Grand Prix 2014 Russian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Greetings, Comrades!!!

Welcome to glorious nation of Russia for Russian Grand Prix, for Russian Grand Prix in former Soviet city of Sochi.

The former holiday-city for many famous Soviet dictators, the city of Sochi plays host to the first Russian Grand Prix, the circuit of which winds its way around the 2014 Winter Olympic Park. There were initially plans for a Soviet Grand Prix around the streets of Moscow, however the Hungarian Grand Prix was created instead. The allure of having a Grand Prix in the world's biggest nation was always seemingly irresistible, and so it has proved.

His Greatness Royal General Secretary King Vladimir will undoubtedly be at the race, and will see it as further proof of Russia's sporting and cultural prowess. Expect the vodka to be flowing and Russian troop hats to be worn!!!

In terms of the weather, it is in glorious former Soviet nation of Russia. In October. But Sochi should be nowhere near as harsh of other areas of Russia. Hopefully the weather shouldn't play too much of a part in this thrilling championship battle - actually, on second thoughts, it would be great if it could!!!

The circuit itself is long - as the race is 52 laps - a 'street' circuit (with runoffs) and there have been unfortunate comparisons to Valencia, but hopefully these fears will be unfounded, and turn 4 does look interesting - it will sure put a test to the right-hand tyres and the left-hand-side of the drivers' necks.

As the championship battle comes to a head, will Hamilton still lead after a race in Putin's fairground, will Rosberg reclaim his place at the top of the standings or will there be another case of a Mercedes car stalin?

 

[ATL11]

That race made me fall asleep, after about 10 laps, I woke up and on lap 51, what did I miss?

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Nothing

 

[snowy]

The tyres were too hard but the real problem is or was, that the teams don't know what the tyres will do. If Pirelli tyres and their behaviour was a known quantity Williams would have known to push, Nico may have pushed harder, things could and should have been different. The fact is they were all coasting, afraid to push the tyres. Valteri left 20 flat out laps on those medium tyres, purely because the team didn't know what Pirelli tyres can and cannot do.Without adequate testing and knowledge of the tyres the teams just ponce about, tip toeing on egg shells.

 

[teabagyokel]

It seemed the field spread was absolutely ridiculous after a very short number of laps, too. This circuit was Valencia.

 

[snowy]

It needed a safety car.

 

[Incubus]

Back in 2012 people everybody was complaining that racing was being ruined by the softness of Pirelli tyres...

Well, I remember tyres that lasted all race long and some greatly entertaining races during that period. This Russian GP lacked a good battle at the front because we have one team whose pace is way above everyone else and one of its two drivers put himself out of contention at the first corner. There is a freeze on engine developments and next-to-no in-season testing. Engine power is crucial this year, so the pecking order remains pretty identical from beginning to end of season. The exciting races this season have been those where the Merc team-mates either have a duel or have issues or are affected by variable weather.

That's why some races such as this one lack excitement. Not because of the track or tyres...

Well, just my opinion anyway...

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I beg to differ snowy . In the current context, the last thing this race needed was a safety car; it was fine as it was.

Although as a contest, having the two main protagonists at either end of the field from the end of lap 1 didn't help much (but I'm not complaining).

 

[Bill Boddy]

....There is a freeze on engine developments and next-to-no in-season testing. Engine power is crucial this year, so the pecking order remains pretty identical from beginning to end of season...

I have always been against freezes of this sort for this very reason. It totally ruins the season with a knock-on effect for following seasons.

 

[Greenlantern101]

 

[ATL11]

Nothing

Thanks, was worried with Lewis concentrating on his post race process and seemingly ignoring Putin, that he'd get in trouble with the Russian body guards.

But alas he shoke his hand, wonder when was the last person to ignore Putin and get away with it?

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I understood it was preserving fuel that caused some teams to be over-cautious, not tyres.

 

[teabagyokel]

They needed the tyres to be a consideration though.

Think there's a few things that could improve this circuit: softer tyres would be great. Turn 2 could be revised, a punishing run off would improve it, but I'd like it to be slightly more difficult to pass there and thus make it more likely cars have to run up against each other through 3.

Turn 3 is absolutely the best thing about this circuit, it'd be great if it could be better utilised as an overtaking opportunity.

 

[Il_leone]

Pirelli had no time to inspect the track surface which was put down late so picked a conservative choice of tyre. This should be corrected next year if the tyres are a much softer compound

- the pace of Mercedes is evident from the way Rosberg can come from the field after a flat spot ( and no wonder Mercedes want to keep the engine freeze to remain)

I dont like tyres lasting whole races like Bridgestone made their tyres because teams like Force India and Sauber were just mobile chicanes by putting themselves on the hard tyre

 

[F1Yorkshire]

I thought Mercedes wanted the engine freeze lifting to promote greater competition.

 

[Il_leone]

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-not-backing-down-amid-unfreeze-pressure/?

 

[F1Yorkshire]

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...pen-to-the-idea-of-relaxing-f1s-engine-freeze

 

[Il_leone]

it did not sound like the latest meetings made Renault and Ferrari happy although it did come from Christian Horner's mouth

 

[F1Yorkshire]

You believed something that came out of Horners mouth?

 

[Il_leone]

F1Yorkshire He's bit of a useless twat when it comes to managing his drivers but one thing he has never stopped banging on about is the Renault engine being down on power because of the engine freeze and wants to bridge the gap

 

[Brogan]

Tough shit.

He never felt the same when RBR had the infamous bendy front wing or the best EBD.