2019 Russian Grand Prix build-up

[Tifoso Svedese]

Start-and-finish straight approximately 1.22 km flat-out.
Back straight approximately 1 km flat-out.
Very low tyre degradation.
Mainly medium-speed short corners.
Four other straights above 300 metres in length.

Is it just me or does that feel like another epic opportunity? :ferrarifl

[Aziz]

Start-and-finish straight approximately 1.22 km flat-out.
Back straight approximately 1 km flat-out.
Very low tyre degradation.
Mainly medium-speed short corners.
Four other straights above 300 metres in length.

Is it just me or does that feel like another epic opportunity? :ferrarifl

It will be if no rain, hopefully

[Vettel165]

Analysing stuff in my head.
If dry and we have a good setup, reliability free weekend, we could gain as much as 0,3-0,4s alone at the main straight, then another 0,3s in the long s2 straight. S1 has just two corners, which are high-speed corners, one with full power, flat out. Then S2 is all about the medium speed corners, a little faster as Singapore 90 degrees corners, which should be solid for us. S3 is all about the traction. We will see.

Its a 1 stop race easy, start will be crucial.

[bonzo]

I hope Seb and Lec will be allowed to race themselves if we lock P1,2 in qualy. If Ham/Max do not interfere in between, that is.

[Tifoso Svedese]

Wasn't Max supposed to take another engine for that one?

Either way, assuming it's a wet qualifying, luckily we still have the straightline speed and Bottas is really mediocre in the wet, so we could still plant the cars say P2 and P3 in that scenario purely because it goes so fast in a straight line. Sunday looks like a really good chance of a dry race, but for pole we probably need to depend on a gap for few hours at the right time.

[Riccardog]

first time.... sticking my head out for once.
Leclerc to qualify 1st.
there I predict it now!!!

[nani_s23]

don’t predict anything too soon. Off late we are in a good form.
Let’s not jinx & get disappointed, take what ever we get on that day. So as to keep our hopes limited.
Just pray for a good weekend. Anything above that it’s a bonus for us.

[totox]

don’t predict anything too soon. Off late we are in a good form.
Let’s not jinx & get disappointed, take what ever we get on that day. So as to keep our hopes limited.
Just pray for a good weekend. Anything above that it’s a bonus for us.

Good words

[Tifoso]

don’t predict anything too soon. Off late we are in a good form.
Let’s not jinx & get disappointed, take what ever we get on that day. So as to keep our hopes limited.
Just pray for a good weekend. Anything above that it’s a bonus for us.

No such thing as a jinx. :-)
I will continue to believe until we are mathematically eliminated

[Silent Bob]

Well if Ferrari can continue to qualy well and lead the races ini a 1,2 formation, this will force the Mercs to run their engines harder, hopefully they overheat and blow up in 3 or 4 of the upcoming races and presto... Ferrari has great chance to win WCC.

It's a nice wish. Ferrari fans deserve it.

[FerrariF60]

Well if Ferrari can continue to qualy well and lead the races ini a 1,2 formation, this will force the Mercs to run their engines harder, hopefully they overheat and blow up in 3 or 4 of the upcoming races and presto... Ferrari has great chance to win WCC.

It's a nice wish. Ferrari fans deserve it.

That is wishful thinking, but they won’t do that.....they’ll just be collecting the 3-4 places and prolly still cruise to the WCC

[paolo lalli]

2nd half of season Ferrari 3 mercedes 0.Hopefully number 4 coming up now that's going to hurt .The wolf is already howling.

[Vettel165]

1. Pole doesnt mean much here, second place or even third place to start is better.
2. Seb is decent here, maybe he will rediscover his real form, or not. Also Leclerc was good there last year.
3. Bottas, Hamilton could be in the mix.
4. Never take anything, or a domination for granted. You never know what could happen.
5. Rain on saturday is expected.
6. WDC,WCC is lost long time ago, now its all about the glory and the final races. I have already all eyes at 2020.

