12/10/2014
NEWS STORY
Arguably, the only person more delighted with the Sochi Autodrom than Vladimir Putin - who will take full advantage of the global publicity generated today to send a message to the watching world - is Lewis Hamilton, who appears to have had the track designed with him in mind.
The world championship leader has been quickest in all but one session, and has never really looked threatened here. Despite his last corner mistake in Q3, Valtteri Bottas has said that he doesn't really think pole was possible.
Of course, mathematically, Nico Rosberg can allow his teammate to take this one, knowing that second place would keep him within 17 points, there is the psychological factor.
Having taken the championship lead for only the second time this season, in Singapore, Hamilton maintained that lead courtesy of his win in Japan. Indeed, a win today would equal his four-race streak at the start of the season and this could really give the Briton a psychological advantage over his teammate.
On the other hand, Mercedes can, and probably will, wrap up the Constructors' Championship today, which would, so we are told, leave the Brackley pair free to race at Austin and beyond.
Bottas will be out to spoil the party, as Williams continues to improve and impress. How sad therefore that a fuel pressure issue prevented teammate Felipe Massa from being in the mix. Thankfully there are a couple of decent straights here and two DRS zones so hopefully the Brazilian will be able to work his way through the back, though starting from eighteenth he certainly has his work cut out.
After a disappointing FP3, McLaren rediscovered its Friday form, though Kevin Magnussen has been penalised for a gearbox change. Jenson Button has looked good all weekend and a good result here would surely improve his job prospects for 2015.
Were we of the conspiracy mind-set of a certain Mr Crompton, we might be wondering about Daniil Kvyat's starting position. Mr Putin is making a statement with this race - having already ordered that the entire grid and paddock falls silent - is it possible that Daniil Kvyat is already being lined-up for his first podium finish? Then again, maybe like 'Our Nige' at Silverstone, Daniil benefitted from the 'Sochi Effect'.
Despite Fernando Alonso's best efforts, the Spaniard could only manage eighth, one place ahead of teammate Kimi Raikkonen. One the other hand, one has learned never to write off Mr Alonso.
Force India is enduring another difficult weekend, as it so often does in the second half of seasons, its cause not helped by Nico Hulkenberg's grid penalty following his gearbox change. Based on the evidence thus far this weekend, the Silverstone outfit looks likely to lose ground to McLaren.
Sauber is looking a little stronger this weekend, the Swiss outfit desperate to score its first point(s) of the season, while Lotus looks set for another difficult afternoon. Indeed, Maldonado starts from the very back after incurring more penalties than you could shake a stick at.
At Caterham, Marcus Ericsson continues to improve and impress whilst surely nobody, if he does have any influence here, would mind if Putin decreed that Marussia, represented by Max Chilton, take something away from here.
As is ever the case, everyone is falling over themselves to tell us how impressed they are with the circuit however, the proof will be seen in the years ahead. The circuit is likened to both the Valencia street circuit and Yeongam in Korea, both of which soon disappeared from the calendar.
Despite the presence of the facilities left over from the Winter Olympics it appears featureless and bland, whilst the promise of making it a night race in 2015 hardly lift one's spirits.
There are two DRS zones, the first detection point is just after the start/finish line with the activation point located just after T1, while the second detection point is before T9 with the activation point just after the same corner.
Tyre choices are medium (prime) and soft (option) and as the performance gap between the two compounds has come down over the course of the weekend we will probably see the drivers keeping their tyres for as long as possible, with a one-stop strategy now looking a distinct possibility.
A one-stop strategy is theoretically fastest, now that the pit lane speed limit has been reduced to 60kph. However, this will depend also on the inherent speed in each car, as well as track position.
The ideal one-stop strategy would see drivers start on the soft tyre, change to the medium on lap 34 and then run to the end. The opposite strategy is just as quick; start on the medium and then change to the soft on lap 18, although this will not be used by the top 10 on the grid.
The fastest two-stop strategy is to start on the soft, change to the soft again on lap 20, then to the medium on lap 50.
Throughout the weekend we have seen cars running wide at various corners and in the heat of battle this afternoon we can expect many more such incidents and lock-ups. All of which could mean the appearance of the Safety Car.
In the build-up to the race, fans have been treated to a display by Cossacks.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers make their way to the grid.
Such are the number of dignitaries (security?) some drivers, including Kvyat, have great difficulty making their way to the grid.
The entire Marussia team, together with officials from the FIA, gather in front of Chilton's car with a 'Racing for Jules' pit-board.
At 14:48 the drivers, together with Bernie, Jean Todt and other dignitaries, gather at the front of the grid for a silent tribute to Jules, followed by the national anthem. No sign of Putin only the Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev. After which, the crowd cheers and an air display by the Russian Air Force gets underway.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
They head off on the parade lap, all on options bar Perez, Sutil, Hulkenberg, Massa, Kobayashi, Chilton and Maldonado.
