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Russian Grand Prix 2015 Build-up


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#1 Exb

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Posted 06 October 2015 - 23:09

I've been waiting for someone to start a thread just so I can post the press conference line-up but I've run out of patience so here is a build-up thread:

CQoX54DUAAAj61L.jpg

Race Details
http://www.formula1....015/Russia.html
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.848Km
2014 Race winner: Hamilton (Mercedes)
Lap Record: 1.40.896 (Bottas 2014)
 
Circuit factfile from Lotus:

CQj3ITxWsAA_iAF.jpg


Timings: local (BST)

Practice 1 - Fri  10:00 – 11:30 (08.00-09.30)
Practice 2 - Fri  14:00 – 15:30 (12.00-13.30)
Practice 3 - Sat  12:00 – 13:00 (10.00-11.00)
Qualifying - Sat  15:00 – 16:00 (13.00-14.00)
Race - Sun  14:00 – 16:00 (12.00-14.00)
 
DRS
2 zones, the 1st between turn 1 and 2 (detection point before turn 1)
the 2nd between turn 11 and 12 (detection point before turn 10)
 
Tyres
Soft and Super soft (2014 was medium and soft)
 
2014 Results
1 Hamilton Mercedes 1:31:50.744
2 Rosberg Mercedes +0:13.657
3 Bottas Williams +0:17.425
4 Button McLaren +0:30.234

5 Magnussen McLaren +0:53.616
6 Alonso Ferrari +1:00.016 

7 Ricciardo Red Bull +1:01.812

8 Vettel Red Bull +1:06.185

9 Raikkonen Ferrari +1:18.877

10 Perez Force India +1:20.067

11 Massa Williams +1:20.877

12 Hulkenberg Force India +1:21.309

13 Vergne Toro Rosso +1:37.295

14 Kvyat Toro Rosso Lapped

15 Gutierrez Sauber Lapped

16 Sutil Sauber Lapped

17 Grosjean Lotus Lapped

18 Maldonado Lotus Lapped

19 Ericsson Caterham Lapped

R Kobayashi Caterham Retired (21)
R Chilton Marussia Retired (9)

http://www.bbc.co.uk...nd-prix/results
 
Practice results (fastest laps)
P1 Rosberg 1.42.311
P2 Hamilton 1.39.630
P3 Hamilton 1.38.726
 
Qualifying
Pole Hamilton 1.38.513 (fastest lap Q2 1.38.338)
 
Weather forecast:
Ian Fergusson ‏@fergieweather 8 hrs8 hours ago
#F1 #BBCF1 #RUSSIANGP Current expectations: showers at times until Fri; a dry/settled outlook for the weekend before rain spreads E into Mon

https://www.meteoblu...i_russia_491422
  
Press Conference line-up  :p 
Drivers PC Thursday 15.00 (13.00 BST)
Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Kvyat, Grosjean, Sainz
 
Team members PC Friday 16.00 (14.00 BST)
Paul Hembery (Pirelli), Monisha Kaltenborn (Sauber), James Key (Toro Rosso), Graeme Lowdon (Manor), Paul Monaghan (Red Bull) & Rob Smedley (Williams)



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#2 HeadFirst

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Posted 06 October 2015 - 23:21

Excellent OP ....... all of the key info included. Thanks Exb. I'm looking forward to this race weekend, as I do all of them. Not really expecting much to change up front, but the battles midfield continue to impress, and there is always the chance (albeit a microscopic one) that Honda will have a break-through.



#3 SophieB

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 03:53

Finally I have somewhere to post this:
 
Will Stevens ‏@WillStevens_  14h14 hours ago
On the way to the airport. Douglas wanted to come for the trip! #WS28 #dobby #dogontour #copilot #RussianGP 1f602.png1f436.png1f1ec-1f1e7.png1f1f7-1f1fa.png2708.png
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#4 CoolBreeze

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 04:42

high likely a boring race. 