[nani_s23]

1. Pole doesnt mean much here, second place or even third place to start is better.
2. Seb is decent here, maybe he will rediscover his real form, or not. Also Leclerc was good there last year.
3. Bottas, Hamilton could be in the mix.
4. Never take anything, or a domination for granted. You never know what could happen.
5. Rain on saturday is expected.
6. WDC,WCC is lost long time ago, now its all about the glory and the final races. I have already all eyes at 2020.

But still a pole is pole in the records. If it’s dry then Leclerc, else Ham.
Race: Anything can happen.

[tifosi1993]

https://f1i.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sochi-Pirelli-e1568724414146.jpg

[nhiepka]

It look like Ferrari have found special things because they have just chosen only 1 set of hard type for races until now after summer break dont you?

[Vettel165]

I looked at Singapore 2015, and saw that crazy shocking lap by Seb. After 1 lap he had 3 seconds in the pocket, Seb on his day when everthing worked was awesome on pure pace and even unstoppable, he had the same kind of lap right after he pited in Singapore this year. His peak was 2010-2013 and parts of 2015, 2017, also first part of 2018. I am afraid he already reached his peak, and will never had that amazing 1-lap pace anymore in qualy. He improved on race pace, but rear instability of the car really hurts him. We will see what the future will bring, wish all the best for our Ferrari driver...

https://i.postimg.cc/WzZkwf3N/Brez-naslova.png (https://postimg.cc/9wW0WbZK)

[Tifoso]

We don’t have long to wait to see if le rosse are the real deal. :-)

[darkchild]

I looked at Singapore 2015, and saw that crazy shocking lap by Seb. After 1 lap he had 3 seconds in the pocket, Seb on his day when everthing worked was awesome on pure pace and even unstoppable, he had the same kind of lap right after he pited in Singapore this year. His peak was 2010-2013 and parts of 2015, 2017, also first part of 2018. I am afraid he already reached his peak, and will never had that amazing 1-lap pace anymore in qualy. He improved on race pace, but rear instability of the car really hurts him. We will see what the future will bring, wish all the best for our Ferrari driver...

https://i.postimg.cc/WzZkwf3N/Brez-naslova.png (https://postimg.cc/9wW0WbZK)
BTW for "crazy pace" after pit in Singapore...Bottas was 2 tenths faster on lap after his pitstop (2 laps after Seb). So it was pretty fast, but nothing out of ordinary.

[bondilad]

Charles qualified well and had a good race last year. I think he'll do well here.

[chinmay]

I looked at Singapore 2015, and saw that crazy shocking lap by Seb. After 1 lap he had 3 seconds in the pocket, Seb on his day when everthing worked was awesome on pure pace and even unstoppable, he had the same kind of lap right after he pited in Singapore this year. His peak was 2010-2013 and parts of 2015, 2017, also first part of 2018. I am afraid he already reached his peak, and will never had that amazing 1-lap pace anymore in qualy. He improved on race pace, but rear instability of the car really hurts him. We will see what the future will bring, wish all the best for our Ferrari driver...

No, it is not true that he will not have that spectacular 1 lap pace anymore. This car is diametrically opposite to what is liked by Sebastian. Well at least it was, now things are improving and you can see since Monza, Vettel had enough pace in him to be on pole by quite some margin. In Monza 2019, with tow Seb would be on pole by a minimum of 3 tenths. If not for his Singapore Q3 final lap error, he would be on pole once again. Also, if the car does have a good rear end like the one 2017 car had, then you would see the same performances as 2017.

The current car isn't doing what Vettel wants it to do, the 2017 car did and that is why he was supreme that year. The moment Vettel has confidence in the car and the car responds the way he likes, he will be back to his unbeatable best. Then other drivers can fight for P2 in quali and race and forget about P1.

[darkchild]

SF70H had LOADS of oversteer. Back in 2017 everyone was talking about how stable Merc was and how agile and a bit nervous SF70H was. It makes no difference, difference is in team mate. Seb's team mate for last 4 season is now getting matched in qualifying by Giovanazzi, while Leclerc is entirely different stratosphere to these two. Same story with Ricciardo in 2014...