The grid forms and the drivers prepare for that long, long run to the first corner.
Dmitry Medvedev is on the starters' gantry with Charlie Whiting.
They're away and Hamilton has the edge but Rosberg runs deep and misses the corner, thereby taking the lead. No other incidents.
Rosberg is told that he needs to hand the place back to his teammate but the German reports a vibration problem. Massa also pits.
Hamilton leads at the end of lap 1, ahead of Bottas, Button, Alonso, Vergne, Magnussen, Kvyat, Vettel and Ricciardo.
"What's the strategy now," asks Rosberg, who has swapped to mediums. "We need to go through to the end," he is told. The German is currently 20th.
Vergne, who made a great start, and Magnussen battle for 5th, the Dane passes the Frenchman who is having none of it and re-takes the place.
Again Magnussen passes Vergne, however, this time the Toro Rosso driver cuts the corner (T2) in his efforts to hold him off.
2.1s down on the leader, but 3.1s ahead of Button, Bottas posts a new fastest lap on lap 4 (44.652).
As Massa posts a new fastest lap (44.601), Chilton pits and swaps to options.
Vergne slips down the order having been passed by both Red Bulls and now under attack from Raikkonen.
Told the gap to Alonso is 0.8, Button replies: "Yes, I can see him in my mirrors".
Under pressure from Ricciardo, Vettel runs very, very wide, thereby gaining a clear advantage.
Ricciardo advises his team that he's losing time, which can only mean one thing... "Seb, your teammate is faster than you!"
Rosberg passes countryman Sutil to take 16th, Massa remains behind the Sauber driver.
"I am driving in a way in which I can get to the end of the race, for your information," says Rosberg.
"Gap to Alonso is 2.5, well done mate," Button is told.
On lap 9, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (43.817) as he extends his lead to 2.9s. Bottas remains second, ahead of Button, Alonso, Magnussen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Vergne, Raikkonen and Kvyat.
Rosberg and Massa, separated by 1.4s, pass Ericsson and set off after Grosjean.
Chilton makes another stop however, it appears to be a problem rather than a tyre stop, after all, he changed tyres earlier. The team reports that the Briton talked of a "suspension problem".
Rosberg passes Grosjean and sets about closing the 4.3s gap to Hulkenberg.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 11, the Australian switching to the primes.
In the Marussia garage Chilton is out of his car, a difficult end to an even more difficult week.
As Sutil pits, at the end of lap 13, Hamilton leads by 3.9s.
Having been passed by Rosberg (unseen), Hulkenberg is now passed by Massa.
"Rosberg is told to "keep it up, we're on target for a podium", which would be a remarkable achievement here. The German subsequently passes Gutierrez in the infamous T2 to take 11th.
Out front, the gap between Hamilton and Bottas is 4.5s, the Briton having no need to up the pressure. That said, the Briton bangs in a 43.577 just to be on the safe side.
Rosberg is told to "slightly" up his pace in order to keep Button outside his pitstop window.
Rosberg nails Perez into T2 to make it into the points. He is currently 45.543s down on teammate Hamilton who posts another fastest lap (43.407). "Tyres are good, still good," reports the Briton.
Down in ninth, Kvyat pits at the end of lap 20, as does Grosjean. The Russian rejoins in 15th.
"I'm feeling quite a lot of degradation," complains Rosberg, unlike his teammate who is absolutely delighted with his Pirellis. Then again, the Briton is cruising whilst the German is on a mission. To prove the point Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (43.248).
Button pits at the end of lap 22, as does Maldonado. The Briton rejoins in ninth behind Rosberg.
Vergne pits at the end of lap 23, as Bottas, now 12.5s down on Hamilton, is clearly struggling. Vergne rejoins ahead of his Toro Rosso teammate. Indeed, 5.4s ahead of the Frenchman is Ricciardo who has been MIA since his pit stop.
Next time around Hulkenberg pits, as Caterham confirms that Kobayashi is out.
Alonso and Perez both pit, a dreadful stop for the Ferrari driver due to a problem with his left-front.
Bottas and Magnussen both pit at the end of lap 26, as Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (43.144). Raikkonen also pits.
Hamilton now leads Vettel, but the Briton is told to pit next time around. The Mercedes driver duly obliges, rejoining still in the lead, 18.3s ahead of Vettel - who has yet to stop - Bottas, Rosberg, Button, Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo, Gutierrez and Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 27, Massa (8th) makes his second stop of the day. He rejoins in 14th.
As Ericsson pits, Sutil spins at T2 as her battles with Grosjean, the German doing well to stay out of the barriers.
