F1 Madness

Tag: russian grand prix

  • Weather Report for the 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix

    Round 16 of the Formula 1 World Championship brings us to Sochi in Russia for the Russian Grand Prix.

    The Sochi Autodrom navigates the Olympic park in Sochi that was built for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The track is a semi permanent facility much like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada. This is the first new track that has been added to the formula 1 calendar since the Circuit of the Americas in 2012.

    A new Grand Prix is always an unknown for the teams and drivers. The track is new and having just been recently completed there is not much data about the track properties and conditions. After running many simulations Pirelli have decided to bring the yellow soft and the white medium compound tyres to Sochi. With some few tight corners, fast straights and the long triple apex turns 3, 4 and 5 Pirelli feel that these are the best tyres for the track.

    The weather for this weekend in Sochi will be sunny and fine. Throughout the weekend we can expect sunny and clear weather with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 20s which will gradually increase as the weekend progresses.

    Below is a snapshot of the weather for this weekends Russian Grand Prix

     



  • Broadcast Times for the 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix

    Broadcast Times for the 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix

    There’s always an air of excitement when a new circuit gets included on the Formula 1 Calendar. The Russian Grand Prix in Sochi makes it debut this weekend.

    The Sochi Autodrom is a 5.853km, semi permanent facility much like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada and the Sydney Olympic Park Circuit in Australia, it is run around a venue previously used for Olympic games. The circuit features 19 corners. Included in these 19 corners is a long swooping, triple apex left hander that emulates turn 7 at Istanbul Park. The circuit will navigate past the Olympic Village, and will go past the  Adler Arena Skating Center and the  Bolshoy Ice Dome.

    It will be hard to become excited for the Russian Grand Prix after the Jules Bianchi incident. No doubt the drivers and teams will be keeping him in their thoughts throughout the weekend and until he is fully recovered. We will be hoping and praying that he makes a full recovery.

    Below is are the broadcast times for the Russian Grand Prix. All times are GMT+2

    Free Practice 1: Friday 08:00

    Free Practice 2: Friday 12:00

    Free Practice 3: Saturday 10:00

    Qualifying: Saturday 13:00

    Race: Sunday 13:00

  • Pirelli Reveals Tyre Choices for Japan and Russia

    Pirelli Reveals Tyre Choices for Japan and Russia

    Formula 1 tyre supplier, Pirelli has revealed its tyre choices for the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit and for the Russian Grand Prix that will take place at the Socho Autodrom.

    The two hardest compounds, the white medium and the orange hard, were selected by Pirelli for the Japanese grand Prix. Due to the circuits high lateral energy demands, high speeds and the high abrasion of the surface, Pirelli feel their tyre choice is ideally suited for Suzuka

    The choice for the Sochi circuit was a bit more complex for Pirelli. Because the track has only just been built, there is no previous data to rely on. Pirelli’s engineers used simulation data and concluded that the best two tyre choices for the Russian Grand Prix are the Pirelli soft yellow compound and the white medium compound.

    The tyre choices for the final three races of the season will be made by Pirelli after the Russian Grand Prix.

     

    Picture by courtesy Pirelli

  • Bahrain Grand Prix Twilight Start Time Confirmed

    Bahrain Grand Prix Twilight Start Time Confirmed

    It was confirmed earlier today by the FIA that the Bahrain Grand Prix will have a 18:00 (17:00 GMT+2) local start time.

    After an announcement last year that the Bahrain Grand Prix will take place under floodlights, work at the Bahrain international circuit got underway to line the circuit with floodlights. Like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Bahrain Grand Prix will start at twilight and end at night.

    The FIA also confirmed a 15:00 (13:00 GMT+2) local start time for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.

  • Russian GP misses FIA application deadline

    Russian GP misses FIA application deadline

    Russian GP organisers have missed the deadline set by the FIA to apply to host a Formula One race next season, according to the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).

    Although construction work is still underway at the Sochi International Circuit, private email correspondence between the FIA and the RAF stated that the Russian GP organisers had until the 31st of July to submit their application.

    The email read: “We kindly ask you to submit your requests for all events as soon as possible, and no later than 31 July 2013, except in the case of force majeure.”

    In order for the Russian GP race to now go ahead, they will have to prove that exceptional circumstances are to blame for their missing the deadline.

    It seems that a dispute exists between the RAF and Russian GP promoters over who will be liable to pay for certain costs such as the training of the 700-800 track marshals and circuit staff that are required to host the race.

    The RAF said in a statement that as soon as the dispute is resolved, they will submit their application under force majeure as has been made provision for by the FIA.

    The issue is likely to be resolved and the Russian Grand Pix is likely to go ahead as planned – especially considering the very public signing of the contract by President Vladimir Putin and Bernie Ecclestone.

     

  • Sebastian Vettel to Russia: Da!

    Sebastian VettelA quick visit from reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel earned Russia’s prospective F1 circuit with a thumbs up for the Red Bull driver.

    A tour around the circuit in an Infiniti road car despite heavy rain left the German with an excellent impression of the circuit.

    “It’s my first time in Russia and I’m already looking forward to coming back next year,” said Vettel. “The facilities here look incredible. I didn’t see much of the circuit, but the drawing looks interesting. Some corners look very quick, especially the 180-degree one. It could be quite challenging for the drivers. Now you need some imagination to see how the circuit will look after construction work will be finished. But this place is incredible – with the city, the sea and mountains around it.”

    At 5.8 km in length the circuit is expected to draw 100 000 spectators to its gates in 2014. “Our target is to bring pleasure and positive emotions for all spectators as well as use our tourist infrastructure during the low-season in the middle of autumn,” said Krasnodar Kray’s vice-governor Nikolay Buturlakin.