Suddenly, if Ferrari was to take Stroll as driver for 2020, Vettel would be beating him like 0.5s per lap, easily, and everyone would be saying "See, when he has a car, nobody can beat him". Yea...no.

[Vettel165]

And you do everthing in every single post to downplay Seb. Its very boring now the same stuff all over again every day...

[FerrariF60]

And you do everthing in every single post to downplay Seb. Its very boring now the same stuff all over again every day...

he's right though, you Seb fanboyyyy that you are....and is EATING YOU ON THE INSIDE.....because teh ballerina finally has a teammate taht can beat him in quali regularly.....no wonder Seb kept wanting to have Kimi as a teammate....so he won't look so mediocre....

he got spanked by Richiardo in 2014 adn teh same is happening this year by youngster LeClerc....

please take off you blinders, Seb isn't what everyone is praising him to be.....he's NEVER had a fast teammate (except in 2014 when he got wooped by Richiardo)...weber was an old pensioneer, kimi likewise....

i would have loved to see him head to head with the likes of Alonso or Lewis in EQUAL MACHINERY.....

[Vettel165]

2014 Seb had perfomance clouse so he can leave RBR. And join his dream Team. He also had many more issues as ricciardo retired at australia, Monaco, austria and many more qualy issues. On pure 1 Lap pace ricciardo and him were equal. It was just Ricciardo who had less tyre wear and that was crucial that year. On pure pace Seb vs Ricci in 2013 it would be an easy Seb win.

I am proud Seb and Ferrari fan and will always be. Every one supports who he wants. This is how it is.

[nani_s23]

Oh god same vettel vs Lec thread ....! Can’t we stop this.??

[jgonzalesm6]

Race stewards

- Dr Gerd Ennser
- Andrew Mallalieu
- Emanuele Pirro [Drivers' Representative]
- George Andreev [National Steward]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFOmh7HXUAIWLl3.jpg


also


- Lap record: 1:35.861 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2018)
- Start line/finish line offset: 0.199km
- Total number of race laps: 53
- Total race distance: 309.745km
- Pitlane speed limits: 60km/h in practice, qualifying, and the race.
► The track has been resurfaced at the exit of Turn 2, from the entry to the exit of Turn 8, from the entry to Turn 15 through to Point 16.5 and in a small section in the middle of the fast lane.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFOm6H4X4AYSHnH.jpg

[Silent Bob]

I agree with Vettel165. This is getting tiresome. Anytime someone says anything remotely nice about Vettel, the three stooges arrive and turn everything into a hate fest. Chill guys. He didn't anything negative about Leclerc. People are still allowed to support either of our drivers.

[tifosi1993]

So the front tyre pressure for Russian GP is 23psi, 1.5psi more than last year. I don't get the reasoning, this year's tyres are one step harder then last years so why increase the front tyre pressure even more? and when you think about it, 23psi is insanely high.
Rear tyre pressure is 19psi(-2).

[ChrisFerrari]

Sheesh. Here we go again. It's the Baku thread and the Seb-bashing/defending starts again.. I personally have my problems with him as a driver but cmon.. This is so immature. Let. The. Man. Be. And enjoy that we seem to have a fast, race-winning car again after long months of suffering.

[paolo lalli]

The wolf stirring the pot regarding Charles and seb management.Well Mr wolf Ferrari have 2 world class drivers who are as passionate about winning as each other there are no butlers at Ferrari.Seb and Charles have reignited the f1 world.Mercedes are providing the boring festival staring the loyal whipping boy bottas and the in keeper Lewis.This soap opera has run it's race.Lewis has to race hard now the butler is well covered by Ferrari.Ferrari have strike power left and right.Mercedes are in the firing line big time.