With Vettel yet to stop, along with Gutierrez the only driver to do so, Bottas and Rosberg close in on the German.
Sure enough, at the end of lap 30, Vettel pits, rejoining in 8th behind Ricciardo.
Rosberg forces Bottas into a mistake in T2, the Finn running wide. The German is now 20.536s down on his Mercedes teammate. A bold, bold move that left the Finn with no real choice.
However, the Finn is told that Rosberg changed to primes at the end of lap 1, so he is going to suffer from degradation.
On lap 32 Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (42.770) to close to within 19.6s of his teammate. Asked about his tyres, the German claims they are "coming back".
After 33 laps, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Bottas, Button, Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo, Vettel, Gutierrez and Raikkonen.
As Kvyat is told that fuel is critical, Grosjean gets a 5s stop/go penalty for the incident involving Sutil.
Another fastest lap for Rosberg (42.670) but still Hamilton enjoys a 19.1s advantage.
Great move by Perez on Kvyat with Massa following through moments later, the Russian having a miserable race. Teammate Vergne is currently 11th.
Bottas is told that Rosberg is pushing - he sets another fastest lap (42.551) - indicating he probably needs to stop again. Currently the German has a 5.1s advantage over the Finn.
Kvyat is now under pressure from Hulkenberg who runs wide in T4 in his efforts to dispose of the Toro Rosso. A lap later the Russian runs wide in T2 in his efforts to keep Hulkenberg at bay, the Force India driver nipping through to take 14th. "I've got a vibration, a really big one," complains Kvyat. And we bet it aint a good vibration either.
As Kvyat pits at the end of lap 37, Rosberg posts yet another fastest lap (42.088). The Russian swaps to the option rubber.
Gutierrez, who has yet to stop, now under pressure from Raikkonen.
The cameras cut to Vladimir Putin who is in the paddock with Bernie Ecclestone.
"Do you think you can get these tyres to the end of the race," Rosberg is asked. "It's not easy, but they feel good at the moment," the German replies.
As Gutierrez finally pits, Rosberg is 18.248s down on the race leader.
Hamilton responds with a new fastest lap (41.853), while Ricciardo is all over the back of (sixth-placed) Alonso.
Perez is told that his fuel is "absolutely critical".
Bottas posts a PB (42.230) on lap 42 as he maintains a 4.895s gap to Rosberg. Elsewhere, Button is told that it is thought everyone will now run to the end. Ten laps remaining.
Running fourth and fifth, the Woking team looks set to leapfrog Force India in the Constructors' Championship.
Replay shows a big lock-up for Hamilton in T13.
Currently 4.999s down on Rosberg, Bottas goes quickest in S1. Again Perez is told that his fuel is "desperate". Bottas goes on to post a new fastest lap (41.830).
Hamilton looks to have it sewn up, but can Rosberg hold on to second, surely it is now too late to pit. Indeed, the German responds to Bottas by going quickest in S2, going on to post a PB (41.972).
Next time around, the German goes quickest once again in S2, finally crossing the line at 42.067 while Bottas posts 42.071.
As if by magic, the stand in which Bernie and Putin are sitting has suddenly filled.
As if to prove point, or keep himself awake, Hamilton bangs in a 41.606, extending his lead to 18.884s. Elsewhere, Massa is all over Perez for the final point.
On lap 50, Bottas posts a new fastest lap (41.544), closing to within 4.390s of Rosberg.
Next time around, Rosberg responds with a 41.752, a PB, having gone quickest in S2. PBs for Alonso and Ricciardo also as they battle for sixth.
Another fastest lap for Bottas (41.534) on lap 51, as the gap hovers around 4.8s.
Hulkenberg closes in on the Perez/Massa battle for tenth.
On the penultimate lap, Rosberg bangs in a 41.360, a new fastest lap, the German performing miracles on those tyres.
Hamilton takes the flag and with it extends his championship lead to 17 points. "Awesome drive Lewis," he is told, " a master-class."
"Thanks guys," replies the championship leader, "congratulations on the Constructors' Championship."
Rosberg, who apologises to his team for the first lap mistake, takes a fine second, ahead of Bottas who posts another fastest lap (40.896) as he takes the final podium position.
Button is fourth, ahead of Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen and Perez.
Massa is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Vergne, Kvyat, Gutierrez, Sutil, Grosjean, Maldonado and Ericsson. Only two drivers failed to finish, Kobayashi and Chilton.
A bit of a snooze-fest to be honest, but some very impressive drives, not least from Rosberg, who despite that first corner incident made it to the end on that single set of tyres and thereby keeps his championship hopes alive.
Congratulations also to Mercedes on winning the 2014 Constructors' Championship, 59 years after Juan-Manuel Fangio won the drivers' title at a time there was no championship for manufacturers.
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