F1 Russian GP talking points: Heavy rain threatens another washout
Heavy rain threatens another washout
According to the current weather forecast, heavy ra🌄in threatens to curtail this weekend’s Russian Gran꧟d Prix.
Rain is forecast on the three days of running, while there’s currently a 100 per cent chance of rain on Sa🀅turday.
The Belgian Grand Prix was ultimately reduced to just🗹 two laps behind the Safety Car bef✃ore a result was declared - hopefully F1 and the FIA have learnt from this.
— Carlin (@CarlinRacing)
A🐷t least the sky is pretty♏ even if the paddock is a tad flooded
For the first time in 2021, F2 and F3 are also in action at the same weekend as F1, so it will be fascinating to see whether all the races go ahead as planꦗned.
Will Verstappen take a new power unit?
This w🌼eekend could be when Red Bull decides to give Verstappen a fresh power unit.
The Dutchman has a three-place gꦇrid penalty to serve for his role ꩵin the incident with Hamilton at Monza, and we’ve seen in the past that it is possible to get through the field at the Sochi Autodrom.
Verstappen went fr🤪om the back of the grid to finish fifth in 2018, while Alex♉ander Albon enjoyed a similar recovery a year later.
With Mercedes likely to hold a significant p🔥erfor⭕mance advantage anyway, it could be the right time for Red Bull.
Mercedes the favourites
Mercedes has a faultless record in Russia, winning every🔯 race since it was introduced to the calendar back in 2014.
Other than in 2019, 🧸Mercedes has often held a significant performance adva♋ntage over its rivals.
Hamilton has won in Russia four times, while Valtt𝓡eri Bottas claimed his maiden win at Sochi in 2017 before taking a second victory in 2020.
S💟ergio Perez believes Mercedes will be “hard to beat”, 💯and given recent history, it is a fair comment to make.
The battle behind
McLaren’s 1-2 finish at the Italian Grand Prix moved it ahead of Ferrari in the race for third in the ཧconstructors’ cham🥃pionship.
The battle between two of Fཧ1 legendary constructors has ebbed and flowed all season, but who will hold the balance of power in Russia?
The first sector will suit McLar🦂en given its straight-line high-speed advantage, while Ferrari will thrive in the f🤡inal two-thirds of the lap.
Lando Norris has been brilliant in wet conditions in 2021 - without his crꦰash at Spa i🐼n Q3, he’d likely have taken pole position.
Sochi heads towards the exit door
This weekend’s Russian GP will be the penultimate race at the So🌜chi Autodr💝om before it's moved to the Autodrome Igora Drive, north of St. Petersburg from 2023.
Making its debut in 2014, the races have often 🐲been uneventful, making it not a fan favourite among fans.
The tight, twisty section which ends the lap means it is difficult to follow before the long, start-🌸finish stra𓂃ight.
Thꦇe track surface is incredibly smooth meaning tyre degradation is never a🦄 factor.
No🎶t many people will miss Sochi besides a certain Finni🌱sh Mercedes driver.
Wit💮h a shaꦿrp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
