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History tells us Sochi is Mercedes territory. Not only has it won all the Formula 1 races there in the world championship era, but Benz machinery also won both of the little-remembered pre-World War 1 Russian Grands Prix in St Petersburg. The present tells a similar story.
But there's a bigger, more significant tale in the fight for the world championship, because Ferrari simply did not look at the races during Friday practice. After winning June's Canadian GP, Sebastian Vettel described Ferrari's turnaround after day one of practice as "a miracle" - and for the sake of his world championship chances he needs another this weekend.
Why? Because not only was Lewis Hamilton fastest for Mercedes on Friday, but Red Bull was also ahead. While that isn't a major concern for race day given both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen face grid penalties because Red Bull has reintroduced Renault's 'spec B' engine, the pace deficit to the front is reason to be alarmed.
