[Official] Russian Grand Prix 2019: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 16 of 21

[Born Racer]

The first Russian Grand Prix was held in 1913 in Saint Petersburg, won by home driver Georgy Suvorin in a Benz. The following year, in the same city, the Benz of German Willy Scholl took victory.

Not held again until 2014, there were various proposals for a race. In 1983, a Grand Prix of the Soviet Union was included on the provisional calendar, due to be held in Moscow. A Hermann Tilke-designed Moscow Raceway, opened in 2012, was never used for a Grand Prix, but in 2010, the Sochi race was announced, eventually hosting its first event in 2014. All too often, Olympic facilities are not exploited to their maximum after the fortnight’s festival of sport has vanished. In constructing the circuit in the middle of the Olympic park, the organisers have at least created a sports-centred area.

Winding its way around the facilities, Sochi is not exactly a street track in the traditional sense, much more akin to Valencia in feel than Singapore. It’s almost a kilometre longer than the latter country’s Marina Bay circuit, but the Sochi Autodrom throws up a quicker lap time.

At the end of the start-finish straight, drivers go into the gentle right-hand kink of Turn 1 before reaching between 320 and 330kph before Turn 2, at which point they go 90 right, before the track almost immediately arcs left through the very long Turn 3. They spend around six seconds in this corner, at about 280kph before quickly switching right through the 90 degree Turn 4.

A short straight follows which is punctuated by another 90 right at 5, before a gentle kink at Turn 6. They exit the next right-hander at around 160kph before then going through the double corner of 8 and 9. After another right-hander, they enter Sector 2 and a long straight, Turn 11 being the slight right-hand bend (DRS Activation Zone 2 is here) before braking at around 330kph while taking a tiny left-hand kink at Turn 12, which switches right and approaches the slower Sector 3.

A left-hand curve at Turn 14 is followed by a slow left-hander at 15 and three slow right-handers at 16, 17 and 18, which brings the drivers into DRS Activation Zone 1 and the start-finish straight.

In the augural event at Sochi, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came first and second for Mercedes, while future Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas completed the podium.

The following year, Carlos Sainz had a big crash in practice, but was okay to start the race. Sergio Pérez was in 3rd, but lost the place on the final lap, only to reclaim it when Kimi Räikkönen and Bottas collided. Hamilton won from Sebastian Vettel, while pole man Rosberg had already gone out early doors with throttle problems.

In 2016, it was another one-two for Mercedes, as the event moved from Autumn to Spring, with Rosberg ahead of Hamilton. Vettel was taken out by Russian Daniil Kvyat after he came at him like a "torpedo", in the Ferrari driver's words. It was to be Kvyat's final race with Red Bull before returning to Toro Rosso. Rosberg won from Hamilton again.

The next year, Bottas took his first ever win from the Ferraris of Vettel and Räikkonen, while in 2018, the race moved back to the Autumn, and Hamilton won after Bottas had let him through into second place.

With Mercedes having won every race, they may look like a shoo-in for the win, but their race pace looks questionable now in comparison to Ferrari, who have taken three wins on the trot.

Circuit length: 5.848km
Number of laps: 53
Race distance: 309.745km
Dry weather tyre compounds: C2, C3 & C4
Race Lap Record: 1:35.861 (2018 - Valtteri Bottas - Mercedes)
First Russian Grand Prix: 1913
First Grand Prix at this circuit: 2014



To join in our predictions contest and Fantasy F1 contest, go here: https://tentenths.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Constructors’ championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/team.html

Drivers' championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results....9/drivers.html

Russian Grand Prix tyre choices: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...2cpIyuqKB.html

[Tourer]

Very nice work BR - particularly like the references to the Grands Prix of a century ago.

Cheers!!

[wnut]

Thank BR, great intro as always!

Never heard about Russia having a GP in 1913!

I must admit to quite enjoying this track, hopefully we will get some good racing and an unexpected result.