[nani_s23]

Race stewards

- Dr Gerd Ennser
- Andrew Mallalieu
- Emanuele Pirro [Drivers' Representative]
- George Andreev [National Steward]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFOmh7HXUAIWLl3.jpg


also


- Lap record: 1:35.861 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2018)
- Start line/finish line offset: 0.199km
- Total number of race laps: 53
- Total race distance: 309.745km
- Pitlane speed limits: 60km/h in practice, qualifying, and the race.
► The track has been resurfaced at the exit of Turn 2, from the entry to the exit of Turn 8, from the entry to Turn 15 through to Point 16.5 and in a small section in the middle of the fast lane.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFOm6H4X4AYSHnH.jpg

After a long time u r back ???
Not seeing any frequent posts from you...!! Hope everything is fine.
We are missing @mwk too..!!

[jgonzalesm6]

After a long time u r back ???
Not seeing any frequent posts from you...!! Hope everything is fine.
We are missing @mwk too..!!


I'm good. I post every now and then BUT not like before; this season is done for me a long time ago....really. Looking forward to 2020 with all the internal reorganization going on in the Scuderia and the new car under Binotto's direction.

[Silent Bob]

I waiting to see if this updated car is the real deal or if just circumstances helped us look better than we were. I figure if we have improved 2 tenths or so in the twisty bits we should be ok.

[FerrariF60]

I waiting to see if this updated car is the real deal or if just circumstances helped us look better than we were. I figure if we have improved 2 tenths or so in the twisty bits we should be ok.

yeah, i say the same....no doubt the car has improved in high dowforce as well as slow speed corners; cause we got killed at tracks like this one, Monaco and Hungary....but if we still have the upper hand at next few races, also in Mexico where the track has some slow corners as well as Abu Dhabi if we do well there, then i'd say this car is hte real deal....

[Tifoso]

On topic please. There are threads just 1-2 spots down on the list to discuss our drivers (if you must). Last warning mates, please

Not aimed at anyone in this particular page, obviously :-)

[aroutis]

Let it be known that from here on I will be reporting every single off topic, hijacking post in every single thread until certain people decide to follow the rules.
It is up to the Moderators to decide what to do from there on.

It has been getting more and more difficult to read a thread the way this has been going on.
We 're not here to read pesky Vettel vs. Charles disputes or your opinions whether a driver needs to be sacked. In every single thread.

Respect the rules. It's easy. By doing so, you respect every member of this community.

[tifosi1993]

https://i.lensdump.com/i/i4fzx2.jpg

[nani_s23]

I'm good. I post every now and then BUT not like before; this season is done for me a long time ago....really. Looking forward to 2020 with all the internal reorganization going on in the Scuderia and the new car under Binotto's direction.

:thumb

[nani_s23]

Red Bull and Toro Rosso's drivers will all take grid penalties at this weekend's #RussianGP as they run fresh versions of Honda's latest engine.��

Daniil Kvyat will start from the back of the grid at his home race. ����

[KimiBot]

I'm good. I post every now and then BUT not like before; this season is done for me a long time ago....really. Looking forward to 2020 with all the internal reorganization going on in the Scuderia and the new car under Binotto's direction.

:thumb

[KimiBot]

So the front tyre pressure for Russian GP is 23psi, 1.5psi more than last year. I don't get the reasoning, this year's tyres are one step harder then last years so why increase the front tyre pressure even more? and when you think about it, 23psi is insanely high.
Rear tyre pressure is 19psi(-2).

Maybe it is better for Mercs? :-)

[FerrariF60]

Maybe it is better for Mercs? :-)

Yup the MIA again with the dirty tricks to help Merc and their golden boy....unreal

[tifosi1993]

Maybe it is better for Mercs? :-)

Who knows.

There are few aero experts here who can judge/predict the aero performance of a F1 car by just looking at it, fortunately I'm not one of them. :-)

[tifosi1993]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EFYTxf4W4AAmXzl.jpg:large

[nani_s23]

��"I believe my reaction was well over what it should be. That shows I've still got a lot to learn."

