Grand Prix thread VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021

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53 laps of the 5.8km circuit.

Pirelli think one stop- I’ve read on another forum from a pretty well respected poster that some teams may need more, but I’m unsure as the pit stop is 30s here which no one wants to be losing if they don’t have to.

There’s a bit of a penalty lottery too- Max could well take an engine and go to back of grid (on top of his 3 place drop), Lewis may choose to follow him and match the RBR blow for blow, Le Clerc has taken the newly upgraded Ferrari engine and will therefore also drop back.

McLaren must be sat there thinking a podium is on if the cards drop their way?

Hope it’s a decent race- it is my least favourite track when teams one stop it so hoping the tyres might chew a bit more as the years go on and the circuit gets rougher.


PS- apologies for launching a thread Ched- I just needed to post the Ferrari engine news on a relevant thread! feel free to amalgamate this post into one of your traditional race threads mate

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/f1i....d-penalty-as-ferrari-upgrades-engine.html/amp

Le Clerc gets the upgraded hybrid system this week. Ferrari saying the gain will be 8-9 BHP extra but the rumour mill estimating 15-20 BHP.

if it is the latter then that is a significant move.

Looks like they have a brand new design and are looking to validate it prior to next season- a good call from Ferrari. Apparantly the entire engine next year will be a new concept compared to the one from this season so far.

 

No problems mate. I have no idea how to merge posts . Feel free to add a poll if you want. I do think who ever used to do the race threads with the track images etc was much nicer than my posts but I always worry about copying images etc and posting them on a forum.

 

Emsc did good ones, with a write up and everything, you kind of took over from me, which I appreciate, though you should tick the box that let's us all see who's voted for what, otherwise I'll claim always voted for the winner.

 

Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021
53 laps of the 5.848-kilometre Sochi Autodrom on Sunday.

24th September Practice 1 09:30 - 10:30
24th September Practice 2 13:00 - 14:00
25th September Practice 3 10:00 - 11:00
25th September Qualifying 13:00 - 14:00
26th September Race 13:00 - 15:00
All times are UK times
Poll closes before Quali.

Mods please merge Sochi threads if poss.

 

Had to go Bottas again... Think he might have this one.

 

Looks like tomorrow is going to be a write off, they've just changed the first F3 race to happen tonight rather than tomorrow. Also already hinting that qualifying will be Sunday morning.

 

Looking at BBC forecast it doesn't look that bad on Saturday. Says sunny/rain so not bad at all. They are probably trying to avoid looking stupid again with a 2 lap parade race.

 

Just woke up. what's going on?

 

Just the usual, Horner saying Max is very self critical etc....

 

Talk about quali happening late Sat or Sunday morning. Worst case, no quali they use FP2 times so this session could be interesting.

 

Verstappen starting at back off grid- taken new power unit

 

I wonder if Lewis will as well? Although if Lewis now uses a new PU then he would start behind Max?

 

Think they'd want to try maximize points here and take it when it would be less of a hit. But Max has two pens, so should still be behind Hamilton.

 

IMO Verstappen, along with any other driver / team who do the same, should have any penalty”rolled”over to the next race, if they choose to take a PU to lessen the penalty.

 

Probably...but you can't blame them taking any advantage that's available to them under the current rules.

 

I don’t blame them as “them’s the rules” but it seems ludicrous that they will end up taking no punishment for a crash that could have had serious consequences.
This is not a dig at Verstappen by the way.

 

You do make a good point. I agree that penalties should actually penalise who ever receives them.

 

It’s an absolutely rubbish circuit isn’t it here. Roll on when it moves.

Verstappen looked like he had a high DF set up today to prep for rain.