Track: Sochi Autodrom
Number of Laps: 53
Circuit Length: 3.6 miles (5.8km)
Race Length: 192.5 miles (309.7km)
Start Time: 12:00 BST
Fastest Lap: 1:38.338 (Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas, 2014)
Fastest Race Lap: 1:40.896 (Valtteri Bottas, Williams Martini Mercedes, 2014)
2014 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas, 1:38.513, Soft Tyres
2014 Race Winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas
Tyre Compounds: Supersoft, Soft, Intermediate, Wet
First F1 Grand Prix: 2014
Most Wins: Lewis Hamilton (1), Mercedes (1)
Lewis Hamilton cruised to a dominant win in the first ever Russian Grand Prix twelve months ago, and will be hoping to do so for a second time this weekend. The Brit has a 48 point championship lead and is to extend it.
Mercedes, though, should be concerned. After Nico Rosberg completed all but the first lap on one set of tyres at this race last season, Pirelli have changed the compounds available at this year’s Russian GP to the softest combination – Supersoft and Soft.
It is the Supersoft tyre has been Mercedes’ one and only Achilles heel this season. The W06 Hybrid has lost pace on the compound as it overheats the rear tyres, whilst Ferrari have gained due to the SF15-T’s less aggressive front end.
Sebastian Vettel used this to full advantage in Singapore, taking pole and the victory as Nico Rosberg scrounged a mere fourth place for the Silver Arrows.
Elsewhere, the battle for fifth in the constructors’ championship is one to watch. Force India currently occupy the crucial spot, but Lotus are only seventeen points behind. Their mechanics are on a high following Renault’s announcement that they will repurchase the team ready for the 2016 season, and will be looking to improve the French manufacturer’s prospects as much as possible.
Uncertainty over Red Bull’s future continues to flow, and they will not be expecting much due to Sochi’s long straights. The Renault power unit is renowned for being down on power, meaning another poor performance is on the cards.
One team’s downfall is another team’s gain. Williams will be expecting to have at least the third fastest car in Russia. The FW37, like its predecessor, is slippery down the straights – useful on a circuit such as Sochi. Valtteri Bottas came close to taking his maiden pole position in qualifying here last year, so be sure to watch every second of the weekend closely!
