[Race] 2017 FORMULA 1 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX - Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[F1Guy]

The Formula 1 circus heads to Sochi’s Olympic Park in Russia for the fourth round of the 2017 season. After a great race in Bahrain, can Russia deliver a classic?


Russian GP track data


Sochi Autodrom fast facts
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20..._-_Russia.html

2016 Russian F1 GP review
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20...ssia_2016.html

[F1Guy]

FP1 results. Raikkonen fastest on track.

[F1Guy]

Oh no, an engine-related grid penalty is about to be, after just 3 races!

Which engine manufacturer could this be related to?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Oh no, an engine-related grid penalty is about to be, after just 3 races!

Which engine manufacturer could this be related to?

This is the stupidity of the penalties for these ridiculous rules.

You now have Vandoorne "losing" 15 places on the grid for this race, and Ferrari just one turbo change away from a grid penalty. Also just on the cusp are both Sauber and Haas.

As I say, stupid and ridiculous.

[chillibowl]

as the season progresses, surely this is an advantage for LH and Merc.

i understand why the rules are the way they are but now that we actually have a competitive season playing out, hearing about potential penalties to Ferrari down the road takes the shine off of the season.

lots of races to go so are we supposed to hope for Merc to hit a patch of unreliability as well?...hardly seems sporting and certainly not very much fun.

[chillibowl]

loving these Ferrari race posters by Marco Mastrazzo!

https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari/...385344/photo/1

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

loving these Ferrari race posters by Marco Mastrazzo!

https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari/...385344/photo/1

Are they making another movie?

[S griffin]

Well interesting session, are Mercs sandbagging or have Ferrari go one over them this weekend

[ASCII Man]

Race trim, fuel loads, tire scrubbing, lots of options to choose from to explain the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari.

[sparkione]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Race trim, fuel loads, tire scrubbing, lots of options to choose from to explain the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari.

But far less to explain the difference between the two Mercs. When was LH last out-qualified by a team mate to the tune of a full half a second? He's seemed off-colour all weekend, but even so...His interview afterwards spoke volumes – far too smiley and insouciant. Deep down he's hurting...

[mikuni]

Ferrari are saying they are fitting new turbos because this is quite a horsepower dependant track, and that the previous two are still serviceable and will see races later in the season. I suppose this makes sense, and they could roll out their final turbo for Monza (/Spa).

[F1Guy]

FA has let Honda have it. Again. He's not a happy chap at the moment is he? Can't blame him really.

Would dearly like to see FA toe to toe with LH and SV (and DR even) fighting for the win before he retires from F1. But I don't think we'll be so lucky.

[F1Guy]

FP3 results.

[F1Guy]

Hulkenberg showing what's possible in the Renault with a good driver.

Hulkenberg P7 during Q1. Palmer P16!

[S griffin]

First all Ferrari front row for nearly a decade! Shows they were not quite there before, but now seem to be a real title challenger to Mercedes. Kimi seems to finally be getting on top of the car, nearly getting pole. And Valterri outqualifies Lewis again. Can't wait for the race

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And Valterri outqualifies Lewis again. Can't wait for the race

Toto Wolff said to Valterri Bottas in China that he needs to be more like Lewis Hamilton if he wants to have a chance of the title. And it looks like a new Bottas has turned up in Russia. A bit more like Hamilton.

[F1Guy]

The new Valterri Bottas! A bit more like Hamilton.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The field is being sent out on another formation lap as Vandoorne's McLaren gives up the ghost before the original formation lap was completed.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A clean start and Bottas manages to get the better of the Ferrari's and takes the lead.

FCY as Palmer t-bones Grosjean.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The field is being sent out on another formation lap as Vandoorne's McLaren gives up the ghost before the original formation lap was completed.

FA certainly doesn't seem happy with the car. ' I've tried already, try yourself '

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

FA certainly doesn't seem happy with the car. ' I've tried already, try yourself '

Both McLarens out before the race started. I wonder if Sauber are having second thoughts about that PU deal?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Both McLarens out before the race started. I wonder if Sauber are having second thoughts about that PU deal?

??? Vandoorne's in P12 at the halfway point.

[Nikki Katz]

*yawn* another tilke classic

[ASCII Man]

Massa did his job well for Mercedes.

[Richard C]

Congratulations to Bottas. I suspect Alonso's mind has already been made up for next year regardless of how well Honda may or may not recover later in the year.

Richard