Can Mercedes wrap up constructors title in Russia?

Mercedes have their first chance to clinch the 2015 Formula One World Constructors title this weekend in Russia.

Mercedes have thus far compiled 506 points thanks to the form of both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen have won Ferrari 337 points.

Once everyone has bashed their calculators that means that if Mercedes can outscore Ferrari by just three points, then the German manufacturer will clinch back-to-back constructors titles.

With Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg going into the race at Sochi as favourites, it doesn’t exactly feel like the title is on a knife edge and the title celebrations for Mercedes appear to be almost guaranteed.

However Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda fears a potential repeat of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend where amongst a variety of reasons Mercedes could not get the tyres to work in their best operating window and so were uncompetitive.

‘the championship is not over because my worry is this next race at Sochi has Singapore-type asphalt.

‘So it’s not done and not that easy. We have to work hard, stay competitive and then we are looking good, but you only look good when it is done.’ he told Autosport Magazine.

Mercedes executive technical director Paddy Lowe concurred with Lauda due to Pirelli’s decision to opt for the super-soft and soft compound tyres this year as oppose to the soft and medium compounds in 2014.

‘This was a tricky weekend last season, with a new circuit to learn and fresh Tarmac which produced slightly unusual behaviour from the tyres.

‘This year we have moved one step softer on the compounds to bring the soft and supersoft into play – perhaps influenced by Nico running almost the entire race last year on a single set of tyres.

‘One year on, the track surface will have weathered differently so we must ensure we have all eventualities covered.’