's car. Original story continues below:

In last year's Russian F1 GP in Sochi, Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas took the chequered flag ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton.

Mercedes holds the advantage at Sochi having won every race held at the circuit since its inception in 2014.

While Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is still relishing over his victory at the previous round of the F1 GP in Monza, motorsport observers are keen to see if he or his 21-year-old teammate Lando Norris – who finished second at Monza – can repeat the epic feat for McLaren this weekend.

In news away from the circuit, the F1 grid is almost set for 2022, with Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin receiving their contract extensions.

The seat in the second car alongside Valtteri Bottas at the Alfa Romeo F1 team becomes the final free spot on next year's grid.

Weather forecasters are predicting a wet weekend for the Russian F1 GP, with heavy rain expected during qualifying on Saturday, with rain easing for the race on Sunday.

The Russian Grand Prix will run over 53 laps around the 5.848km Sochi circuit. The lap record is held by Lewis Hamilton, set in 2019 with a time of 1:35.761.

Mercedes has won all seven Russian Grands Prix of the modern era.

Ferrari is the only team other than Mercedes to have taken pole position here – this covers both Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.

There has been a Russian driver present at every running of the Russian Grand Prix thus far.

At 5.848km in length, this track is the fourth longest on the F1 calendar.

With Mercedes dominant at this track and Verstappen having to take the grid penalty, this could be Hamilton's chance to chalk up his 100th F1 race victory.

Watch out for Valtteri Bottas too, who was victorious last year and will be looking to bridge the gap to Lando Norris (McLaren) in the drivers' championship.

Max Verstappen may be starting further down the grid this weekend but you can never discount the Flying Dutchman or the power of the Red Bull. If the racing strategy and everything else goes to plan, we may still see him on a podium.

Look out for his teammate in Sergio Perez, who finished fourth here last year and has been showing signs of brilliance, but still only sits in fifth in the championship.

Could it even be a back-to back win for our Aussie, Dan Ricciardo? We don't see why not. He'll be coming into Sochi with plenty of momentum after the big Monza win, preceded by a strong fifth-placed result in a Renault in 2020.

Who will come out of this one leading the championship?