#5 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 05:45

And I finally found a thread where I can post this :lol:

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#6 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 05:58

My press conference silly questions prediction

Rosberg: Have you give up? Are you too nice?
Alonso: GP2 engine, Will you really stay at McLaren?
Grosjean: Haas
Sainz: are you feeling the pressure? Verstappen, Verstappen...
Kvyat: Home race...special...blabla
Massa: Will support Sainz regarding Verstappen due to the lack of questions.

Besides of some annoying questions for Rosberg Alonso will dominate this press conference as usual....

Edited by Marklar, 07 October 2015 - 06:00.


#7 johnwilliamdavies

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:11

Needs more Putin.

 

Putin0_2_3070254b.jpg

 

HamiltonPutin_2104953a.jpg

 

putin.race.image.getty.640x360.jpg



#8 johnwilliamdavies

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:11

And it seems Lotus are locked out again.



#9 GoldenColt

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:15

Needs more Putin.

 

Putin0_2_3070254b.jpg

 

HamiltonPutin_2104953a.jpg

 

putin.race.image.getty.640x360.jpg

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#10 Myrvold

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:28

Needs more Putin.

 

Putin0_2_3070254b.jpg

 

HamiltonPutin_2104953a.jpg

 

putin.race.image.getty.640x360.jpg

1439921464_rits.gif

 

Best viewed while listenting to Put(t)in(g) on the ritz



#11 MikeV1987

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:31

http://www.inautonew...ed-out-at-sochi

 

 

 

Lotus’ travelling staff are once again locked out of the struggling team’s designated paddock building ahead of a grand prix.


#12 Nonesuch

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:42

 

:up:

 

Also, rename the third corner already! If we can handle Laranjinha and Parabolica then Cheburashka should be no problem!

 

rhwAJoN.jpg



#13 noikeee

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:44

They should turn this into a superstitious ritual. After all it worked for them at Suzuka - Romain and Pastor got both into the points.



#14 OO7

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:49

Do you think the Lotus staff members are banging on the doors and windows of the paddock building shouting 'LOTUS IN!'?



#15 Kristian

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 08:50

673905e3dee279d90e85775323bdb397497978f8



#16 AustinF1

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:00

Do you think the Lotus staff members are banging on the doors and windows of the paddock building shouting 'LOTUS IN!'?

Kinda small, but you can see here two Lotus team members sitting at a folding table outside their team building. Oy.

 

CQqAdvmXAAAhE8I.jpg


Edited by AustinF1, 07 October 2015 - 09:01.


#17 Feint2Pass

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:27

Nice word play 007 - the artist formerly know as Obi.

#18 RubalSher

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:44

Lewis :up:



#19 SophieB

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:53

As with last year, this is the Motorsport section of the board, please do not use this thread to air and share your general political views and opinions about Russia.

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#20 RubalSher

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:55

Hamilton was denied the Grand Chelem last year at Sochi by Bottas and Rosberg who fought till the very last lap over position and ended up setting FLs of the race towards the end. Rosberg set the FL on lap 52 on tyres that were 51 laps old and Bottas bettered it on the last lap of the race, denying HAM a Grand Chelem.

 

Hamilton did weigh in when he set the FL of the race at the time on lap 48, but strolled to a start to finish victory thereafter.

 

With minimal deg, the Mercs ran multiple laps on option tyres in Q1, Q2 and Q3. Most other teams followed with only 1 set of options used in Q3 over multiple laps. In the end, this was one qualy last year where HAM bettered ROS in Q3 by 0.2 seconds. Bottas came close to grabbing pole by setting purple S1 and S2 on his last run but threw it all away with a big slide on the last corner.



#21 Jimisgod

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:57

Lewis :up:

 

Lewis' hair salon :up:



#22 Jon83

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 09:59

Lewis :up:

 

SebSeb :up:

 

KimKim :up:


Edited by Jon83, 07 October 2015 - 09:59.


