Just a few days after the unfortunate conclusion to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, the F1 paddock will reconvene in Sochi this weekend for the 16th round of the 2014 season.
The race, which will take place around the Winter Olympic Park at the Sochi Autodrom, will be the first ever Russian Grand Prix to appear on the F1 calendar.
This year’s grid will sample the 18-turn track, which was approved by the FIA after an inspection in August, for the first time in Friday’s 90-minute opening practice session.
The thoughts of the motorsport community continue to be with Jules Bianchi, his family and friends following the Frenchman’s terrible crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Richland F1 will have the latest on his condition.
Several attempts were made to bring F1 to Russia over the last 30 years. Two Russian drivers have competed in the sport.
Vitaly Petrov raced for Renault/Lotus and Caterham between 2010 and 2012, while Daniil Kvyat is currently in his debut season with Toro Rosso.
Sauber test driver and Formula Renault 3.5 racer Sergey Sirotkin will be at the wheel of the C33 in FP1. The GP2 Series and GP3 Series will also be in action this weekend at the Sochi Autodrom, supporting the Formula 1 race.
A lap of the 3.637 mile circuit kicks off on the start/finish straight. The pit lane is to the right and feeds cars back out on track just after the fast right-hand kink of turn one. The flat-out section continues with a long straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be, before the heavy braking zone for turn two.
The second corner is a tight left-right chicane. This will be the best overtaking spot on the track and the wide exit means we could see drivers remaining side-by-side on the run to the third corner. It is a long left-hander, with speed building throughout, and is similar to turn eight at Istanbul Park.
The braking zone for turn four - a slow, 90-degree right - is tricky as it comes immediately after the previous corner. A short straight follows, which is where the first sector ends, before the similar turn five. The sixth bend is a quick right-hand kink, before the medium-speed left of turn seven – which features a huge run-off area on the exit.
After a short flat-out section is the double-apex left of turns eight and nine, with the 90-degree right of turn 10 following. Next up is a long straight, which contains two flat-out kinks. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned. Turns 13 and 14, the first corners in the final sector, make up a very slow, tight right-left chicane.
Another chicane, the right-left of turns 15 and 16, follows before the medium-speed right of the 17th corner. The entrance to the pit lane is on the short straight just prior to the penultimate turn. The final corner is a similarly slow right-hander, with traction out of these low-speed final corners being vital for a good lap time.
These two videos, courtesy of Codemasters and Infiniti, help to show the Sochi Autodrom layout.
I recently tried out the track on F1 2014 - which will be released later this month for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. I know it is only a game, but I still got the chance to sample the layout and I must say it was quite fun and challenging to drive. We should (hopefully) see some good racing.
It will certainly be a difficult and unpredictable weekend, with none of the drivers being particularly familiar with the track – most of the grid will have completed a few simulator sessions, but that is it. The teams also have very little data, which will make preparations tricky.
With several flat-out sections, the circuit looks like it will put a strain on the V6 Turbo power-units. Pirelli will bring the medium and soft compound tyres to Sochi, due to the circuit’s variety of corner types. The majority of the turns are low and medium-speed, but with a few long straights, we could see differing downforce levels used.
Mercedes will undoubtedly be the team to beat once again. Red Bull Racing could be more competitive in the final part of the lap, but will lose out on the straights. Ferrari and Williams should be near the front, as will McLaren.
The Russian Grand Prix is a step into the unknown for the F1 paddock, so it should be a fascinating weekend. However, everyone’s thoughts will of course be with Bianchi after his horrific crash. My thoughts continue to be with the Frenchman, his family and friends. #ForzaJules.
Russian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Sochi, Russia
Track Length: 3.636 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 18
Laps: 53
First race: 2014
Tyre compounds: Soft and medium
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC
 |
| © Sochi Autodrom |
This year’s grid will sample the 18-turn track, which was approved by the FIA after an inspection in August, for the first time in Friday’s 90-minute opening practice session.
The thoughts of the motorsport community continue to be with Jules Bianchi, his family and friends following the Frenchman’s terrible crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Richland F1 will have the latest on his condition.
Several attempts were made to bring F1 to Russia over the last 30 years. Two Russian drivers have competed in the sport.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Vitaly Petrov raced for Renault/Lotus and Caterham between 2010 and 2012, while Daniil Kvyat is currently in his debut season with Toro Rosso.
Sauber test driver and Formula Renault 3.5 racer Sergey Sirotkin will be at the wheel of the C33 in FP1. The GP2 Series and GP3 Series will also be in action this weekend at the Sochi Autodrom, supporting the Formula 1 race.
A lap of the 3.637 mile circuit kicks off on the start/finish straight. The pit lane is to the right and feeds cars back out on track just after the fast right-hand kink of turn one. The flat-out section continues with a long straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be, before the heavy braking zone for turn two.
The second corner is a tight left-right chicane. This will be the best overtaking spot on the track and the wide exit means we could see drivers remaining side-by-side on the run to the third corner. It is a long left-hander, with speed building throughout, and is similar to turn eight at Istanbul Park.
The braking zone for turn four - a slow, 90-degree right - is tricky as it comes immediately after the previous corner. A short straight follows, which is where the first sector ends, before the similar turn five. The sixth bend is a quick right-hand kink, before the medium-speed left of turn seven – which features a huge run-off area on the exit.
After a short flat-out section is the double-apex left of turns eight and nine, with the 90-degree right of turn 10 following. Next up is a long straight, which contains two flat-out kinks. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned. Turns 13 and 14, the first corners in the final sector, make up a very slow, tight right-left chicane.
Another chicane, the right-left of turns 15 and 16, follows before the medium-speed right of the 17th corner. The entrance to the pit lane is on the short straight just prior to the penultimate turn. The final corner is a similarly slow right-hander, with traction out of these low-speed final corners being vital for a good lap time.
These two videos, courtesy of Codemasters and Infiniti, help to show the Sochi Autodrom layout.
I recently tried out the track on F1 2014 - which will be released later this month for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. I know it is only a game, but I still got the chance to sample the layout and I must say it was quite fun and challenging to drive. We should (hopefully) see some good racing.
It will certainly be a difficult and unpredictable weekend, with none of the drivers being particularly familiar with the track – most of the grid will have completed a few simulator sessions, but that is it. The teams also have very little data, which will make preparations tricky.
With several flat-out sections, the circuit looks like it will put a strain on the V6 Turbo power-units. Pirelli will bring the medium and soft compound tyres to Sochi, due to the circuit’s variety of corner types. The majority of the turns are low and medium-speed, but with a few long straights, we could see differing downforce levels used.
Mercedes will undoubtedly be the team to beat once again. Red Bull Racing could be more competitive in the final part of the lap, but will lose out on the straights. Ferrari and Williams should be near the front, as will McLaren.
 |
| © Formula1.com |
The Russian Grand Prix is a step into the unknown for the F1 paddock, so it should be a fascinating weekend. However, everyone’s thoughts will of course be with Bianchi after his horrific crash. My thoughts continue to be with the Frenchman, his family and friends. #ForzaJules.
Russian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Sochi, Russia
Track Length: 3.636 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 18
Laps: 53
First race: 2014
Tyre compounds: Soft and medium
Live on: Sky Sports F1 and BBC
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