planetf1.com

Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur

Thursday & Friday could see rain. Saturday morning has som chance of rain again chance. Sunday will be dry.


Source - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFO41zqWsAg ... ame=medium

Man I just don't know how to call it after Singapore. Ferrari maybe.

ReservoirDog wrote:Man I just don't know how to call it after Singapore. Ferrari maybe.

Me too. Wouldn't be surprised to see either Ferrari or Merc fastest.

Ugh, my least favourite race of the year. The most bland, characterless venue that F1 has ever visited.

This track should suit Mercedes without a shadow of a doubt.

Some statistics:
1. Mercedes are the only team to have won in Russia since the first race in Sochi in 2014.
2. Hamilton won in 2014, 2015 and 2018, Nico Rosberg in 2016 and Bottas in 2017.
3. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in 2017, is the only non-Mercedes driver to have started on pole in Russia.
4. Mercedes and Ferrari have taken 13 of 15 podium places in Russia to date. The only exceptions were Bottas, third in 2014 for Williams, and Sergio Perez who was third for Force India in 2015.

Verstappen, Albon & Gasly will be getting a 5 place grid penalty for new internal combustion engines. Kvyat is changing all elements & will be starting from the back of the grid.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... MTrJk.html

Friday there will be rain and also on Saturday mostly around qualifying. Sunday has a 20% chance of rain.
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/46476/ru ... rain-.html

What an awful circuit, basically another street track with one long straight.

Grid penalties for Red Bull and Torro Rosso, Verstappen, Albon and Gasly 5 places. Kvyatt back of the grid.

Option or Prime wrote:Grid penalties for Red Bull and Torro Rosso, Verstappen, Albon and Gasly 5 places. Kvyatt back of the grid.

Looking forward to your home race? Yeah... we're going to stick you at the back...

UnlikeUday wrote:This track should suit Mercedes without a shadow of a doubt.

Some statistics:
1. Mercedes are the only team to have won in Russia since the first race in Sochi in 2014.
2. Hamilton won in 2014, 2015 and 2018, Nico Rosberg in 2016 and Bottas in 2017.
3. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in 2017, is the only non-Mercedes driver to have started on pole in Russia.
4. Mercedes and Ferrari have taken 13 of 15 podium places in Russia to date. The only exceptions were Bottas, third in 2014 for Williams, and Sergio Perez who was third for Force India in 2015.

Kind of meaningless, Mercedes had similar statistics for the last 3 races and lost them all.

tootsie323 wrote:

Option or Prime wrote:Grid penalties for Red Bull and Torro Rosso, Verstappen, Albon and Gasly 5 places. Kvyatt back of the grid.

Looking forward to your home race? Yeah... we're going to stick you at the back...

Was just thinking that.

Bet they wouldn’t do it to Max at Zandvoort.

Johnson wrote:

UnlikeUday wrote:This track should suit Mercedes without a shadow of a doubt.

Some statistics:
1. Mercedes are the only team to have won in Russia since the first race in Sochi in 2014.
2. Hamilton won in 2014, 2015 and 2018, Nico Rosberg in 2016 and Bottas in 2017.
3. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in 2017, is the only non-Mercedes driver to have started on pole in Russia.
4. Mercedes and Ferrari have taken 13 of 15 podium places in Russia to date. The only exceptions were Bottas, third in 2014 for Williams, and Sergio Perez who was third for Force India in 2015.

Kind of meaningless, Mercedes had similar statistics for the last 3 races and lost them all.

Considering the run through turns 1 and 2, I would be genuinely surprised if Ferrari are not fastest here once again.

sandman1347 wrote:

Johnson wrote:

UnlikeUday wrote:This track should suit Mercedes without a shadow of a doubt.

Some statistics:
1. Mercedes are the only team to have won in Russia since the first race in Sochi in 2014.
2. Hamilton won in 2014, 2015 and 2018, Nico Rosberg in 2016 and Bottas in 2017.
3. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in 2017, is the only non-Mercedes driver to have started on pole in Russia.
4. Mercedes and Ferrari have taken 13 of 15 podium places in Russia to date. The only exceptions were Bottas, third in 2014 for Williams, and Sergio Perez who was third for Force India in 2015.

Kind of meaningless, Mercedes had similar statistics for the last 3 races and lost them all.

Considering the run through turns 1 and 2, I would be genuinely surprised if Ferrari are not fastest here once again.

Worth noting as well that, turn 3 aside, the corners have a similar profile to those of Singapore.

Lewis Hamilton thinks that the Ferrari is the fastest car and he doesn't expect to win!

Option or Prime wrote:Lewis Hamilton thinks that the Ferrari is the fastest car and he doesn't expect to win!

