2014 Russian Grand Prix Thread

[steveaki13]

I just want to say first up, I realise there are much more important threads on here at the moment after the terrible crash of Jules Bianchi in Japan.

I also would have waited a few days to post this thread too, but this week I know for a fact I am quite busy and may not have time.

So despite the fact no one will really be interested in this at the moment, I thought I would get it done, ready for the next round to start in a few days time.

Hope no one is offended.

2014 Russian GP

So we approach Round 16 of this seasons Championship and with the recent events I imagine Russia's first Grand Prix will be largely over shadowed.

This is a new circuit which personally I know nothing about and had looked forward to seeing its layout.

A few key things are going to be up in the air this weekend.

Will Marussia race, and assuming they do will it be with one car or two. Also which of their young drivers will get their unfortunately aquired chance. As we have seen before many drivers get breaks in their careers due to incidents like this.

Will Will Stevens or Alex Rossi get the nod.

Also Hamilton has a 10 point gap over Rosberg now but due to the Double point joke is still far from safe even with a win this weekend.

1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	266
2	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	256
3	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull	193
4	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull	139
5	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	133
6	Valterri Bottas	Williams	130
7	Jenson Button	Mclaren	82
8	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India	76
9	Felipe Massa	Williams	71
10	Sergio Perez	Force India	46
11	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	45
12	Kevin Magnussen	Mclaren	39
13	Jean Eric Vergne	Toro Rosso	21
14	Romain Grosjean	Lotus	8
15	Danii Kyvat	Toro Rosso	8
16	Jules Bianchi	Marussia	2
17	Adrian Sutil	Sauber	0
18	Marcus Ericcson	Caterham	0
19	Pastor Maldonado	Lotus	0
20	Esteban Gutierrez	Sauber	0
21	Max Chilton	Marussia	0
22	Kamui Kobayashi	Caterham	0
23	Andre Lotterer	Caterham	0

In the constructors Championship Mercedes would have already wrapped up that title, but for double points, but are 190 ahead with 215 still on the table. So this weekend it should be done.

1	Mercedes	522
2	Red Bull	332
3	Williams	201
4	Ferrari	178
5	Force India	122
6	Mclaren	121
7	Toro Rosso	29
8	Lotus	8
9	Marussia	2
10	Sauber	0
11	Caterham	0

The new Sochi Autodrom




53 Laps

Current Lap Record:2:25.703 - In Russian Touring Cars. I dare say this will be beaten next weekend.


Session Times - Local & (Uk -Sorry )

FP1: 10:00-11:30 - (07:00 - 08:30)
FP 2: 14:00-15:30 -(11:00-12:30)

FP3: 12:00-13:00 - (09:00-10:00)
Quali: 15:00 - (12:00)

Race: 15:00 - (12:00)


No Previous Winners to list

This is a video of the new F1 games reveal of Sochi, to give a rough idea of layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceuIIKVEmGs


So there you go.

Lets hope Bianchi does well and by next weekend we can enjoy the Russian GP.

Thoughts are with him.

[Tazio]

First impression is that the layout of this track has too many 90° turns, and may be a little mickey mouse. I do think that this will play into The Boss' hands however!

[Storm]

Hope no one is offended.

If anyone is offended by a GP thread then they are not living in the real world.
As sad as the Bianchi case is and as much as we all hope and wish that he makes a good recovery, life has to move on.


As for the track, yeah it seems to have too few fast sweeping corners, but atleast seems to have 2 decent places to overtake.

[steveaki13]

I assume as its their home race of sorts, Marussia will run?

If so I wonder if it will be one or two cars.

Rossi I assume is the natural choice, given I am not sure Will Stevens has his super license yet.

[steveaki13]

If anyone is offended by a GP thread then they are not living in the real world.
As sad as the Bianchi case is and as much as we all hope and wish that he makes a good recovery, life has to move on.
.

Of course, but I posted the thread quite soon after the accident, due to lack of time the last couple of days, so I thought people might think it was strange to post the thread just as the horror of Jules Bianchi's crash was being revealed.

Anyway as you say, F1 and motorsport has to move on after such events otherwise motorsport would cease.

[Doc Austin]

If nothing else, I think we all need a good, safe, fast race to at least distract ourselves for a few hours.

[N. Jones]

To me the track looks like it is trying to emulate Monte Carlo...

[Storm]

^oh yeah, it does have striking similarities apart from the hairpin.

[raybak]

I wreckon it's a bit like the old Long Beach track.

[zako85]

Good news, Russian GP helps to save F1 some money because balaclava masks will be provided to the pit crews at no charge. Two weeks later, it will be reported that McLaren mechanics are invading east Ukraine