Race 2019 F1 Russian Grand Prix Full Race Replay
Race 2019 F1 Russian Grand Prix Full Race Replay
Disclaimer: F1replays is only a video embedding website. All contents are third-party links available free on the Internet, and we do not stream, broadcast, or host any of the videos.
Race Info
Date 29 September 2019
Official name Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2019
Location Sochi Autodrom
Adlersky City District, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 5.848 km (3.634 miles)
Distance 53 laps, 309.745 km (192.467 miles)
Formula One Russian Grand Prix 2019 What to Watch
This weekend, the paddock travels to Sochi for the sixth staging of the Russian Grand Prix, one of just six races remaining in the 2019 Formula 1 season.
The race is held on a street course that circles the 2014 Winter Olympics complex.
Seven days have passed since Sebastian Vettel's somewhat unexpected victory in the Singapore Grand Prix, which made the German the fifth race winner of the season.
2017 winner of the race Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel immediately put pressure on Valtteri Bottas, who had begun from pole position. Although it appeared that the Ferrari driver would take the lead heading into the first corner, the Briton was able to stay on the racing line and win.
Hamilton was able to easily pass the four-time champion after Vettel took the lead during the pit stop phase and his new tires warmed up.
In order to preserve his lead over Vettel in the championship standings, Mercedes asked Bottas to let Hamilton pass halfway through the race. The Finn was informed that his teammate had blistering on his tire. With Vettel finishing last on the rostrum and Bottas in second place, the move guaranteed Hamilton the victory.
Both Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley experienced brake failures on the fourth lap of the race, resulting in a double retirement for Toro Rosso, making it a race to forget. Only the two drivers failed to complete the race.
The race is held over 53 laps on a 5.848km circuit featuring 18 turns and two DRS zones.
Since it's a street circuit, the layout hasn't changed much, though there have been a few little adjustments. While plans to resurface a portion of the track were shelved, a 50mm high domed curb has been added on the exit of three bends.
With his pace of 1:35.861 from the previous year's race, Bottas currently owns the racing lap record at the Sochi Autodrom.
At this race, Pirelli's middle three compounds—C2, C3, and C4—will be used. It's a touch different from 2018, since the tyre manufacturer for Formula One offered its softest alternatives for this race last year.
The Silver Arrows will have less soft tires than any other team in this race, with only eight. Mercedes has usually had fewer soft tires than its competitors at the head of the lineup in recent races. Lewis Hamilton has more medium sets than any other driver on the grid thanks to their tire selection, while Bottas will have an extra pair of hards.
Last year, the majority of drivers only made one pit stop. All save Kimi Raikkonen stopped within the first 15 laps, indicating that those who began on the softer tires arrived early. Those who began on the more difficult compound, on the other hand, came in late to switch to the faster tire for the last few circuits, arriving between laps 32 and 43. The only driver to attempt a two-stop strategy was Marcus Ericsson of Sauber, however the Swede's strategy backfired as he started the race in 10th place and ended in 13th.
Mercedes is a track in Sochi. Hamilton has finished first three times, and the German team has won all five of the prior races in Russia. Additionally, the current constructors champions have only one DNF and three 1-2 places at this circuit.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari enters this race as the king of Saturdays after taking pole in the previous three races, although Bottas has demonstrated impressive record at this track in the past two years, winning in 2017 before securing pole last year. He will become the first Ferrari driver to start on pole in four consecutive races since Michael Schumacher in 2000–2001 if he qualifies as the fastest driver this weekend.
It appears to be a clear shootout between the two, considering Mercedes's track record here and Ferrari's speed in Singapore.
Although Alexander Albon had his finest F2 weekend at this event last year, winning the feature race before finishing third in the sprint, Red Bull usually doesn't have their best races in Russia. The team is still searching for their first podium in Sochi.
However, Honda has stated that all four of its drivers—Verstappen, Gasly, Albon, and Kvyat—will have new engines for this race, meaning that Red Bull drivers and Gasly will experience five-place grid penalties, while Kvyat will start at the back. This means he will need some luck if he wants to finish on the podium again in 2019.
With history on their side—Sergio Perez has consistently been in the top 10 at Sochi and finished on the podium in 2015—Racing Point will be looking to move over their dismal performance in Singapore.
Another driver who usually performs well in Russia is Kevin Magnussen, who placed fifth in Sochi during his rookie campaign with McLaren. The Dane might not make it this year, though, as he and Haas colleague Romain Grosjean have not gained a single point in their last four races.