Mercedes head into the final seven races of 2021 leading both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. But according to Team Principal Toto Wolff, the Silver Arrows are feeling far from comfortable, with power unit worries at the forefront of their minds going into the tail-end of the season.

Lewis Hamilton helped Mercedes maintain their unblemished Sochi record with his 100th Grand Prix victory in Russia. But having changed team mate Valtteri Bottas’ power unit at the Italian Grand Prix two weeks before, Mercedes made the surprising decision to give Bottas a fifth power unit in Russia, relegating him to a P16 start.

Asked after the Russian Grand Prix about the switch, and whether it was a means of ‘stockpiling’ power units for Bottas for the remainder of the year, Wolff replied: “I think we haven't only made the cautionary engine change because we felt we wanted to stockpile, but also because we want to understand the engine's performance – and that has given us some question marks.”

Lando Norris was, in his own words, "heartbroken" when the heavens opened in Sochi and a maiden Grand Prix victory slipped through his fingers. But days after that painful afternoon, he was able to see the positives and reckons he’ll be able to react better when he finds himself in the position in the future…

“It has [eased],” said Norris of the heartbreak when speaking for the first time since the race to F1.com in Italy at the launch of his own kart team LN Racing Kart. “I had Monday off to get over it myself and then was already in McLaren on Tuesday and spent a lot of time with my engineers, our whole group, going through everything with a bit more clarity the decisions we made. I’m better now and ready for the next challenge.”

TREMAYNE: Why Norris should take heart from former champs Hunt, Mansell and Hill after his Sochi woe

Norris was doing an impressive job holding off the chasing Lewis Hamilton, having lost and regained the lead as the Grand Prix got under way – but a decision to stay on slicks when the rain came – and then intensified – left him stranded, and he ultimately crossed the line down in seventh.

Up until that point, though, he had bossed the race at the front impressively considering he had led only one racing lap heading into Sochi, and reflecting on that afternoon now, he believes suffering such pain this early in career – this is his third F1 campaign – will only serve to make him stronger.

“It’s not just something people say, it definitely is true [that tough experiences make you stronger],” said Norris. “You do learn probably more from the hard moments. You always learn things. Even if you win a race, you can learn things.

“Definitely when you have to make these split-second decisions, when it’s not an easy decision, and you need so many different factors involved, there is a lot of things you can learn.

Lando Norris was, in his own words, "heartbroken" when the heavens opened in Sochi and a maiden Grand Prix victory slipped through his fingers. But days after that painful afternoon, he was able to see the positives and reckons he’ll be able to react better when he finds himself in the position in the future…

“It has [eased],” said Norris of the heartbreak when speaking for the first time since the race to F1.com in Italy at the launch of his own kart team LN Racing Kart. “I had Monday off to get over it myself and then was already in McLaren on Tuesday and spent a lot of time with my engineers, our whole group, going through everything with a bit more clarity the decisions we made. I’m better now and ready for the next challenge.”

TREMAYNE: Why Norris should take heart from former champs Hunt, Mansell and Hill after his Sochi woe

Norris was doing an impressive job holding off the chasing Lewis Hamilton, having lost and regained the lead as the Grand Prix got under way – but a decision to stay on slicks when the rain came – and then intensified – left him stranded, and he ultimately crossed the line down in seventh.

Up until that point, though, he had bossed the race at the front impressively considering he had led only one racing lap heading into Sochi, and reflecting on that afternoon now, he believes suffering such pain this early in career – this is his third F1 campaign – will only serve to make him stronger.

“It’s not just something people say, it definitely is true [that tough experiences make you stronger],” said Norris. “You do learn probably more from the hard moments. You always learn things. Even if you win a race, you can learn things.

“Definitely when you have to make these split-second decisions, when it’s not an easy decision, and you need so many different factors involved, there is a lot of things you can learn.

Lando Norris was, in his own words, "heartbroken" when the heavens opened in Sochi and a maiden Grand Prix victory slipped through his fingers. But days after that painful afternoon, he was able to see the positives and reckons he’ll be able to react better when he finds himself in the position in the future…

“It has [eased],” said Norris of the heartbreak when speaking for the first time since the race to F1.com in Italy at the launch of his own kart team LN Racing Kart. “I had Monday off to get over it myself and then was already in McLaren on Tuesday and spent a lot of time with my engineers, our whole group, going through everything with a bit more clarity the decisions we made. I’m better now and ready for the next challenge.”

TREMAYNE: Why Norris should take heart from former champs Hunt, Mansell and Hill after his Sochi woe

Norris was doing an impressive job holding off the chasing Lewis Hamilton, having lost and regained the lead as the Grand Prix got under way – but a decision to stay on slicks when the rain came – and then intensified – left him stranded, and he ultimately crossed the line down in seventh.

Up until that point, though, he had bossed the race at the front impressively considering he had led only one racing lap heading into Sochi, and reflecting on that afternoon now, he believes suffering such pain this early in career – this is his third F1 campaign – will only serve to make him stronger.

“It’s not just something people say, it definitely is true [that tough experiences make you stronger],” said Norris. “You do learn probably more from the hard moments. You always learn things. Even if you win a race, you can learn things.

“Definitely when you have to make these split-second decisions, when it’s not an easy decision, and you need so many different factors involved, there is a lot of things you can learn.