One-lap speed
Valtteri Bottas has a strong connection to the Sochi Autodrom track, which weaves its method around the Olympic Park that hosted the 2014 Winter Games. He clinched his first F1 victory here in Russia in 2017 and followed that up with 2 2nd places.
Sochi has been a Mercedes fortress considering that the Russian venue arrived on the Formula 1 calendar in 2014– and judging by the pace the Silver Arrows provided on Friday, it does not appear like that scenario will change this year. Are they really clear at the front? And how far are the chasing pack? Lets crunch the numbers …
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Hamilton had a challenging day, too, losing a lot of running when he locked up heavily on the tough compound in FP1 and then stopping working to get a clean lap in FP2, locking up once again and only narrowly preventing the barriers as he recovered to the track.
On Friday, he looked as in sync with the place as he has ever been, as he promptly set the speed in both 90-minute session– however it was not the smoothest of days. In his hands, the W11 was a little nervous in the final sector, the Finn four-wheel drifting through the last corner on both his low-fuel, soft tire runs, and he was losing around half a 2nd to his group mate Lewis Hamilton here.
Regardless of all those niggles, the Mercedes duo ended up a second clear of the chasing pack, sending out an ominous message to their rivals. Its likely they will have a private battle for pole position, with just a technical issue likely to stop them locking out the front row. As the corner performance graphic listed below shows, they have the advantage in both the low and medium-speed corners (there are no quick speed turns in Sochi) and they have a healthy power advantage over their rivals, too.
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However, our information shows that it will be immensely close in the fight for 3rd, with Renault locked with Red Bull and Racing Point, all 1.1 s/lap adrift of Mercedes remarkable rate. Red Bull have never performed particularly strongly in Sochi and Max Verstappen doesnt think things will be much different this year, the Dutchman confessing will be very tough to enter into the top 3 in qualifying.
Daniel Ricciardo has ended up being a little bit of a star of Friday practices since Belgium, and he once again revealed an impressive turn of rate in the Renault in Sochi On Thursday he stated the circuit hadnt spoken to him in the past, but the Australian said he had actually done his homework for this year – and it appears to have actually paid off.
2020 Russian GP FP2: Verstappen spins out of Turn 14
Race rate
As has often been the case this year, Red Bull are their closest oppositions as they show a slightly more powerful turn of speed in race trim. Perhaps ending their kept up a Sochi podium isnt as not likely as anticipated, particularly as their qualifying rivals Racing Point and Renault fall away when we aim to race rate, with Racing Point 1.4 s/lap off and Renault a tenth even more back.
Mercedes retain their immense benefit over the field when it concerns the race speed stats, the Silver Arrows an impressive one 2nd per lap quicker than anybody else.
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Walks rate deficit was chalked up to overdriving.
Sergio Perez was the quicker of the 2 Racing Points, which is somewhat unexpected offered it was group mate Lance Stroll who has actually the greatly updated bundle in Sochi. Technical Director Andrew Green wasnt too worried, though, suggesting Strolls frustrating lap time was down to overdriving
McLaren are 1.7 s/lap slower than Mercedes in race trim, however simply 3 tenths per lap different them, Racing Point, Renault and AlphaTauri, suggesting it will be a really tight battle for the staying points-paying positions behind Mercedes and Red Bull.
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Ferraris race pace was very poor, with the red automobiles– featuring little upgrades that the group and chauffeurs firmly insist will not make excessive difference– down in eighth in this metric. This has actually been the pattern of late, with Ferrari seemingly having turned their form on their head, with their qualifying speed not so unpleasant however they then fall back terribly in the race and spend the majority of their time looking in their mirrors instead of assaulting those in front.
Ferraris race pace looks challenging for Sunday
Mercedes appear to be in a class of their own in Sochi, with Bottas and Hamilton looking quick on all three substances– particularly on the hards and mediums.
Their benefit is such Bottas and Hamilton will likely try to survive Q2 on the medium tyre– so they can begin the race on that rubber– which unlocks for the duo to attempt a one-stop method.
Decision
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Were likewise utilizing softer compounds than were utilized before, with Pirelli seeing greater wear and some blistering on the soft tires. So those starting on the soft will find it much harder to manage that method, according to Pirellis information, and will likely have to two-stop.
Beginning on the soft tyre will most likely require at two-stop technique
Behind Mercedes, the performance of the next 5 groups looks mighty close, so technique– starting with tyre option in Q2– will play a substantial role in the fight for the final podium place, as well as the staying points-paying positions.
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Its Mercedes, then, who are looking overwhelming favourites to dominate certifying and the race– but the fight behind is forming up to be very entertaining.
One-lap pace
Despite all those niggles, the Mercedes duo ended up a 2nd clear of the chasing pack, sending out an ominous message to their competitors. Its most likely they will have a personal fight for pole position, with only a technical issue most likely to stop them locking out the front row. As the corner efficiency graphic below shows, they have the benefit in both the medium-speed and low corners (there are no quick speed turns in Sochi) and they have a healthy power advantage over their rivals, too.
Sochi has been a Mercedes fortress because the Russian venue got here on the Formula 1 calendar in 2014– and evaluating by the rate the Silver Arrows delivered on Friday, it doesnt look like that scenario will change this year. Lets crunch the numbers …
Itll be interesting to see how the track progresses over the weekend. It hasnt been utilized for a while, so it is unsurprisingly lacking grip. That should enhance even more after another session and certifying.