Keeping up with the trend since the season started.

Lewis in shock Mercedes underdog admission.

When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Exediron wrote:When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Lewis will never say this as he's so down to Earth!

Exediron wrote:When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Exactly....Even when they were dominate...so it is hardly "shocking" now.

UnlikeUday wrote:

Exediron wrote:When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Lewis will never say this as he's so down to Earth!

Sarcasm, I hope. Lewis "down to earth"?

Blake wrote:

UnlikeUday wrote:

Exediron wrote:When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Lewis will never say this as he's so down to Earth!

Sarcasm, I hope. Lewis "down to earth"?

Bit harsh IMO.

Blake wrote:

UnlikeUday wrote:

Exediron wrote:When have Lewis and/or Mercedes said they are the favorites to win?

Lewis will never say this as he's so down to Earth!

Sarcasm, I hope. Lewis "down to earth"?

Why do that? Now any valid comment related to LH/Mercedes is dismissed as personal bias. Adds nothing!

Not much in it in first practice between Ferrari and Mercedes but Bottas looking pretty decent at the moment! Ricciardo up there as well. Verstappen nearly 3 seconds off at the moment and Kvyatt broken down, perhaps Honda struggling here?

Suddenly normality returns, all the usual suspects in the top 6 places, Ferrari top of the pile with Renault in 7th an 8th, just wonder if that will essentially be the race result on Sunday?

Beginning to wonder if anyone is interested in the Russian GP! Anyway Leclerc top in FP2 Vettel second. I was amused by this:

Radio message - Norris

Engineer: "Do not press recharge."
Norris: "I already pressed it, my bad."

Surprised to Verstappen top. Is that engine mode related I wonder?

JN23 wrote:Surprised to Verstappen top. Is that engine mode related I wonder?

Probably high, as they will now pack this engine away until Japan. It almost certainly wont be used in the Sochi race.

FP2 done:


Source - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFeYLoKXkAE ... ame=medium

The issue with this track about less overtakes is mainly due to the flowing turns. Stop start kind of corners where cars have to slow down & rely on traction to get a good exit prove to be better. Also if the corner is a flowing type, it doesn't give a driver to late brake & make a lunge on the inside.

Speed trap figures:


Source - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFeUyA9XoAA ... ame=medium

On the Sky website if this is taken down.

UnlikeUday wrote:Speed trap figures:


Source - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFeUyA9XoAA ... ame=medium

What is going on here, how can Vettel not be on that list when the car is supposed to be a rocket ship?

It says something that neither Mercedes are in the top 10 cars.

Source - Imgur

Can't find the link now but BBCs live text had a quote from Toto Wolff that implied Merc haven't developed the car much recently, perhaps explaining why Ferrari now seem to have the upper hand.

JN23 wrote:Can't find the link now but BBCs live text had a quote from Toto Wolff that implied Merc haven't developed the car much recently, perhaps explaining why Ferrari now seem to have the upper hand.

ah... Let me try to understand this. Merc has not been developing their car...and that explains why Ferrari seems to have improved??? Does that mean that cars decline if you don't continue develop your car? I would have thought it would require Ferrari to improve their car to move forward.


For years in here it has been said that Ferrari is incapable of improving their cars during the season, now when they do we are told it is because Merc didn't.

Blake wrote:

JN23 wrote:Can't find the link now but BBCs live text had a quote from Toto Wolff that implied Merc haven't developed the car much recently, perhaps explaining why Ferrari now seem to have the upper hand.

ah... Let me try to understand this. Merc has not been developing their car...and that explains why Ferrari seems to have improved??? Does that mean that cars decline if you don't continue develop your car? I would have thought it would require Ferrari to improve their car to move forward.


For years in here it has been said that Ferrari is incapable of improving their cars during the season, now when they do we are told it is because Merc didn't.

The last time Ferrari scored more points in the second half of the year than the first half was 7 years ago. So it seems true.

Blake wrote:

JN23 wrote:Can't find the link now but BBCs live text had a quote from Toto Wolff that implied Merc haven't developed the car much recently, perhaps explaining why Ferrari now seem to have the upper hand.

ah... Let me try to understand this. Merc has not been developing their car...and that explains why Ferrari seems to have improved??? Does that mean that cars decline if you don't continue develop your car? I would have thought it would require Ferrari to improve their car to move forward.


For years in here it has been said that Ferrari is incapable of improving their cars during the season, now when they do we are told it is because Merc didn't.

Told by who? Nobody has said Ferrari haven't improved.

Free Practice is telling us nothing. Verstappen can't really be the fastest guy, so Ferrari/Merc are hiding their pace.