Presentation – Russian GP: F1 czars clash in Sochi

It’s one of the longest laps of the season with many corners. This makes it a challenge for all the drivers, who must nail every turn in every sector, especially in qualifying. It’s a very fast and fluid track. That’s why I like it so much. The last section is a bit more technical and slow, but overall it’s a fun layout.

According to Nico Hülkenberg, the Sochi track is one of the most enjoyable of the season. It must be said that the race in Russia has always provided a spectacle! For the first time this season, the practice sessions and the race will take place at traditional European times in the heart of Sochi’s Olympic village, which is finding a new lease on life thanks to Formula 1.

One of the longest circuits of the year.

With almost 6 kilometers, the Sochi track is one of the longest on the Formula 1 calendar after Spa-Francorchamps, the Baku circuit, and the new Silverstone layout. No fewer than 18 corners await the drivers, who will lap the circuit 53 times this Sunday.

This 2017 edition will be the fourth held in Russia, a meager total for a country of this magnitude, the largest in the world in terms of area: 17,125,191 km²! But Bernie Ecclestone fought for a long time before seeing the premier discipline of motorsport establish itself on the lands of this federal republic.

The choice of Sochi was not made by chance. Taking advantage of the infrastructure from the 2014 Olympic Games, the city, located to the west of the Caucasus, is a skillful blend of European and Asian culture. Its climate closely resembles that of most European countries, thus allowing the race to be held in favorable weather conditions. No rain is expected this weekend, and temperatures around 20°C are forecasted.

Mercedes, the only team to have won in Russia

A surprising detail, since the Grand Prix was added to the calendar in 2014, the Mercedes team is the only one to have won in Sochi. With a victory for Nico Rosberg last year and two other successes for Lewis Hamilton, the Silver Arrows will try to maintain this momentum by having the Briton or Valtteri Bottas win again this weekend.

But beyond the simple statistic, this is indeed the whole issue of this race, which will see a new stage of the duel between Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari. The advantage is currently given to the German who, with two victories, is leading the drivers’ world championship.

No one is a prophet in their own country. Daniil Kvyat knows this saying all too well. For him, the toll had sounded last year on this very track after a series of crude errors that pushed him out of Red Bull and saw him demoted to Toro Rosso in place of Max Verstappen, with the rest being history. In better shape this year, the Russian will return to his homeland with the intention of proving to his employers that they made the wrong choice twelve months ago. It’s the perfect weekend to make amends, especially since Kvyat celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday!

On the French side, Romain Grosjean emerges rejuvenated from his stint in Bahrain where he scored his first points in the race after a trouble-free weekend. The tests following the Grand Prix confirmed his feelings, and the switch to a new brand of brakes, a weak point for Haas for a long time, seems to be a lifesaver.

At Force India, Esteban Ocon will want to stay true to his early-season announcement, which involves scoring points in every race. The goal is currently being achieved, with three tenth-place finishes in as many Grand Prix, although comparisons with his teammate Sergio Pérez are sometimes challenging.

To (really) know everything…

The FIA has imposed a small change to the circuit at turn number 2. To prevent drivers from cutting this chicane, speed bumps have been added to discourage the desire for shortcuts.

Moreover, and for the first time on this track, Pirelli has decided to provide teams with its Ultra-Soft compound with a purple stripe.

TOMORROW: RACE WEEKEND!

To celebrate, we have lots of shiny infographics for you, stats and quotes 👀> https://t.co/LIZC5xJ5eV #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/32Egqpx68H

— Formula 1 (@F1) 27 avril 2017

The DRS zones will (obviously) be two in number, with the first detection point located at the end of the start/finish straight, and an activation point on the exit of turn 1. The second detection point will be before turn 9, with the activation point on the exit of the same turn.

Don’t forget the TV schedule!