2019 Russian Grand Prix: Free Practices & Qualifying

[nani_s23]

Vettel: It was strange in the afternoon, I just didn't get a great feel but nothing to worry. We tried some stuff, now we need to decide tomorrow what we would like to keep. Not completely finding the rhythm but I am sure that by tomorrow it should be fine. For us it will be good news if we're competitive. The closer we can be to the top, the better it is for us. We will see where we are tomorrow. Don't know what the weather is doing. I think we can improve, especially in terms of balance, bringing the car together. The car was good at some stage today, so I am pretty confident it will be tomorrow.

[Tifoso Svedese]

Only five for Max?

Ah well, he should be stuck in P5 regardless with their power deficit on race day.

[wisepie]

Looks like there's a strong possibility of rain for Saturday and possibly Sunday, so Max may well prove to be in there even with a grid penalty, Charles looking good so far but Seb having a bit of a mixed day, all will be revealed tomorrow, weather permitting!

[nani_s23]

If ferrari lock front row or 2nd row there’s no problem with that. With their straight line speed, they can keep that place or pass cars ahead of them easily.

[nani_s23]

Ferrari's Singapore aero update is also working well in Sochi and according to their expectations!

Binotto: "It's important to have confirmed the progress. We were fast on one lap and over the distance (longrun)."

Mattia Binotto about the slipstream effect in Sochi: "The slipstream is important here, but not as effective on lap time as it is in Monza. We take thinking about one driver pulling the other one in qualifying!"

@AMus

[FerrariF60]

Only five for Max?

Ah well, he should be stuck in P5 regardless with their power deficit on race day.

You’re just as she gets pole, which I’m sure Charles will deny that...or Seb, but I wouldn’t count on it

[Rob]

A FRIDAY OF OVER 100 LAPS

Sochi, 27 September 2019 – Scuderia Ferrari got through all its Friday programme for the Russian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were second and fifth respectively at the end of the day. The Maranello squad drivers concentrated at first on setting up the car and validating the aero package introduced on Singapore on what is a very different circuit here at the Sochi Autodrom. In the afternoon, the focus switched to preparing for tomorrow’s qualifying and Sunday’s race, doing simulation runs on the Soft and Medium compounds.

FP1. During the 90 minutes of the morning session, Charles and Sebastian did 40 laps in total, 20 each. Charles was fastest in 1’34”462 and Seb was third with a 1’35”005.

FP2. Charles was second fastest behind Max Verstappen and Sebastian was fifth. Both drivers got through their programme bringing the total number of laps to 105. They started this 90 minute session on the medium tyres posting times of 1’34”148 and 1’34”306 respectively, before moving to Pirellis softest compound to drop the times to 1’33”497 for Charles and 1’34”201 for Seb, who made a small mistake on his fastest lap.

Long run. In the second part of the session the Scuderia Ferrari drivers began working in race configuration, doing long runs on the Soft and Medium tyres. The SF90s will be back on track tomorrow at noon (11 CET) for the final hour of free practice, prior to qualifying at 15 (14 CET). The sixth edition of the Russian Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday at 14.10 (13.10 CET).

Charles Leclerc #16

“It was quite a good day. Although we have some work to do when it comes to our qualifying pace, our race pace was very positive. The track layout can be deceptive, as it has many similar corners. But it is tricky to set up the car, because the first and second sectors are quick and once you arrive in the third sector, the tyres are not in the best shape anymore. There is quite a difference in balance from the beginning to the end of the lap. You have to find a good compromise in the set-up, which will allow you to post the best lap time without sacrificing your race pace. We tested a bit in both directions today and I think we found our way.
Our competitors are strong, and we have to keep working as hard as we possibly can to keep our momentum from the past few race weekends.”

Sebastian Vettel #5

“My day was not perfect, as in the afternoon I struggled a bit to find the right balance and therefore I never got into a rhythm. I think we can do better tomorrow as we tried different things and now we need to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

I think we need to work more on the car and then we’ll see if we are competitive. It’s too early to tell what the pecking order is and we will get a better idea of where we are tomorrow. I don’t know what the weather is doing, but the closer we can be to the front the better it is. Anyway, we have the tyres for whatever the situation might be.
To summarise I think we can improve, in particular in terms of balance. I hope tomorrow we are on the good side of things.”

[Rob]

[Rob]

[chinmay]

Qualifying starts an hour early today, race starts 2 hours early tomorrow.

[nani_s23]

Qualifying starts an hour early today, race starts 2 hours early tomorrow.

Any specific reason ???
Last race too started early, I thought it’s at 6.30PM IST. So logged in at that time, by then 15L are done.

Anyways thanks for posting the schedule. I’ll not miss this time.

[Tifoso Svedese]

Right now on my radar it appears as the morning rain has missed Sochi and has veered inland instead and there's nothing in particular over the Black Sea at the moment that looks Sochi-bound. Let's see, but I wouldn't rule out FP3 being dry.

[nani_s23]

Right now on my radar it appears as the morning rain has missed Sochi and has veered inland instead and there's nothing in particular over the Black Sea at the moment that looks Sochi-bound. Let's see, but I wouldn't rule out FP3 being dry.

All we need is quali under dry conditions.

[bonzo]

Light rain during FP3, ending just before qualy

[tifosi1993]

Front tyre pressure reduced, from 23.5psi to 22

[tifosi1993]

Leclerc vs Vettel

Sector 1: 34.128 vs 34.241
Sector 2: 32.069 vs 32.231
Sector 3: 27.527 vs 27.834

[gump1480]

LEC vs Bottas sector time please

[tifosi1993]

LEC vs Bottas sector time please

Sector 1: 34.128 vs 34.485
Sector 2: 32.069 vs 32.208
Sector 3: 27.527 vs 27.266

[gump1480]

Sector 1: 34.128 vs 34.485
Sector 2: 32.069 vs 32.208
Sector 3: 27.527 vs 27.266

We are still losing 3 tenths in last sector. I thought we would have improved this overnight. Looks like this is the limit for S3 for our car.

[Rishu]

Leclerc is simply flying

[tifosi1993]

Leclerc is simply flying

Since Austria

[tifosi1993]

Leclerc vs Vettel, FP3 quali sim, Leclerc did 2 laps and Vettel did 3, Vettel improved his time on his last lap

Sector 1: 33.869 vs 33.919
Sector 2: 31.839 vs 31.761
Sector 3: 26.999 vs 27.368

[gump1480]

Leclerc vs Vettel, FP3 quali sim, Leclerc did 2 laps and Vettel did 3, Vettel improved his time on his last lap

Sector 1: 33.869 vs 33.919
Sector 2: 31.839 vs 31.761
Sector 3: 26.999 vs 27.368

And HAM?

[PURE PASSION]

Vet did better S2 ???!!!!

[tifosi1993]

Ferrari Vs Mercedes

Sector 1:
Leclerc 33.869
Vettel 33.919
Hamilton 34.266
Bottas 34.266

Sector 2:
Vettel 31.761
Leclerc 31.839
Hamilton 32.006
Bottas 32.021

Sector 3:
Hamilton 26.826
Leclerc 26.999
Bottas 27.052
Vettel 27.368

[nani_s23]

Vet did better S2 ???!!!!

S3 is not working for him at all. He’s burning his tyres too quick.

[stefa]

Looking good?!

[From Treviso]

Christian Horner said that the Mercedes party mode is now more like afternoon tea mode when compared to Ferrari's, lol!

[nani_s23]

Christian Horner said that the Mercedes party mode is now more like afternoon tea mode when compared to Ferrari's, lol!

[19000rpmF-2004]

Bright days are ahead for us. Very happy for the team.