The contract to include Russia in the calendar for the period 2014-2020 (later extended until 2025) was signed in 2010 in Sochi by the then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the former CEO of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone.<\/p>\n
It was in 2014 that the Sochi circuit hosted its first Grand Prix. An urban track designed by Hermann Tilke, it has the unique feature of passing through the Olympic Park, which hosted the Winter Olympics the same year.<\/p>\n
At the end of 2014, the Sochi Autodrom received the trophy for the best Formula 1 circuit. This trophy, awarded to race promoters, has been given annually since 1975.<\/p>\n
The five editions of this Grand Prix have one thing in common, they have all been won by a Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton won the first two as well as the last one, while Nico Rosberg won the third. Valtteri Bottas triumphed there in 2017, marking his first victory in Formula 1.<\/p>\n
Even though this circuit is urban in style, it features two long straights and a fast curve that allows for overtaking. The top speed can reach up to 320 km\/h with DRS, with an average race speed exceeding 210 km\/h. Indeed, about 60% of the lap is negotiated at full throttle, which is much more than the average of classic urban circuits.<\/p>\n
The lap starts with the main straight and continues into the second corner for a continuous acceleration of about 15 seconds. The second full-throttle section is on the opposite side of the circuit, connecting corners 10 to 13. This section, nearly 950 meters long, is covered in about 13 seconds.<\/p>\n
The fuel consumption being high, the drivers’ goal is to recover as much energy as possible during braking phases. Out of the 18 turns on the circuit, 9 require heavy braking, allowing the MGU-K to store enough energy to compensate for the internal combustion engine’s needs throughout the race.<\/p>\n
With its walls and 90\u00b0 turns, the Sochi Autodrome has many features characteristic of urban tracks. Nevertheless, its long straight and extremely smooth surface make it unique. On this rather technical circuit, drivers must showcase their entire technical skill set to avoid crashing into the barriers and causing a safety car situation.<\/p>\n
As with every Grand Prix this season, it’s the Canal+ group that broadcasts the entire event from Friday’s free practice to Sunday’s race. Note that this weekend, the broadcast is split between Canal+ D\u00e9cal\u00e9 for Friday’s and Saturday’s free practice sessions and the qualifying, and Canal+ for the race.<\/p>\n
All sessions and the race can also be followed on F1 TV, Formula 1’s streaming service, live and on-demand.<\/p>\n
Track length:<\/b> 5.872 Km<\/p>\n
**Number of laps in the race:** 53<\/p>\n
Track record:<\/b> 1:31.387 (Valtteri Bottas, 2018)<\/p>\n
Record holder for victories: Lewis Hamilton (3), Mercedes (5)<\/p>\n
Record holder for pole positions:<\/b> Nico Rosberg (2), Mercedes (4)<\/p>\n
The TV schedule:<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"Photo](\"_\/images\/photo\/article\/f12019\/Programme%20TV%20GP%20Russie.jpg\")
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