Charles Leclerc says his angry radio messages were too excessive in the Singapore GP, as he vowed to learn lessons from last weekend's race heading into Sochi.
Leclerc: Radio rage over the top @skyf1

Charles Leclerc about the team radio in Singapore: "That's not gonna happen again. My reaction in the car was inappropriate, even though there is a lot of adrenaline involved. The team did everything right. With a different strategy we wouldn't have finished P1 and P2!"

Very good from Charles :clap

Vettel: I have sympathy for being fair, yes. So I think you know we race for Ferrari I think Ferrari is the biggest team out there. I said it also on the radio after the race that Ferrari is bigger than myself, bigger than us. Even*Michael [Schumacher]*isn’t bigger than Ferrari, if you see what I mean. And he’s very big. So that’s the priority. But I think fairness is something else that I rate generally very high.

Vettel: What does it mean for me to be in Ferrari? One day, when I am chubby and old, I will be thinking how good it was to have been part of this family. I will be proud to have been part of this team.

Vettel :-)

[nani_s23]

Charles Leclerc considers himself well prepared for Sochi.
Not even predicted rain shower frightens him.

Leclerc: "Every time we drove in the rain this year, we were quick!"

Leclerc is killing :clap


Vettel explains Ferrari's improvement: "The aero package has given us more downforce, we bring the tyres into the working window. This gives us more freedom in the choice of the setup and that helps us to adapt the car to the needs of the individual tracks" But it's also a fact that we haven't solved all our problems yet and that Mercedes still has the faster car in the race. Mercedes can win everywhere, we can't win everywhere yet!"

[Tifoso]

Charles Leclerc considers himself well prepared for Sochi.
Not even predicted rain shower frightens him.

Leclerc: "Every time we drove in the rain this year, we were quick!"

Leclerc is killing :clap


Vettel explains Ferrari's improvement: "The aero package has given us more downforce, we bring the tyres into the working window. This gives us more freedom in the choice of the setup and that helps us to adapt the car to the needs of the individual tracks" But it's also a fact that we haven't solved all our problems yet and that Mercedes still has the faster car in the race. Mercedes can win everywhere, we can't win everywhere yet!"

I think Seb is playing down expectations with that last sentence--which is the proper thing to do. Adapt the car to individual tracks=just huge. :wine

[nani_s23]

I think Seb is playing down expectations with that last sentence--which is the proper thing to do. Adapt the car to individual tracks=just huge. :wine

Yeah ... if that’s true, then it’s good underplay

[Tifoso]

��"I believe my reaction was well over what it should be. That shows I've still got a lot to learn."

Charles Leclerc says his angry radio messages were too excessive in the Singapore GP, as he vowed to learn lessons from last weekend's race heading into Sochi.
Leclerc: Radio rage over the top @skyf1

Charles Leclerc about the team radio in Singapore: "That's not gonna happen again. My reaction in the car was inappropriate, even though there is a lot of adrenaline involved. The team did everything right. With a different strategy we wouldn't have finished P1 and P2!"

Very good from Charles :clap

Vettel: I have sympathy for being fair, yes. So I think you know we race for Ferrari I think Ferrari is the biggest team out there. I said it also on the radio after the race that Ferrari is bigger than myself, bigger than us. Even*Michael [Schumacher]*isn’t bigger than Ferrari, if you see what I mean. And he’s very big. So that’s the priority. But I think fairness is something else that I rate generally very high.

Vettel: What does it mean for me to be in Ferrari? One day, when I am chubby and old, I will be thinking how good it was to have been part of this family. I will be proud to have been part of this team.

Vettel :-)
Perfect, all the way around. Thanks for posting this, fratello :-)

[19000rpmF-2004]

Charles Leclerc considers himself well prepared for Sochi.
Not even predicted rain shower frightens him.

Leclerc: "Every time we drove in the rain this year, we were quick!"

