2018 Russian GP Sochi - Pre race thread

Tire selections for Russia - https://www.planetf1.com/news/another-race-another-bold-ferrari-tyre-strategy/

 

Vettel 1
Kimi 2
Ricci 3

It has to be.

Stupid me is on a plane at the time of the race, I love the Russian GP.

 

I hope Seb doesn't have any brain farts. Anything other than a win and he's done.

 

I hope Seb this....I hope SF doesnt screw up, I hope Verspaten takes Hamii out, I hope it doesnt rain,.....we have been reduced to a bunch of church goers and prayers.....sad.

 

Honda poised to pass Renault for power

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018


Honda could be poised to overtake Renault and cease having the least powerful engine in F1.

Auto Motor und Sport (Germany) and Marca (Spain) report that in Russia, the Japanese carmaker will introduce the third version of its 2018 power unit.

The publications say that Honda's Spec 3 engine will be 35 hp more powerful than its current one, relegating Renault to last place in the power stakes.

Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley will take penalties for fitting the new engines at Sochi, but that will leave them clear to push for better grid positions at Honda's home Japanese grand prix a week later.

Reports in Italy recently said Ferrari has broken through the 1000 hp barrier with its latest engine, a full 27 hp ahead of Mercedes with its 1005 hp power unit.

Renault then currently stands at 950 hp, compared to 930 for Honda.

Red Bull is switching from Renault to Honda power for 2019, joining the junior team Toro Rosso in using the Japanese-designed power units.

"They are pushing hard -- we have confidence in what we see," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

"The investment that we see going into the programme, the quality of personnel that are involved, things are very much moving in the right direction.

"Only time will tell, but I think you'll inevitably see more changes this year which is all part of the development process for 2019 and beyond," he added.

 

Well done, Ricci!

 

If RBR gets 1000 HP from Honda, it'll be double the trouble for Scuderia Fools next year.

 

More like RIP Ricci!

Maybe we can cancel Vettel's last year in contract, and get Ricci for 2020.

 

1 Bottas (he owns that place)
2 Hamilton
3 Seb

 

My prediction -
Qualy
LH
Bottas
Kimi

Race
LH
Bottas
Max

An interesting article pre Sochi post Singapore about various F1 issues - http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/24731197/singapore-grand-prix-talking-points-does-ferrari-need-review-race-operation

 

This makes 2019 even more interesting. It's looks to be a 3 way fight.

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/138816/mclaren-considering-extreme-setup-for-sochi

McLaren is considering running with a more extreme Monza-style set-up on its car at the Russian Grand Prix in a bid to improve its straightline speed performance.

The team's progress this year has been hindered by a car that has more drag than its rivals, plus a gear ratio choice that is not ideal for long straights.

While the gear ratio issue cannot be sorted because teams are stuck with them for the season, McLaren still thinks it can make top speed gains through aerodynamic changes.

Following some encouraging results from a more aggressive setup choice to reduce drag that was trialled in practice at the Italian Grand Prix, the team is ready to give those ideas another run at Sochi.

Fernando Alonso said: "Some of the ideas we tested in Monza where we improved on the Saturday were more for drag reduction, so will be implemented.

"Hopefully Russia will be the first opportunity to revisit those setups."

Sporting director Gil de Ferran suggests a final decision on its plans for Russia have not been sorted, but says the success of the new setup in Italy means it likely it will be used.

 

What are the gear ratio rules that limit alterations during the season?

 

File this under the "What Have We Got To Lose?" title. Or "Is Anybody Really Listening To Us?"

 

Prediction: Seb to lose more points because team strategy blunders. Seb's tire allocation is pure gamble (another one) to get pole and control the race. No pole = Seb is done.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Also: WHY are there gear ratio rules that limit alterations during the season ?

 

Red Bull could take Russia penalties
With a need to introduce at least one more engine into their pool for the final six races, Red Bull have admitted the next race in Russia may well be the venue for their latest round of engine penalties.

"We need to look at it but the likelihood is Sochi is an obvious place," said team boss Christian Horner.

In F1's four previous visits to the Sochi Autodrom, Red Bull have not qualified or finished higher than fifth.

 

Designed to lower costs. Teams have to pre-select a set of gear ratios to run with all season. Once locked, they can't be changed. Prevents every team creating a bespoke set of ratios for every single track (pointless cost).

 

Should I do a rain dance?

 

Perhaps a fire dance

 

Just tell Putin Lewis is an American agent: problem solved;-)

 

Nonsense. Then Putin would sabotage all the other drivers.

 

Mercedes hasn't lost a race in Russia, ever.

 

Sooner or later every Mercedes meets its Stalingrad.

 

Only Novichok could stop the Merc duo.