The 2018 Russian GP Thead
Moderators: cmlean, Ed, The Qualiflyer, The Heretic
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The 2018 Russian GP Thead
This is the place to discuss everything related to the 16th round of the 2018 season taking place in Sochi from the 28th to 30th of September.
To submit your 10 'n' Pole Picks for Russia click here, to register in the competition click here.
Picks for Russia close at the start of Saturday practice.
The event timetable for the Russian Grand Prix.
Friday
1st Practice 11:00 local time - 08:00 GMT
2nd Practice 15:00 local time - 12:00 GMT
Saturday
Practice 12:00 local time - 09:00 GMT
Qualifying 15:00 local time - 12:00 GMT
Sunday
Race 14:00 local time - 11:00 GMT
To submit your 10 'n' Pole Picks for Russia click here, to register in the competition click here.
Picks for Russia close at the start of Saturday practice.
The event timetable for the Russian Grand Prix.
Friday
1st Practice 11:00 local time - 08:00 GMT
2nd Practice 15:00 local time - 12:00 GMT
Saturday
Practice 12:00 local time - 09:00 GMT
Qualifying 15:00 local time - 12:00 GMT
Sunday
Race 14:00 local time - 11:00 GMT
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
This weekend, the circus returns to Sochi, Russia. Teams have data from previous visits to the circuit however, after a couple of seasons being here in April, they are reverting back to their September date.
Red Bull are the team who are most behind the 8 ball with both cars reverting back their 'B' Spec engine and the grid penalties that come with it.
Mercedes seem to be the team that benefited from the summer break with a major form reversal.
Ferrari, who were pushing the Mercedes team prior to this break, are the team who just haven't made the expected gains. Time will tell but the world drivers championship may pass them by.
Haas are another team whose luck seems to have deserted them. They were by far the next best but Force India, Renault and even McLaren have stepped up their games.
Sauber have been the surprise packet for 2018 with Charles Leclerc the major team points contributor with points also gained Marcus Ericcson.
Toro Rosso looked reasonably good part way through the season but Gasly has had little support from Hartley. I do understand that it is basically Hartley's first season back in single seaters but I do think that his days are numbered. Shame really because he does have talent.
It was good to see Williams in the points in Monza but that was an abnormality in what has been a dismal season for what was once a great team. I do hope that Ocon gets a seat with them for 2019. He can make the difference.
Red Bull are the team who are most behind the 8 ball with both cars reverting back their 'B' Spec engine and the grid penalties that come with it.
Mercedes seem to be the team that benefited from the summer break with a major form reversal.
Ferrari, who were pushing the Mercedes team prior to this break, are the team who just haven't made the expected gains. Time will tell but the world drivers championship may pass them by.
Haas are another team whose luck seems to have deserted them. They were by far the next best but Force India, Renault and even McLaren have stepped up their games.
Sauber have been the surprise packet for 2018 with Charles Leclerc the major team points contributor with points also gained Marcus Ericcson.
Toro Rosso looked reasonably good part way through the season but Gasly has had little support from Hartley. I do understand that it is basically Hartley's first season back in single seaters but I do think that his days are numbered. Shame really because he does have talent.
It was good to see Williams in the points in Monza but that was an abnormality in what has been a dismal season for what was once a great team. I do hope that Ocon gets a seat with them for 2019. He can make the difference.
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
FP1 Results
Well, where do we start.
Haas confirmed their driver line up for 2019 by announcing that their current drivers are being retained.
5 cars will be going to the rear of the grid with engine penalties. Both Red Bulls, both Toro Rossos and Fernando Alonso.
Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull came into the pits with some smoke coming from the rear. The gearbox was removed and we are still waiting for notification on what the problems are.
4 stand in drivers appeared in this session. Giovanazzi, Norris, Markelov and Latifi.
Charles Leclerc is having major problems with the rear of his Sauber not being stable.
Code: Select all
Pos Time Driver Team
1 1:34.488 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2 1:34.538 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
3 1:34.818 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
4 1:34.999 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
5 1:35.524 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
6 1:35.663 Esteban Ocon Force India
7 1:35.696 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
8 1:36.196 Kevin Magnussen Haas
9 1:36.274 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
10 1:36.712 Antonio Giovinazzi Sauber
11 1:36.816 Romain Grosjean Haas
12 1:36.944 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
13 1:37.022 Lando Norris McLaren
14 1:37.054 Charles Leclerc Sauber
15 1:37.183 Artem Markelov Renault
16 1:37.187 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
17 1:37.206 Nicholas Latifi Force India
18 1:37.225 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
19 1:37.944 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
20 1:39.137 Lance Stroll Williams
Haas confirmed their driver line up for 2019 by announcing that their current drivers are being retained.
5 cars will be going to the rear of the grid with engine penalties. Both Red Bulls, both Toro Rossos and Fernando Alonso.
Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull came into the pits with some smoke coming from the rear. The gearbox was removed and we are still waiting for notification on what the problems are.
4 stand in drivers appeared in this session. Giovanazzi, Norris, Markelov and Latifi.
Charles Leclerc is having major problems with the rear of his Sauber not being stable.
