The Official 2018 Russia Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Discussion
Dates
September 28th - September 30th
Session Times
| Session | Local Time | UK Time [Sky] | UK Time [C4 Highlights] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | 1100 - 1230 | 0900 - 1030 | N/A |
| Practice 2 | 1500 - 1630 | 1300 - 1430 | N/A |
| Practice 3 | 1200 - 1300 | 1000 - 1100 | N/A |
| Qualifying | 1500 - 1600 | 1300 - 1400 | 1630 |
| Race | 1410 | 1210 | 1845 |
Circuit
The Sochi Autodrom (previously Sochi International Street Circuit) is a 5.848km street circuit in Sochi - the Black Sea resort town in Russia. The first F1 race of recent times was held here in 2014. 4 races to date and Hamilton has won 2 of them. Mercedes have won all 4 races.
Russian Grand Prix
The first Grand Prix held in Russia was in 1913 and then again in 1914, however in St Petersburg. Benz won these two races so I guess Mercedes have won all Grand Prix in Russia.Tires
2017 Results
2017 Fastest Laps
2017 Qualifying
2017 Race
This was Valtteri's first race win.
Bottas jumped both Ferraris at the start and shot off into an early lead, maintaining his advantage right through to the chequered flag despite pressure from Vettel in the closing stages.
Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton had a quiet weekend and could only manage fourth. Kimi Raikkonen claimed the final podium position.
Force India notched another double points finish with Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon in sixth and seventh, while Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed a strong drive to eighth in his Renault.
Russia F1 Photos
Live Timing
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.htmlEdited by The Moose on Thursday 20th September 21:47
Heck, that a very nice photo. 
I appreciate that it’s easier to be whinger, than a doer, but I think another person asked last time, if it is possible to publish a chart with what race tyres drivers have available after qualifying?
The other thing I really appreciate is Dr Z’s analysis of tyre performance/deg. after FP2.
KC tries to give a bit of insight at the start of the live races, but from 2019, it will become another bit of the big jigsaw that disappears.
But thank you for the “go to” information that is provided here.
I appreciate that it’s easier to be whinger, than a doer, but I think another person asked last time, if it is possible to publish a chart with what race tyres drivers have available after qualifying?
The other thing I really appreciate is Dr Z’s analysis of tyre performance/deg. after FP2.
KC tries to give a bit of insight at the start of the live races, but from 2019, it will become another bit of the big jigsaw that disappears.
But thank you for the “go to” information that is provided here.
Usually this is a circuit where you might look to Hamilton's team mate for pole but on the run of form he's on I think it's Hamilton pole #80. Mercedes front row, Ferrari will have to move Kimi out of the way for Vettel 3rd place finish.
Somebody like a Haas or a Force India could give Red Bull something to think about here, possibly Grosjean to out-qualify Ricciardo?
Somebody like a Haas or a Force India could give Red Bull something to think about here, possibly Grosjean to out-qualify Ricciardo?
HustleRussell said:
Usually this is a circuit where you might look to Hamilton's team mate for pole but on the run of form he's on I think it's Hamilton pole #80. Mercedes front row, Ferrari will have to move Kimi out of the way for Vettel 3rd place finish.
Somebody like a Haas or a Force India could give Red Bull something to think about here, possibly Grosjean to out-qualify Ricciardo?
2nd Row not a bad place to qualify, you've got a long run to turn 2 with a tow, can't see anyone other than Merc on pole, but you might see someone else leading on the first lap.Somebody like a Haas or a Force India could give Red Bull something to think about here, possibly Grosjean to out-qualify Ricciardo?
Looks like Red Bull will may be taking a few penalties in Sochi 
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sochi-i...
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sochi-i...
Deesee said:
Looks like Red Bull will may be taking a few penalties in Sochi
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sochi-i...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VsHYaRGTcshttps://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sochi-i...
Go Kimi.
37chevy said:
Soooo.......have Ferrari gone for the 3peat on tyre choices. Made the same mistake in Monza and Singapore, only 1 set of softs, although Kimi has 2 this time....
Are they suffering because of how long ago they had to specify the tyre choice for the recent races ( Teams must inform the FIA eight weeks before the start of a European event and 15 weeks before a non-European race their tyre choices. ) 37chevy said:
Soooo.......have Ferrari gone for the 3peat on tyre choices. Made the same mistake in Monza and Singapore, only 1 set of softs, although Kimi has 2 this time....
What makes it a mistake? All of these circuits are gentle on tyres and in a normal race circumstance you wouldn't expect to run the Soft tyre (which is the hardest available 
).I get that bringing one is pointless, you should either bring none at all or two or more so that tyre data can be gathered in testing, however is that one Soft set not a mandatory set which can't be de-selected?
Also these are the best racing drivers and cleverest racing teams in the world, if they don't run the Soft in testing but in the race there is an early safety car and the one stop onto the Soft is the fastest strategy, the driver will just deal with it- the driver and the team have used the Soft tyre before elsewhere and have a rough idea how it's going to play out.
I suppose the one less predictable variable is, does the Soft blister at Sochi... But Raikkonen has two sets so he can find that out in testing with the data benefitting both drivers.
HustleRussell said:
37chevy said:
Soooo.......have Ferrari gone for the 3peat on tyre choices. Made the same mistake in Monza and Singapore, only 1 set of softs, although Kimi has 2 this time....
What makes it a mistake? All of these circuits are gentle on tyres and in a normal race circumstance you wouldn't expect to run the Soft tyre (which is the hardest available ).I get that bringing one is pointless, you should either bring none at all or two or more so that tyre data can be gathered in testing, however is that one Soft set not a mandatory set which can't be de-selected?
Also these are the best racing drivers and cleverest racing teams in the world, if they don't run the Soft in testing but in the race there is an early safety car and the one stop onto the Soft is the fastest strategy, the driver will just deal with it- the driver and the team have used the Soft tyre before elsewhere and have a rough idea how it's going to play out.
I suppose the one less predictable variable is, does the Soft blister at Sochi... But Raikkonen has two sets so he can find that out in testing with the data benefitting both drivers.
|https://thumbsnap.com/X19xGyhM[/url]Getting the Hyper to work will be key in the first stint can they get it to 15/20 laps for the window, Merc can just undercut if not front running, and perhaps run a split strategy. Ferrari will have to be running one two get the Hyper/Ultra to work, to protect the under/over cut.
&
Looks like they have doubled down again..
Suzuka
[url]Goods news for anyone who uses the F1 live timing app - they've listened to the criticism of the new app and have re-released the old one.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....
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