Is it back to reality or will McLaren F1 be dominant enough to start another heist at the Russian GP?

The recently concluded Italian Grand Prix shattered Mercedes and Red Bull dominance as McLaren put in a miraculous 1-2 result. This is clear evidence that certain midfield teams are slowly moving closer to the top and we could face a pretty nerve-wracking end to this season.

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But let’s not drift too far and rather shift the limelight to the upcoming racing weekend. With less than a week to go before the Russian GP, ​​one might wonder if McLaren will be able to maintain the championship level in Sochi.

Can McLaren put on another strong show in Sochi?

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Well, that’s how we think. McLaren is certainly one of the favorites when it comes to the weekend. This is because Sochi has similar characteristics when compared to Monza. But of course it also depends on the starting line-up.

If one of the McLaren drivers manages to secure a front row start, we could have another McLaren win ahead of us. This is because the British made a strong impression on the straights with the powerful Mercedes engine in the rear.

Formula 1 F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes Lewis Hamilton during the Sprint Qualifying REUTERS / Jennifer Lorenzini

Not even Max Verstappen with a clearly superior car was able to overtake Daniel Ricciardo in Italy. And that says it all about McLaren’s breathtaking speed on the straight line. The bottom line is that position on the track will be crucial for McLaren to see any success in Russia.

Meanwhile, their equivalent rivals Ferrari could also carry a similar level of threat. But when you consider how Ferrari has done in qualifying since the summer break this season, not much can be expected from the team in Russia.

Will Mercedes be a threat?

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It is obvious! Yes, Mercedes will be the biggest threat considering that Sochi is arguably their most successful racetrack.

Formula 1 F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 12, 2021 McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo performs during the REUTERS / Jennifer Lorenzini race

In addition, Mercedes has been working on its turbocharger system in the engine to find the extra pace to defeat Red Bull. And it looks like Lewis Hamilton’s car will sport the updated powerplant. It is still unclear how the engine will behave on the track in contrast to the test bench.

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If Hamilton’s car actually causes problems, McLaren will have one less driver to worry about. Since Verstappen is waiting for the third starting place penalty, the papayas also have a unique opportunity to get another start from the front row this weekend. But can you do that?

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