#23 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:05

By the way this could be a good chance for Ferrari: the asphalt is similar to Singapore, we have soft/super softs and the layout of the circuit is not really in favour of Mercedes (90 degree corners), if it is getting a bit warmer than expected than they might have a shot for the win. Especially considering that the slipstream at the start is so powerfull that beeing 2nd or 3rd is not an real disadvantage - and the Ferraris always have good starts...

#24 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:07

Lewis :up:

Lewis' hair salon :up:

SebSeb :up:

KimKim :up:

Could everybody please stop with the thumbs up harassement...it is really not funny anymore....

Edited by Marklar, 07 October 2015 - 10:08.


#25 goingthedistance

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:08

God this track is boring. 

 

I really hope the softer compounds lead to a multi-stop race. 



#26 ConsiderAndGo

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:12

I can't make my mind up if this is the worst track on the calendar, or if Abu Dhabi is?

#27 SealTheDiffuser

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:14

Lewis :up:

 

shrugging off Putin handshake last year :cool: :blush: :smoking:



#28 RedBaron

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:14

Lotus are locked out again.

 

Gareth Waygood ‏@gwaygood  Oct 6

Lotus Hospitality crew locked out of Team Building in Sochi 
CQnd0rcUkAA-ExS.jpg

 

2-dirty-chairs.jpg


Edited by RedBaron, 07 October 2015 - 10:17.


#29 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:16

I can't make my mind up if this is the worst track on the calendar, or if Abu Dhabi is?

Barcelona.

#30 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:31

Lotus F1 Team – ‏@Lotus_F1Team
Thank you for all the sympathy, but we are in and we are busy eating! ;-)
#PaddockRumours

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#31 superden

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:33

I'd forgotten there was a GP this weekend.

#32 Kristian

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:41

Barcelona.

 

Barcelona has some decent corners though. And a bit of gravel. And heritage. 


Edited by Kristian, 07 October 2015 - 10:42.


#33 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:47

Barcelona has some decent corners though. And a bit of gravel. And heritage.

And countless boring races including the with an huge margin highest pole conversation. Great test track though. But everything else: meh.

#34 Ragnar668

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 10:50

I can't make my mind up if this is the worst track on the calendar, or if Abu Dhabi is?

 

Circuit of the Americas
 

#35 Kristian

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:26

And countless boring races including the with an huge margin highest pole conversation. Great test track though. But everything else: meh.

 

I'd rather have a track with challenging corners and boring races than a track which is boring to drive and boring to watch, and awful aesthetically. 

 

You could say Suzuka or Spa would be 'meh' by your reckoning - very few races at those tracks in recent years have been decent when there's been no rain in race or quali. 



#36 Nonesuch

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:28

I can't make my mind up if this is the worst track on the calendar, or if Abu Dhabi is?

 

It's not even close! Last year's F1 race was indeed rather tiresome, but the racing in some of the other categories was fine.

Sochi is no Spa-Francorchamps or Suzuka or Sepang (there's something about that S!) but it's perfectly average.

Abu Dhabi only has one half-decent corner, or as Räikkönen said in 2009:
 

Abu Dhabi, on the eve of the final grand prix of 2009. Kimi Räikkönen is sitting on a stage in front of 250 Emirati, many of whom were the motivation behind the expensive and impressive Yas Marina circuit. He's been asked for his thoughts on the track. "The first sector is okay," Kimi says. "The rest is a bit ****."

There's an audible gasp from the audience. No one knows how to react. Did he really say that? Kimi, meanwhile, goes on to explain that the flow of the racetrack would be greatly improved if it had a quick corner in the final sector of the lap. It's a valid point, and one that's shared by other drivers, but that's no longer the point. Kimi has just insulted the great and the good of Abu Dhabi. (Tom Clarkson, F1 Racing)



#37 thegamer23

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:29

Sochi is just plain mediocre. Just too much grey airport-like runoffs to be anywere interesting.

#38 goingthedistance

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:35

@tgruener: Pirelli set higher tyre pressure limits for Sochi. Limits identical to Suzuka: front 21,5 PSI / rear 20,5 PSI. (2014: 19,0/18,0) #AMuS #F1

#39 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:37

I'd rather have a track with challenging corners and boring races than a track which is boring to drive and boring to watch, and awful aesthetically.

