Russia again (2016)

[J.Clark]

Sorry, but I just can't get excited about this race track, as it has yet to produce a race worth watching.  I found it hard to come up with a preview.

There have been a couple of interesting moments, such as Red Bull's 'A' & 'B' teams against each other, and Kimi against Bottas, but that is about all.  The circuit has produced two parades.

FFP-1 is in the books, with the following results:
1.  Rosberg      Mercedes   1m 38.127
2.  Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 38.849
3.  Vettel      Ferrari   1m 39.175
4.  Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 39.332
5.  Massa      Williams   1m 39.365
6.  Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 39.650
7.  Bottas      Williams   1m 39.802
8.  Kvyat      Red Bull   1m 40.218
9.  Perez      Force India   1m 40.287
10. Sainz       Toro Rosso   1m 40.654
11. Button      McLaren   1m 40.663
12. Alonso      McLaren   1m 40.771
13. Sirotkin      Renault   1m 40.898
14. Nasr      Sauber   1m 41.085
15. Verstappen    Toro Rosso   1m 41.134
16. Gutierrez   Haas     1m 41.238
17. Grosjean   Haas     1m 41.385
18. Palmer      Renault   1m 41.671
19. Ericsson   Sauber   1m 41.962
20. Wehrlein   Manor   1m 42.483
21. Haryanto   Manor   1m 42.687
22. Celis      Force India  1m 43.432

Mercs on top with Ferrari close on their heels is not a surprise.
Williams looking as though they may have found something over the past two weeks.
Red Bull hanging tough.
A couple of new names on the sheet, such as Sirotkin, who looks to be quite fast in the Renault.
Not sure about Haas, but they are a new team and perhaps some of us are expecting too much, but they are not at the bottom of the sheet.

FFP-2 coming up in about 30 minutes.

[Monty]

Hamilton dominated FP2 - more worrying the Mercedes were consistently fastest over a lot of 'race pace' laps.
I think it will be a procession.
For me the big question is:- are the McLarens going to be competitive?
In FP2 they were looking really good (mid-pack) but we have seen at other tracks that when it comes to qualifying everyone else turn up their engines and leave the McLarens in their wake. I will be hoping that they can get to Q3.

[cosworth151]

There may be reliability issues. Vettel's electrics packed it in, stranding him on the front straight.

[J.Clark]

FP-2 results:
1. Hamilton   Mercedes  1m 37.583
2. Vettel      Ferrari   1m 38.235
3. Rosberg      Mercedes   1m 38.450
4. Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 38.793
5. Ricciardo      Red Bull   1m 39.084
6. Bottas      Williams   1m 39.185
7. Kvyat      Red Bull   1m 39.193
8. Button      McLaren   1m 39.196
9. Massa      Williams   1m 39.289
10. Alonso      McLaren   1m 39.400
11. Sainz       Toro Rosso   1m 39.465
12. Verstappen    Toro Rosso   1m 39.501
13. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 39.795
14. Perez      Force India   1m 39.867
15. Magnussen   Renault   1m 40.193
16. Grosjean   Haas     1m 40.260
17. Gutierrez   Haas     1m 40.508
18. Palmer      Renault   1m 40.688
19. Nasr      Sauber   1m 40.740
20. Haryanto      Manor   1m 41.080
21. Wehrlein      Manor   1m 41.148
22. Ericsson      Sauber   1m 41.652

Vettel's troubles seem to be electronics related.  Ferrari engine upgrades appear to put them on par with the Mercs.

Haas, according to Steve Matchett, may be suffering from some chassis degredation, making the car somewhat unstable.

Sauber appears to be truly lacking at this venue.

P-5 thru 12 all within a half second of each other, including the McLarens.

[Irisado]

This was an unexpectedly exciting race last year, but I fear that was a one off.  I'm not expecting anything other than Mercedes dominance and a procession is likely, just as was the case in the first race held here.  Some unreliability would help to shake things up, but I'm not so sure that we'll get any.

[J.Clark]

https://www.facebook.com/Formula1/videos/594231180733868/

There is a good lap with Max and a good description of the circuit here.

[Scott]

Vettel had to change a gearbox, so he is getting a 5 place grid penalty.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/36172082

[J.Clark]

1.  Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 36.403
2.  Rosberg      Mercedes   1m 36.471
3.  Vettel      Ferrari   1m 37.007
4.  Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 37.727
5.  Massa      Williams   1m 37.918
6.  Bottas      Williams   1m 37.985
7.  Verstappen    Toro Rosso   1m 38.133
8.  Button      McLaren   1m 38.260
9.  Sainz     Toro Rosso   1m 38.465
10. Perez      Force India   1m 38.542
11. Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 38.622
12. Alonso      McLaren   1m 38.633
13. Kvyat      Red Bull   1m 39.047
14. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 39.162
15. Gutierrez   Haas     1m 39.230
16. Magnussen   Renaul   1m 39.238
17. Grosjean   Haas     1m 39.239
18. Palmer      Renault   1m 39.589
19. Haryanto   Manor   1m 39.599
20. Wehrlein   Manor   1m 39.663
21. Ericsson   Sauber   1m 39.740
22. Nasr      Sauber   1m 39.898

Mercs appear to still have .6 seconds on the Ferrari.

