Success secured on the shores of Sochi for Mercedes

In the shadows of the Caucasus Mountains, on the banks of the Black Sea, sleepy Sochi was re-awakened for the high-octane, tyre screeching sounds of it’s first Formula One Grand Prix.

For a town whose last major sporting event was the Winter Olympics in early 2014, the drivers arrived expecting to be greeted with a cold reception, only to find it was them that warmed the hearts of a new nation of F1 lovers who embraced the occasion for what it was.

Lewis Hamilton’s victory enabled spectators to see history in the making, as Mercedes earned their first ever Constructors’ title, having kept up the recurring theme of dominating races with an impressive one-two here. It was Hamilton who added a fourth consecutive victory to his repertoire, as he extended his lead over teammate Nico Rosberg, with the German finishing second, to 17 points.

Following the race, Hamilton said: “I’m so proud to have contributed to the work of this great team, to get the first constructors’ championship is a huge achievement.

“The car has been a dream and I could have only dreamed of a day like this,” continued the 29-year-old, who is odds-on with Coral at 2/9 to win the Drivers’ Championship.

“There is an incredible synergy within the team and there is huge support from everyone right through from board level, they are real racers. Everyone really wants to win and this car and this engine are just mind-blowing.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was delighted with the win and emphasised the hard work that had gone into this achievement: “The foundations of this success were built by Ross Brawn and he played such an important role in the team to prepare this success,” he said.

“We have been able to continue that work – making the right decisions, putting the right resources in place and putting the team on an upward slope; today’s achievement is the result of that.

“Well done to every single member of the team in the UK and Germany for this world championship.”

Attention now turns to the American Grand Prix, with Hamilton odds-on at 8/13 to make it five wins in a row, with teammate Rosberg at 9/4.