Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull split Russian GP F1 tyre choices

For the fourth consecutive race to start this season Pirelli has again made its medium, soft and super-soft compounds available to F1 teams.

With the selections made before the season began, the three leading teams have taken contrasting routes for the race weekend at the Sochi Autodrom on April 29-May 1.

While the trio and their six drivers have all elected for just one set of the medium tyre, it is in the choice of the soft and super-soft where they most diverge.

Reigning constructors' champion and current leader Mercedes has gone for four sets of the soft and eight super-soft, while Ferrari has split its selection evenly with six sets of both specifications.

Red Bull, which has thrust itself into contention with a strong performance in China, is only taking two sets of soft with 10 super-soft sets.

Reviewing the rest of the field, the choice appears to favour more sets of the super-soft tyre than soft, with Williams going for nine of the former, with Force India and Toro Rosso eight, alongside Mercedes.

On that basis it could prove to be a tricky weekend for Ferrari if it lacks the appropriate number of super-soft tyres, adding to a season in which they have already made a number of mistakes on track.

RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX TYRE CHOICES: