Poll: Russian Grand Prix 2020, Sochi - Race 10/17

[Shimmy]

Sochi

When was the track built?
Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Sochi Autodrom is effectively a street circuit, evolving out of the internal roads of the park built for the city’s 2014 Winter Olympics.

When was its first Grand Prix?
Formula 1’s first ever Russian Grand Prix took place on October 12 2014. The race was won by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who was midway through a five-race winning streak that would ultimately see him clinch that year’s drivers’ title.

What’s the circuit like?
Looking at a map of the track, your eye can’t help but be drawn to the epic Turn 3, a 750m constant-radius left-hander taking the drivers around the outside of the dramatic Poyushchiye fountain. The rest of the track is characterised by a series of 90-degree bends coupled to some rapid, flowing straights-that-aren’t-straight.

TV Times
Sky:

C4:
Saturday - 6.30pm Qualifying Highlights
Sunday - 5.30pm Race Highlights


Track Diagram & Information

Weather Forecast

2019 Race Highlights
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/...ussian-grand-prix.6R4uGQZmSwgITubsLeF3zm.html

WDC Standings

Constructors' Championship Standings

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

Qualifying

Race

 

[Junglist]

Not my favourite race of the season but still, as always, thanks @Shimmy

 

[Feek]

Yeah, I'm struggling to contain my enthusiasm for this one

 

[Flibster]

Another case of Covid in one of the F1 bubbles.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309082937565077505

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Going to be a thrilling race. Bottas pole, Hamilton win. Done.

Maybe Hamilton will take a few weekends off to make the end of season closer.

 

[deuse]

Hoping Bottas can get the win he had to give to hamilton.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

If allowed to race it’s hard to see bottas beating Hamilton. He’s close often on quali pace, but Hamilton has both better race pace and tyre management. Surely at some point bottas can win, even with a cheeky safety car? It’s certainly a long run down to the first corner too, that could factor in during the start.

 

[Junglist]

Bottas is pretty strong here though so I wouldn't rule him out...

Who am i kidding.

 

[deuse]

If allowed to race it’s hard to see bottas beating Hamilton. He’s close often on quali pace, but Hamilton has both better race pace and tyre management. Surely at some point bottas can win, even with a cheeky safety car? It’s certainly a long run down to the first corner too, that could factor in during the start.

(cough)2018(cough)

 

[CaptainRAVE]

(cough)2018(cough)

Mercedes aren't in that position this year though - in 2018 it was a close fight with Ferrari, well, until the last few races. So unless the cars are struggling like they have on a couple of tracks, hopefully they'll be free to race.

 

[deuse]

Mercedes aren't in that position this year though - in 2018 it was a close fight with Ferrari, well, until the last few races. So unless the cars are struggling like they have on a couple of tracks, hopefully they'll be free to race.

It's about 3-4 times that Bottas has been told to give up a win to hamilton

I think they should ban all team orders and radio help.

 

[Junglist]

But that's down to Bottas not keeping himself in with a chance of actually winning the WDC.
They don't just give his wins away for the LOLS.

Even practice on this circuit is a bit dull

 

[Mr Jack]

If allowed to race it’s hard to see bottas beating Hamilton.

That 'if' seems pretty unnecessary. The only times Mercedes have not let them race are when things are close at seasons' end and when they've needed to protect the cars. The former doesn't apply, and the second doesn't seem likely here.

 

[Mr Jack]

Surprised to see so many cars spinning in practice. If that carries through to the race things are going to be more eventful than expected.

 

[chrismscotland]

Surprised to see so many cars spinning in practice. If that carries through to the race things are going to be more eventful than expected.

The track probably hasn't been much used (I'm not sure even in a regular season that it gets much more than the F1 and Support Races) - should probably rubber in a bit by Sunday

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Hamilton doing his usual sit back, watch bottas, don’t give anything away, put it on pole.

 

[Stu999]

Surprised to see so many cars spinning in practice. If that carries through to the race things are going to be more eventful than expected.

In FP I guess all the drivers are pushing things to find the limits then try to stay just inside those limits for qualifying.

 

[Mr Jack]

In FP I guess all the drivers are pushing things to find the limits then try to stay just inside those limits for qualifying.

Yeah, you always expect more incidents in practice, especially FP1, but there seemed to have been an unusually large number this time.

 

[Feek]

“Sound effects” lap with a prompt to turn the audio up.

Meh. It makes me sad to remember how F1 cars used to sound.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Bottas loves his practice glory.