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
FP2 Results
Code: Select all
Pos Time Driver Team
1 1:33.385 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 1:33.584 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
3 1:33.827 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
4 1:33.844 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
5 1:33.928 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
6 1:34.388 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
7 1:35.122 Sergio Perez Force India
8 1:35.137 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
9 1:35.147 Esteban Ocon Force India
10 1:35.295 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
11 1:35.331 Kevin Magnussen Haas
12 1:35.341 Carlos Sainz Renault
13 1:35.432 Charles Leclerc Sauber
14 1:35.568 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
15 1:35.911 Romain Grosjean Haas
16 1:36.024 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
17 1:36.074 Fernando Alonso McLaren
18 1:36.617 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
19 1:36.861 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
20 1:37.001 Lance Stroll Williams
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
FP3 Results
Code: Select all
Pos Time Driver Team
1 1:33.067 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 1:33.321 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
3 1:33.667 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
4 1:33.688 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
5 1:33.937 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
6 1:34.394 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
7 1:34.628 Charles Leclerc Sauber
8 1:34.809 Esteban Ocon Force India
9 1:34.820 Kevin Magnussen Haas
10 1:34.916 Sergio Perez Force India
11 1:34.988 Carlos Sainz Renault
12 1:35.125 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
13 1:35.185 Romain Grosjean Haas
14 1:35.213 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
15 1:35.370 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
16 1:36.033 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
17 1:36.071 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
18 1:36.274 Lance Stroll Williams
19 1:36.597 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
20 1:36.992 Fernando Alonso McLaren
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
Qualifying
So, for something different, here are all the qualifying times from each session.
With all the penalties for this race, there was a lot of strategy being played.
The Renaults decided not to come out for session 2 as all there were 3 cars in the group that were assured of starting at the rear of field.
This guaranteed them positions 11 and 12 on the grid with a free tyre choice.
Brendon Hartley is still struggling to qualify close to his team mate's time and I feel his days are numbered.
McLaren and Williams were also disappointing in the Saturday sessions.
Code: Select all
Pos Q1 Q2 Q3 Driver Team
1 1:32.964 1:32.744 1:31.387 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
2 1:32.410 1:32.595 1:31.532 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 1:33.476 1:33.045 1:31.943 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
4 1:33.341 1:33.065 1:32.237 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
5 1:34.078 1:33.747 1:33.181 Kevin Magnussen Haas
6 1:34.290 1:33.596 1:33.413 Esteban Ocon Force India
7 1:33.924 1:33.488 1:33.419 Charles Leclerc Sauber
8 1:34.084 1:33.923 1:33.563 Sergio Perez Force India
9 1:34.022 1:33.517 1:33.704 Romain Grosjean Haas
10 1:34.170 1:33.995 1:35.196 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
11 1:33.048 No Time Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
12 1:33.247 No Time Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
13 1:34.383 No Time Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
14 1:34.626 No Time Carlos Sainz Renault
15 1:34.655 No Time Nico Hulkenberg Renault
16 1:35.037 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
17 1:35.504 Fernando Alonso McLaren
18 1:35.612 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
19 1:35.977 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
20 1:36.437 Lance Stroll Williams
With all the penalties for this race, there was a lot of strategy being played.
The Renaults decided not to come out for session 2 as all there were 3 cars in the group that were assured of starting at the rear of field.
This guaranteed them positions 11 and 12 on the grid with a free tyre choice.
Brendon Hartley is still struggling to qualify close to his team mate's time and I feel his days are numbered.
McLaren and Williams were also disappointing in the Saturday sessions.
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
Grid
Additional penalties were taken by Red Bull with gearbox replacements to both cars.
Max Verstappen was also given an additional 3 place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement.
Brendon Hartley took multiple engine component penalties and starts at the rear of grid.
Code: Select all
Pos Time Driver Team
1 1:31.387 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
2 1:31.532 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
3 1:31.943 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
4 1:32.237 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
5 1:33.181 Kevin Magnussen Haas
6 1:33.413 Esteban Ocon Force India
7 1:33.419 Charles Leclerc Sauber
8 1:33.563 Sergio Perez Force India
9 1:33.704 Romain Grosjean Haas
10 1:35.196 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
11 No Time Carlos Sainz Renault
12 No Time Nico Hulkenberg Renault
13 1:35.612 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
14 1:35.977 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
15 1:36.437 Lance Stroll Williams
16 1:35.504 Fernando Alonso McLaren
17 No Time Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
18 No Time Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
19 No Time Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
20 1:35.037 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen was also given an additional 3 place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement.
Brendon Hartley took multiple engine component penalties and starts at the rear of grid.
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
Results
Code: Select all
Pos Driver Team
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
6 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
7 Charles Leclerc Sauber
8 Kevin Magnussen Haas
9 Esteban Ocon Force India
10 Sergio Perez Force India
11 Romain Grosjean Haas
12 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
13 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
14 Fernando Alonso McLaren
15 Lance Stroll Williams
16 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
17 Carlos Sainz Renault
18 Sergey Sirotkin Williams
DNF Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
DNF Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso
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Re: The 2018 Russian GP Thead
I have to say that I was impressed with Max's drive. Ha passed something like 8 cars on the first lap and then kept his head down. The strategy of starting on the yellow tyres enabled him to go long and, at one stage, was leading the race. Daniel Ricciardo was probably the next best in terms of performance starting from 18 and finishing 6th. It seem a case of 'What could have been' for the Red Bull duo. Next season's race will be their victory to end the Mercedes domination at this circuit.
Team orders were at the forefront of this race with Mercedes instructing Bottas to let Hamilton pass and the Force India team assault on the Haas Marcus Ericcson. Force India do redress their cars positions as both were unable to make the pass. This was resolved following the pitting of the Haas.
Team orders were at the forefront of this race with Mercedes instructing Bottas to let Hamilton pass and the Force India team assault on the Haas Marcus Ericcson. Force India do redress their cars positions as both were unable to make the pass. This was resolved following the pitting of the Haas.