Leclerc is killing :clap


Vettel explains Ferrari's improvement: "The aero package has given us more downforce, we bring the tyres into the working window. This gives us more freedom in the choice of the setup and that helps us to adapt the car to the needs of the individual tracks" But it's also a fact that we haven't solved all our problems yet and that Mercedes still has the faster car in the race. Mercedes can win everywhere, we can't win everywhere yet!"

I just hope that we can win this one too.
If we win this race, then Mec will panic I think and they will start making mistakes.

[nani_s23]

I just hope that we can win this one too.
If we win this race, then Mec will panic I think and they will start making mistakes.

I don’t think it makes much difference in WDC. Leclerc/vettel/ Max has every chance to challenge 2nd position in WDC given Bottas form & been treated at merc.
Hope we can keep pressure on WCC standings realistically.

[aroutis]

I think Seb is playing down expectations with that last sentence--which is the proper thing to do. Adapt the car to individual tracks=just huge. :wine
We are clearly learning how to play the game. When we brought to package to Singapore we underplayed the hell out of it, now this.

Finally!

[aroutis]

I don’t think it makes much difference in WDC. Leclerc/vettel/ Max has every chance to challenge 2nd position in WDC given Bottas form & been treated at merc.
Hope we can keep pressure on WCC standings realistically.

At this point, all that matters for the team is racking points and victories. If that brings mistakes and panic to Merc and / if RBR, even better.
Ferrari is there to race and win.

[Stormsearcher]

I predict a Seb victory.
Not sure about quali. Anything can happen.

[nani_s23]

I predict a Seb victory.
Not sure about quali. Anything can happen.

Dry: Quali
P1 Charles P2 vet/ham P3 vet/ham

Wet quali
P1: Ham P2: Bottas P3: Lec/Vet

Dry Race:
P1 Lec P2 Vet P3: Ham

Wet/mixed Race:
Anybody’s game

[nani_s23]

At this point, all that matters for the team is racking points and victories. If that brings mistakes and panic to Merc and / if RBR, even better.
Ferrari is there to race and win.


As vettel said “Ferrari can only be satisfied with championships”. Don’t think race wins will meet their hunger.
Of course at this point they will take those due to bad start of the season. If we end on a strong note, internally there will be some disappointment as they will think about 1st half failures/lack of wins.

[PURE PASSION]

On the 1st passes, we are half a second behind Merc.
Mean NOTHING yet,just saying.

[tifosi1993]

Leclerc fastest in S3, Vettel in S2. Ferrari 2 tenths behind Bottas in S1.

Edit: Now Bottas goes fastest in S3, 27.559

[PURE PASSION]

Ok,Merc look very strong ,even on mediums!!

[chinmay]

Ok,Merc look very strong ,even on mediums!!

Ferrari is down on speed traps, running de tuned engine.

[PURE PASSION]

Oo ,now it's better!!!!

[Brembo]

With R Bull having their penalties; it will be a great race with Seb vs,. Charles; Bottas vs. Lewis ! Pole will be a big deal. If either team shows any sign of driver preference ; I can only hope the drivers are strong enough to not follow and just race to win. The WCC is not really on the line; so they should be left to race. Fan appreciation !!

[aroutis]

As vettel said “Ferrari can only be satisfied with championships”. Don’t think race wins will meet their hunger.
Of course at this point they will take those due to bad start of the season. If we end on a strong note, internally there will be some disappointment as they will think about 1st half failures/lack of wins.

We 're talking this season. At this point of this season, being realistic, we need to rack up points and victories.

[Brembo]

If Ferrari ends on a strong note as it seems Charles is taking them; I believe the team and us fans can forget about the 1st 1/2 for good. Whatever is going on now is what they need to concentrate on and continue. 1st +2nd place points add up the same regardless of which of our drivers is 1 or 2. I would like to see Seb move over if and when he can for Charles to take the wins. Again the points are the same. This boy deserves it, just like Michael did @ Ferrari.

[mizf1]

Anyone have any good links for the race later?
thanks

[Brembo]

Anyone have any good links for the race later?
thanks

Come here after the race!