[Official] Russian Grand Prix 2015: Weekend Thread

[Born Racer]

The globalisation of Formula 1 that has been in process since the 1990s has been mostly concentrated in Asia - the far East in the beginning and latterly in the Middle East, but with Grand Prix racing returning to Mexico this year and the inaugural Russian Grand Prix last year, it’s branching out.

Truth be told, 2014 was the first Formula 1 race in Russia, but not the first Grand Prix. That was held in 1913 in St. Petersberg and was won by Russian driver Georgy Suvorin in a Benz. It was held the next year, but was never reinstated after World War 1.

There were plans for a race in Moscow in the early 80s; the race was even included on a provisional calendar for 1983 as Grand Prix of the Soviet Union.

In 2010, the Sochi race was announced. All too often Olympic facilities are not exploited to their maximum after the fortnight’s festival of sport has vanished. I don’t know to what extent the Sochi Olympic facilities are used, but in constructing the circuit around the Olympic park, the organisers have at least created a sporting connection with the area.

Winding its way around the sporting 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.

Cars hit 320km at the end of the start-finish straight and a smidgen over 330 between Turns 1 and 2. Probably the most interesting curve is actually two in one – Turns 2 and 3, a long, long left-hander, in qualifying taken around 260km in the first part but then speeding up to around 270 in the last half. The third sector is much tighter.

Pirelli were originally to bring medium and soft tyres to this race, but last month announced they would go for soft an supersoft instead. Last year the medium and soft were taken but the high-grip track proved difficult to wear tyres out on, so this year the tyre manufacturer has aimed to get into the two to three stop window.

Last year, Lewis Hamilton locked up his brakes to pass Nico Rosberg to take the lead and go on to lead home a Mercedes 1-2 and help the team to seal their first constructors' championship. They could yet do that this weekend too. Bottas, who posted the inaugural fastest lap, completed a Mercedes-powered top three in his Williams.

Russian driver Daniil Kvyat (I've been informed by Russians it sounds like Daneel Kiveeyat, with the stress on 'Kiv') is coming off the back of some stronger performances lately against the highly-rated Daniel Ricciardo. He was visibly disappointed at how Singapore didn't work out for him as he had hoped based on his free practice form and in Japan his roll in qualifying set him back for the whole weekend. Maybe he can string together a real result in Russia this weekend.

Constructors’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...standings.html

Drivers’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...standings.html



Circuit length: 5.848km
Number of laps: 53
Race distance: 309.745
Dry weather tyre compounds: Super-Soft and Soft
DRS Detection Zone 1: Around braking zone before Turn 1
DRS Activation Zone 1: between Turns 1 and 2
DRS Detection Zone 2: In braking zone before Turn 10
DRS Activation Zone 2: On long straight (Turns 11 to 12)
Speed trap: Just before braking zone for Turn 2
Lap Record: 1:40.896 (2014 - Valtteri Bottas - Williams-Mercedes)
First World Championship Grand Prix: 2014

Thursday press conference: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-...---russia.html

Interviews with Sainz, Grosjean, Kvyat, Rosberg, Alonso and Massa.

[JeremySmith]

Thank you BR nice intro !

[bjohnsonsmith]

Very informative intro.

Not too sure about the race itself. I expect another Mercedes romp, though I hope I'm wrong.

[stripedcat]

Great intro BR. Hmmm - yeah, not that sure about the track - seems a bit difficult to race on. I suspect it'll be business as usual for Mercedes. The question is though, will Nico manage to beat Lewis for once?

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by stripedcat

Great intro BR. Hmmm - yeah, not that sure about the track - seems a bit difficult to race on. I suspect it'll be business as usual for Mercedes. The question is though, will Nico manage to beat Lewis for once?

Yes especially after the 'lubrication' it got this morning.

[canamman]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Yes especially after the 'lubrication' it got this morning.

Hilarious. It was a cleaning truck that put down the oil slick.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Seriously scary crash for Carlos Sainz. Good news that he is apparently ok.

It appeared that the marshals weren't very quick to react, but at the same time we don't know if they were told to wait on the extraction team and medical car.

More of a concern is the car going under the barrier. Especially as the the front left was off the car and therefore the nose height is dropped right onto the ground.

[steve nielsen]

First GP3 race is already cancelled, hope they can repair the barrier befor qualifying

[airbusA346]

[bjohnsonsmith]

According to this report he has been airlifted to hospital but gave the thumbs up.

Q1 is going to go ahead.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121252

[bjohnsonsmith]

Back to back poles for Nico but whether he can win tomorrow is another thing.

[canamman]

Well looks like another hohum event for the race.
I hope not. Wish I could find a streaming in car
camera for one of the midpack teams. That would
be more interesting to me.

[Adam43]

If only the broadcaster wouldn't show the leader if they were just dominating like in the last race at Suzuka. Oh, er, well, ...

[chillibowl]

F1 is what it is so for sure accept it for what it is....that said, sochi comes across as a very soulless place and I'm not expecting the racing it will produce to be any better.

Hope I'm wrong though.

[sparkione]

Great news about Sainz. Less so about the barriers. They need a re-think.

Whatever was Massa playing at?

Nice to see JB comprehensively out-qualify Ferdy. Good decision, Ron...

[stripedcat]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Back to back poles for Nico but whether he can win tomorrow is another thing.

Hmmm - it could be his race. This time. Could be one of the ones that Nico wins. Question is - what's going to happen at the start? Who will muck up - Nico or Lewis? Will there be a repeat of last year? Will Lewis get rattled and repeat his Hungary performance. Settling in for a 2nd place might not be a win - but he'll still in a strong place for the WDC. A win for Nico will give him a bit of breathing space from Vettel in the WDC.

Elsewhere - what lap will the McLaren Honda blow-up on? I reckon lap 18.

[bjohnsonsmith]

That was a rather exciting start, Rosberg just maintaining the lead but there was an off mid field at turn 2 and there's a full course yellow. Looks like it was Verstappen and Grosjean.

[bjohnsonsmith]

That's a bummer for Nico, out with a throttle issue.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Wow. Big moment for Grosjean as he smacks the wall. Fortunately it looks a lot worse than it is and Grosjean is ok but it's another caution and probably a long one, looking at all the debris.

[pirenzo]

What a clumsy move by Raikkonen. He still had the chance to make the pass cleanly in T13. How frustrating for Bottas and Williams.

[canamman]

Way to go Perez !

Thanks Kimi.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Well it's all come alive in the last two laps. Looked like Perez had third but he ran wide. Bottas who was behind took third and then he and Kimi tangled and Perez ended up third. All very exciting.

Both McLarens finished in the points.

Congrats to Lewis.

[dsg]

Well done Lewis in quite an entertaining race.

Congrats also goes to Fernando for another episode of entertaining radio chat.

[FAS33]

Some talking points about the race.

Ricciardo has been getting unlucky last few races. Did well until his mechanical failure.

Raikkonen shunting off his countrymen.

Team India celebrating like they won the Race.

Hamilton winning yet again.

[Nikki Katz]

The marshal that ran onto the track - that was his own decision, not a Whiting call, wasn't it? If it came from above then that's hugely dangerous.

Lewis was very friendly with Putin there...