You could say Suzuka or Spa would be 'meh' by your reckoning - very few races at those tracks in recent years have been decent when there's been no rain in race or quali.

Nope, Suzuka and Spa delivered great races in the past and are very challenging. Barcelona is boring and not much more challenging than Abu Dhabi for example. Only the heritage make them me prefering them over the awful Tilke circuits, but it wouldnt bother me if they would be replaced by an other spanish circuit.

Edited by Marklar, 07 October 2015 - 11:39.


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#40 BullHead

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:45

Last year's race was OK IMO. Great couple of laps to start, but things spread out and fell into routine as the race went on. The venue (again IMO) is lovely to look at and parts of the track look supremely fast. Looking forward as ever to the next Grand Prix....
Can't really make a good track / bad track judgement on one race to be honest....

#41 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 11:50

Judging from layout, gravel traps and races so far (in Sotschis case so far 1) it is easily in the top 3 for me. Besides Sotschi, Abu Dhabi and Barcelona I cant think of any circuit in this calendar which disappoints me overall much

#42 P123

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:06

The drivers were struggling to put in clean laps in practice and quali last year, so from that point it was a challenge. The race was awful though, but that was down to the tyres that could be pushed forever......

#43 Tapz63

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:09

Judging from layout, gravel traps and races so far (in Sotschis case so far 1) it is easily in the top 3 for me. Besides Sotschi, Abu Dhabi and Barcelona I cant think of any circuit in this calendar which disappoints me overall much


Excuse me, but Sochi has an amazing gravel trap.

http://www.google.co...CFcw-PgodhXgPFg

#44 Kristian

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:15

Nope, Suzuka and Spa delivered great races in the past and are very challenging. Barcelona is boring and not much more challenging than Abu Dhabi for example. Only the heritage make them me prefering them over the awful Tilke circuits, but it wouldnt bother me if they would be replaced by an other spanish circuit.

 

Yes they have delivered great races, but in the last 10 years more often than not a fully dry weekend, especially at Suzuka, tends to be quite dull. Even Bahrain gurantees better racing usually. There are exceptional races, but hell even Valencia and Abu Dhabi had good races in 2012... 



#45 thegamer23

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:19

Excuse me, but Sochi has an amazing gravel trap.

http://www.google.co...CFcw-PgodhXgPFg

 

tumblr_ly6qwt5wjT1r30zsdo1_500.gif



#46 MasterOfCoin

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:22

Barcelona has some decent corners though. And a bit of gravel. And heritage. 

You can at least overtake at Sochi, Barcelona's last corner ruined overtaking.



#47 Mat13

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:30

It wasn't helped by the tyres, but based on last year I won't be Russian to watch this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...I'm here all week.



#48 Marklar

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 12:32

Excuse me, but Sochi has an amazing gravel trap.

http://www.google.co...CFcw-PgodhXgPFg

At least they have some :lol:

Actually the run offs in Sotschi are not that bad. These "paintings" on the run off are abrasive which means that running off the circuit is getting punished.

#49 RubalSher

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 13:27

Nope, Suzuka and Spa delivered great races in the past and are very challenging. Barcelona is boring and not much more challenging than Abu Dhabi for example. Only the heritage make them me prefering them over the awful Tilke circuits, but it wouldnt bother me if they would be replaced by an other spanish circuit.

 

How long do I have to hold onto the past to witness dreadful processions at Suzuka and Spa? Singling out a few tracks just doesnt make sense to me because what makes a race boring in today's era of cruise control, aero reliance & tarmac runoffs is lack of rain & lack of SC. For that matter, even Silverstone was dull this year until the rain intervened.

 

Let us stop moaning about Sochi and celebrate the fact that we have a GP weekend ahead.



#50 JHSingo

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Posted 07 October 2015 - 13:37

Looking forward to this weekend's big race...

 

Bathurst > Russian Grand Prix.

 

:p