Williams have closed up on Ferrari so with Vettel having a five place penalty, he could have his work cut out for him and we could have a repeat of 2015 Ferrari/Williams battle.

McLarens are looking like they could have both cars in the points if they remain reliable.

Haas has fallen back a bit, perhaps to where they belong, but it could also just be this circuit, as some cars struggle on different circuits.

Qualifying coming up . . .

[Scott]

Hamilton couldn't start Q3, so it looks like he will have to change his engine.  Too bad.

[sebastian-vettel-fans]

Qualifying Results: http://sebastian-vettel-fans.blog.cz/1604/kvalifikaciu-v-rusku-vyhral-rosberg-seb-druhy

[cosworth151]

Seb will get a 5 place drop for changing his gearbox.

[J.Clark]

Hamilton couldn't start Q3, so it looks like he will have to change his engine.  Too bad.

Maybe it will help the "show" with him having to overtake everyone.  It is too bad, while I don't particularly like him as a driver, that the bad luck seems to all be on his side of the garage this season.  We have seen that over and over again in F1 however, with one driver of a successful team being virtually locked out due to gremlins of all sorts.

The grid, due to some problems with Hamilton and Vettel looks quite interesting, and could set up some very good battles, at least in the opening laps.
1.  Rosberg              Mercedes   1m 35.417
2.  Vettel              Ferrari   1m 36.123 *
3.  Bottas              Williams   1m 36.536
4.  Raikkonen      Ferrari   1m 36.663
5.  Massa              Williams   1m 37.016
6.  Ricciardo      Red Bull   1m 37.125
7.  Perez              Force India   1m 37.212
8.  Kvyat              Red Bull   1m 37.459
9.  Verstappen       Toro Rosso   1m 37.583
10. Hamilton      Mercedes   no time Q3

11. Sainz               Toro Rosso   1m 37.652
12. Button        McLaren   1m 37.701
13. Hulkenberg      Force India   1m 37.771
14. Alonso              McLaren   1m 37.807
15. Grosjean      Haas     1m 38.055
16. Gutierrez      Haas     1m 38.115
17. Magnussen      Renault   1m 38.914
18. Palmer        Renault   1m 39.009
19. Nasr              Sauber   1m 39.018
20. Wehrlein      Manor   1m 39.399
21. Haryanto      Manor   1m 39.463
22. Ericsson      Sauber   1m 39.519

Vettel's penalty will put him at P-7, which moves Bottas along side Rosberg with an inside line at the relatively inconsequential turn one and outside at turn two so there could be a coming together between the two of them there.  Kimi will line up behind the Mercedes, and with a good start could get ahead of him by turn two.  Massa too will benefit greatly starting behind his teammate with a good line and since both Williams have proved to be excellent at the moment the lights go out, neither will have to dodge anyone other than Rosberg.

I have not seen yet where Lewis will line up, or if perhaps as was asked of him in the post-qualifying interviews if he may opt to begin from the pit lane, reflecting on what happened to his race in the previous event.

[sebastian-vettel-fans]

Video: Post-qualifying press conference with top 3: http://sebastian-vettel-fans.blog.cz/1604/video-tlacova-konferencia-po-kvalifikacii-v-rusku

[cosworth151]

I have not seen yet where Lewis will line up, or if perhaps as was asked of him in the post-qualifying interviews if he may opt to begin from the pit lane, reflecting on what happened to his race in the previous event.

Lewis was to meet with Charlie Whiting after quali about a possible penalty. During Q1, he disobeyed the race director's instructions. Charlie told the drivers that if they go off track that they can't reenter until they pass a specially positioned bollard. Lewis cut inside of the bollard. NBC was saying that Charlie could disallow his Q1 time & make him start from the pits. I still haven't found anything about what happened at the meeting.

[J.Clark]

There will be no further penalty imposed at this time, for Lewis' not following the rules.
"Lewis Hamilton has escaped further punishment from the stewards for failing to return to the track correctly following an off in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix,

The defending champion ran wide at turn two during Q1, but failed to stay to the left of the red and white bollard in the run-off area to ensure a safe return to the track as per the sporting code.

However, having examined video evidence and discussed with the driver, Race Direction opted not to impose a penalty beyond a reprimand.

It marks his second reprimand of the season after he reversed in the pit lane following qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix when he stopped at the wrong spot. One more reprimand will see him land a 10 place grid penalty."

The team has said his problem was ERS related and so he will start from P-10 on the grid.