Sochi grand prix start time

The 2018 edition of the Russian Grand Prix did little to alter the Sochi Autodrom’s reputation for producing processional races. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free But the two Red Bulls starting from the back of the grid meant there was at least some chance of action during the race. And so it proved as Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo rose through the field to take the fifth and sixth-place finishes which were widely expected despite their disadvantaged grid positions. Verstappen made quicker progress as Ricciardo damaged his front wing on the first lap. Indeed, Verstappen was already into fifth by lap eight, and by running long on his first stint he led more laps than anyone. Charles Leclerc emerged from the midfield with impressive pace, finishing well clear of Kevin Magnussen and able to stay on the lead lap until the end. He got himself into clear air by passing the Haas on lap two. But for most drivers the Russian Grand Prix was a case of … [Read more...] about 2018 Russian Grand Prix interactive data: lap charts, times and tyres

The big headline from the Singapore Grand Prix was the end of Red Bull’s winning run as Ferrari scored their first victory in 14 months. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Max Verstappen was the highest placed Red Bull driver in fifth, marking the first time he has missed out on the podium since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. That ended his chance of emulating Michael Schumacher’s record of finishing on the podium in every race in a season, which he achieved in 2002. Sergio Perez finished eighth in the other Red Bull, his worst result since this May’s Monaco Grand Prix, on his 250th grand prix start. The Marina Bay street circuit is one of eight in Formula 1 that Verstappen has raced on but is yet to taste victory at. Three of those tracks are ones that he has only visited once, while his two visits to Algarve and Istanbul Park has resulted in a second place finish at each. He has raced at Shanghai, which returns to the calendar next year, on five … [Read more...] about Sainz becomes F1’s newest multiple winner at Verstappen’s ‘bogey track’

Virgin Racing will be part owned by Russian specialist car maker Marussia, following a deal struck this week, which shows the growing Russian interest in the sport. The news follows on from the announcement that Russia will host a Grand Prix in Sochi starting in 2014 and that Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin tested a Renault F1 car as a guest of team owner Gerard Lopez. Like all Virgin's sponsors, Marussia wants to plug into Virgin's vast network of customers and communications channels. Marussia wants to go further than that, however. The intention is that its brand should appear in the Virgin team name, which means that along with the renaming of the current Lotus team and the Lotus Renault branding destined for the current Renault F1 team, there will be some new names on the grid next year. Sauber will also drop the BMW part of its name. The deal was announced today at Yas Marina Circuit and according to the Financial Times, Marussia is buying part of the stake … [Read more...] about Virgin comes over all Russian

Valtteri Bottas denied Lewis Hamilton pole position for the Russian Grand Prix and led a Mercedes sweep of the front row of the grid. The silver cars bumped the Ferrari pair back to the second row of the grid, over a half a second behind them. Q1 Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Mercedes issued notice of their intentions in Q1 and Hamilton lowered the track record to 1’32.410 after a series of laps on his hyper-softs. Bottas backed him up at the top of the times sheet with the Red Bull pair separating them from the Ferraris. Vettel was over a second slower, as Hamilton exploited the improving track conditions to press home his advantage. But despite this, none of the five drivers who were in the drop zone before the final runs began were able to escape it. The Williams and McLaren drivers never looked in contention for a place in Q2 and so it proved. Fernando Alonso’s chances ended with a slow run through the first sector and Stoffel Vandoorne was … [Read more...] about Bottas leads Mercedes front row lock-out in Russia

On the approach to turn two at the Sochi Autodrom, drivers pass within about 250 metres of a restaurant called La Punto. There for 300 roubles you can buy a cocktail of tequila, sambuca and tabasco sauce which they call ‘Sample B’. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The name is a reference to the site’s former purpose: It was the home of Russia’s state-run doping programme, where urine ‘B samples’ from athletes were switched so drugs cheats could compete undetected. So in the grand scheme of things, far worse crimes against sport have been committed in Sochi than when Valtteri Bottas waved Lewis Hamilton by on the 24th lap of Sunday’s Formula 1 race so he could win. Not that you’d know it from the borderline hysterical reaction on social media. Mercedes outmanoeuvre Vettel From the moment the five red lights vanished Mercedes gave Ferrari a lesson in team tactics, including those of the less-than-savoury kind. At Monza, Ferrari locked out the front row … [Read more...] about No backsies for Bottas: Hamilton wins on Mercedes team orders

Fernando Alonso said McLaren were “lacking ambition” after he again pushed for a chance to set the fastest lap of the race at the end of the Russian Grand Prix. Alonso tried to set the fastest lap during the previous race in Singapore but lost it after Kevin Magnussen put on a fresh set of tyres at the end of the race. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The McLaren driver was out of contention for the points in Sochi and told his team “I don’t care” when told he had a chance to gain a position while running in 15th. He later asked the team “What is the fastest lap?” and was told “it’s a 36.3.” Alonso, who made his sole pit stop early in the race, did not make a second pit stop and his best lap was over three seconds off that time. After the race Alonso indicated he was disappointed not to have had the chance to set the fastest lap. “When you are P14, P15, I think it’s good for the team, it’s good for the guys that they are working flat out every day. … [Read more...] about McLaren ‘lacking ambition’ complains Alonso after missing fastest lap