[E.B]

Top reading again BR. Ta and much appreciated.

Interesting that nothing without the name Benz in it has ever won a Russian GP

[S griffin]

Thanks for the intro BR. Once again Ferrari and Verstappen dominating practice. Seems Merc’s big advantage has gone

[E.B]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Seems Merc’s big advantage has gone

Or the sandbags are out.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Great intro as ever. Will Ferrari be able maintain their winning streak?

[chillibowl]

Yeah another great intro.

Originally Posted by E.B

Or the sandbags are out.

To some extent im thinking this. lead in both championship maybe they are playing it tight with more focus now being placed on next season.

Potentially a risky move and one i would like to see Ferrari make them pay for.

[Aysedasi]

Thanks very much Mr Racer - much appreciated

[wnut]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Yeah another great intro.



To some extent im thinking this. lead in both championship maybe they are playing it tight with more focus now being placed on next season.

Potentially a risky move and one i would like to see Ferrari make them pay for.

Always love it in sport where you see one side playing for time and then they get beaten - no sympathy there!


Always think of this song, not strictly accurate, but conveys the point. "You messed about, I caught you out! Howzat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwYzAnNRFQU

[chillibowl]

Right. In sport you pay for hubris.

Quali was fairly straightforward and leaves us with a nice mix at the front. Start should be fun.

Ham and Leclerc were chatting off to the side during the grid interview...casual conversation or mind games about the first corner?

This is a solid rivalry emerging...akin to Schumi v Alonso in 2003/4?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Leclerc on getting his fourth pole in row. Can he turn that into another win, bearing in mind what happened in Singapore? Good to see the McLarens in 5th and 7th all be it with a little help from Verstappen's grid penalty, which drops him to 9th.

[Greem]

For someone to push Hamilton to even better things is something we all need to be thankful to M. Leclerc for. If they can both stay like this for the next three or four years we're in for some thrilling races*.

*tyres notwithstanding

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Congrats to Leclerc on getting his fourth pole in row. Can he turn that into another win, bearing in mind what happened in Singapore? Good to see the McLarens in 5th and 7th all be it with a little help from Verstappen's grid penalty, which drops him to 9th.

Great job by Charles, interesting to note that the Mercs are the only cars in the top ten that will start on medium tyres. Should be an interesting run into the first corner at least.

[Greem]

Just getting settled in for this one - imagine that, getting to watch more than one race in real time in a season!

I reckon the red cars will skedaddle at the beginning and then it'll all be about how well their tyres hang on compared to the Mercedes harder compounds. It's going to be a good race!

[Greem]

LIGHTS OUT from the shouty man.

[Greem]

That was a feisty few corners. Vettel to P1, Sainz splitting the Mercs and Grosjean off after contact from Ricciardo. And maybe one of the Alfas.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A very clean start and Vettel leads, overtaking Leclerc at Turn 1 but it looks like Grosjean has messed up again at Turn 4 and the first FCY comes out.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Greem

Grosjean off after contact from Ricciardo. And maybe one of the Alfas.

Correction: 3 into 1 doesn't go, nowhere for Giovanazzi to go getting pinched between Grosjean and Ricciardo.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

A very clean start and Vettel leads, overtaking Leclerc at Turn 1 but it looks like Grosjean has messed up again at Turn 4 and the first FCY comes out.

It was Giovanazzi, not Grosjean.

[chillibowl]

Vettel doesnt look like he will play ball...like that!

[Akrapovic]

I understand Ferrari wanting to swap the cars, but it's way too early for that and the gap isn't big enough. And they should know that. The drivers shouldn't have to be the ones to talk sense.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Ferrari have got themselves into a pickle, as to whether Vettel and Leclerc should swap places.

[Greem]

Ferrari drivers embroiled in a 200mph bun fight.

[Greem]

Change of plan for the red cars then, with team encouraging Vettel away.

Radio says "Plan C".