Wolff: "Whoever gets out of turn one first has a good chance of winning".

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are strong again. This weekend is the Russian Grand Prix. During Friday's free practice sessions the Mercedes drivers were already faster than they were last year. Team boss Toto Wolff has warned that the battle for the first corner could be decisive in the outcome of the race.

The GP of Valtteri Bottas

The Sochi Autodrom in Russia is a circuit that suits Bottas well. The Finn has been very fast around the circuit so far. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, who can match Michael Schumacher's 91 race victories in Russia, will do everything he can to give himself the best shot at that record.

So if the weekend goes normally, the Mercedes drivers will be fighting for pole. Speaking to Sky Sports, team boss Wolff praised Bottas: "I think this is his strongest track. He is doing incredibly well."

First corner Sochi crucial

What is Saturday's pole position ultimately worth for the race on Sunday? The nature of the Russian circuit makes for an interesting start. Wolff says: "In the end it will be especially important who is ahead after the first corner. The driver who will then be in the lead has a good chance of winning."

With pole position, you have the best chance of going in and out of that corner first, but in Russia, just like in Mugello, the straight towards that corner is very long. If you are at the front, but you get away a fraction worse than your opponent, there is a good chance that you will lose the race if we can trust Toto Wolff.