Sochi – Max Verstappen threatens to lose his Formula 1 championship lead after changing engines. The 23-year-old has to start from the end of the field in the Russian Grand Prix this Sunday (2 p.m. / Sky) and has a major disadvantage in the heated title fight with world champion Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes. On Friday, Verstappen’s Red Bull team decided to change the drive unit. Since the fourth engine is already being used, but only three are allowed, the relocation in the line-up takes place in Sochi as a punishment.
In practice, the 23-year-old Verstappen drove his car more than a second behind in sixth place. Last year’s winner Valtteri Bottas was unbeatable, bringing his Mercedes to first place in 1: 33.593 minutes, just ahead of team-mate Hamilton. Just five championship points separate the leader Verstappen (226.5) and pursuer Hamilton (221.5). “It doesn’t really change anything for us. We’re doing our thing, “said Hamilton about Verstappen’s transfer. But of course the seven-time champion wants to “capitalize on it,” he said: “If we could get first and second, that would be sensational.”
The Black Sea Grand Prix could be exciting for another reason. Heavy rain is forecast for Saturday. It seems possible that neither the third training nor the qualification can go ahead as planned. If the conditions are not manageable, as they were last in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, the units could be canceled altogether. It should also rain a lot on Sunday, but overall not as hard as the day before.
Former world champion Sebastian Vettel drove the ninth fastest training time on the high-speed track in his Aston Martin. Newcomer Mick Schumacher had to be content with the last place one day after the announcement of his contract extension for the coming season and was behind his teammate Nikita Masepin.
Mercedes is the clear favorite in the Olympic city of 2014, since the premiere, the racing team has been the winner in all World Cup races and a total of seven times in a row. Hamilton has already been ahead four times, while Verstappen is still unsuccessful. At the last race in Monza, the two title rivals were eliminated after an accident. Verstappen was identified as the culprit and was given a starting place penalty, which is no longer relevant due to the additional penalty. (dpa)
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