2020 Russian Grand Prix Race Thread

[UnlikeUday]

Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur

[tootsie323]

So, in theory, Hamilton has made the optimal choice... maybe the traffic will 'ghost!'

[BMWSauber84]

Bottas on the face of it seems to be in a decent situation. The only potential fly in his ointment is that he's got a couple of soft tyre starters behind him who could be a nuisance. Perez is a notoriously poor starter but Ricciardo in 5th is worth keeping an eye on.

[BMWSauber84]

Another thing to potentially look forward to is that with Sochi being a modern track, if a car has say an engine failure and pulls over well clear of the track to stop, the powers that be might decide a virtual safety car is sufficient.

On the evidence of this season so far, maybe I'm asking for miracles. Given that safety cars this season have been based as much on entertainment as they have about safety, I wouldn't be surprised to see another needless late race full safety car.

[Exediron]

So, in theory, Hamilton has made the optimal choice... maybe the traffic will 'ghost!'

True -- but Pirelli always gets the strategy wrong, so I'd be nervous if I was starting on what they claim is the ideal strategy!

[pokerman]

So, in theory, Hamilton has made the optimal choice... maybe the traffic will 'ghost!'

Yeah strange they don't take that into account, at least the one stop is easily doable for Hamilton.

[Option or Prime]

If the tow at the start is important why is everyone only talking about Hamilton, Verstappen and Bottas. Won't Perez (Mercedes engine), Renault (fast on straights) and Sainz, (good starter) also be in play?

I can see it being crowded first corner, first lap and will not be at all surprised if 2 out of the top 6 self eliminate!

[F1_Ernie]

Bottas is favourite for me, if Hamilton isn't leading after lap 1 then I just dont know how he wins the race on an inferior strategy. There will be a SC as Masi will want one for the show even though everyone will box for hards as it's a one stop race on a boring track.

[Rockie]

So Ham under investigation for practice start even before the race.

[F1_Ernie]

Well that's a penalty for Hamilton

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Bottas is favourite for me, if Hamilton isn't leading after lap 1 then I just dont know how he wins the race on an inferior strategy. There will be a SC as Masi will want one for the show even though everyone will box for hards as it's a one stop race on a boring track.

Yes, there will be one SC around pit stop time so that all strategies are homogenized to everyone being on the same tyre/strategy. And, as the race then is boring like hell, a second SC late in the race in an attempt to create some drama.

Oh, and Hamilton will win, of course.

[Rockie]

Hamilton trying his best to get a penalty I suppose.

[F1_Ernie]

Hamilton does make alot of silly errors, that was stupid.

[purchville]

So Bottas will win now, HAM should still be able to recover to 2nd whatever the penalty

[Paolo_Lasardi]

So Bottas will win now, HAM should still be able to recover to 2nd whatever the penalty

If at all maybe a 2-places grid drop - so that he can be first after the first corners ...

[JN23]

Hamilton needs to be careful with those penalty points. He doesn’t lose any until November, five races (including today) between now and then.

[JN23]

Johnny Herbert on Sky thinks it’ll be investigated after the race.

Bono told Lewis what he did was fine when Lewis asked beforehand.

[TheBlackFlag]

SKY F1, please, for the love of all that is holy, do not groom Karun Chandock as Martin Brundle's replacement. Does anyone know why Brundle is not in Sochi?

[Invade]

LOL — I hear Hamilton is in trouble and rumours of 2x5 sec penalty and race ban? Unreal stuff.

[TheBlackFlag]

Whoopsie...

[pokerman]

If Hamilton gets penalised then who is dumber, Hamilton asking if it was alright to do it or the engineer that said yes?

[F1_Ernie]

SKY F1, please, for the love of all that is holy, do not groom Karun Chandock as Martin Brundle's replacement. Does anyone know why Brundle is not in Sochi?

I thought he never does Russia

[JN23]

LOL — I hear Hamilton is in trouble and rumours of 2x5 sec penalty and race ban? Unreal stuff.

Why two?

[mikeyg123]

Stroll really justifying those upgrades. He'll be the one getting them for the next race now as well as he's broken them again.

Edit - my bad he was hit by the looks of it.

[JN23]

Is Verstappen allowed to decide to just not bother with turn two? There was nothing to avoid.

[TheBlackFlag]

SKY F1, please, for the love of all that is holy, do not groom Karun Chandock as Martin Brundle's replacement. Does anyone know why Brundle is not in Sochi?

I thought he never does Russia

Do you know why?

[Alienturnedhuman]

Perez got a penalty in France last year for doing what Max did, and Sainz shows why it should be penalised.

[pokerman]

Stroll really justifying those upgrades. He'll be the one getting them for the next race now as well as he's broken them again.

Edit - my bad he was hit by the looks of it.

To be fair to him he get hit by Gasly.

[mikeyg123]

Is Verstappen allowed to decide to just not bother with turn two? There was nothing to avoid.

He lost rather than gained. Had he come back out right behind the Mercs I'd agree

[JN23]

Is Verstappen allowed to decide to just not bother with turn two? There was nothing to avoid.

He lost rather than gained. Had he come back out right behind the Mercs I'd agree

Could you not argue if he’d have taken turn two properly he’d have been under pressure from behind (Ocon I assume) rather than looking at Ricciardo again?

I’d have to see it again to be sure.

ATH likened it to Perez in France last year, which I can’t remember tbh.

[mikeyg123]

Come on guys we should not be wasting so much of every race behind the safety car. Clear it up and get it going

[cmax]

Anyone know why Hamilton has a sign on his name? Crofty and Chandok seem to be missing it.

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Sainz should be penalized. That was a safety issue!

[mikeyg123]

Is Verstappen allowed to decide to just not bother with turn two? There was nothing to avoid.

He lost rather than gained. Had he come back out right behind the Mercs I'd agree

Could you not argue if he’d have taken turn two properly he’d have been under pressure from behind (Ocon I assume) rather than looking at Ricciardo again?

I’d have to see it again to be sure.

ATH likened it to Perez in France last year, which I can’t remember tbh.

I'd have to see it again tbh.

[TheBlackFlag]

Come on guys we should not be wasting so much of every race behind the safety car. Clear it up and get it going

Agreed. 1st lap chaos should lead to a Red Flag while they clean it up.

[JN23]

Come on guys we should not be wasting so much of every race behind the safety car. Clear it up and get it going

The stewards were slow to react in F2 this morning too.

[Alienturnedhuman]

Anyone know why Hamilton has a sign on his name? Crofty and Chandok seem to be missing it.

Practice start in the wrong place

[Jezza13]

Is Verstappen allowed to decide to just not bother with turn two? There was nothing to avoid.

He lost rather than gained. Had he come back out right behind the Mercs I'd agree

Could you not argue if he’d have taken turn two properly he’d have been under pressure from behind (Ocon I assume) rather than looking at Ricciardo again?

I’d have to see it again to be sure.

ATH likened it to Perez in France last year, which I can’t remember tbh.

I'd have to see it again tbh.

Verstappen clearly gained an advantage when comparing to Ricciardo.

[pokerman]

10 second penalty for Hamilton, quite brainless by Hamilton.

[TheBlackFlag]

Mercedes and "the greatest driver of our time" are making silly mistakes. There is no reason for Mercedes to tell Hamilton it is fine, and Lewis should also know on his own. Dumb.