Mercedes hopes to resume Sochi story - Russian GP in numbers

Ferrari has outperformed Mercedes in recent weeks but Sochi Autodrom has proved a favourite track for Lewis Hamilton and the Silver Arrows.

Sebastian Vettel on his way to victory in Singapore.

Mercedes will be glad of a return to a happy hunting ground at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi after Ferrari's dominance of recent rounds.

Charles Leclerc was unable to convert pole in Singapore into a hat-trick of wins as teammate Sebastian Vettel stepped up to keep the streak going.

Leclerc is now within 100 points of championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who has not tasted victory since the Hungarian Grand Prix at the start of August.

A sixth title is still firmly within Briton Hamilton's grasp, but he and Valtteri Bottas will be keen to turn the tide for Mercedes with half an eye on the 2020 season.

READ| Singapore GP: Vettel ends wait for win as Leclerc fumes despite Ferrari one-two

Here, we look at some of the key numbers ahead of the Russian Grand Prix.

5 – Mercedes has won all five previous editions of the Sochi race, with Hamilton on the top step of the podium three times. Bottas and Nico Rosberg have one win apiece.

4 – Mercedes has only once failed to make pole its own in Russia, while Hamilton's four podiums were only interrupted by a fourth-placed finish in 2017.

2008 – If Ferrari chalks up a fourth consecutive win it will be the first time it has enjoyed such a run since Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa won two apiece between the Malaysian and Turkish Grands Prix of 2008.

– Red Bull has no podiums in five appearances in Russia – the most it has featured at any race without doing so.

29 – Vettel has completed the most pit stops this season and is only one shy of the 30 he tallied over the duration of the 2018 campaign.

5 – Leclerc's five poles is more than any other driver has achieved this term. The last Ferrari driver to lead in poles at this stage of the season was Michael Schumacher with eight in 2004.

14 – Max Verstappen progressed 14 places from a start of 19th on the grid at last season's race in Sochi. He has only bettered this once in his career, making up 16 positions in the 2018 United States Grand Prix.

19 – Ayrton Senna won the most Grands Prix having led from start to finish. Hamilton is on 18, one behind the great Brazilian.