Russian Grand Prix Sochi, 27-29 September

[Notebook]

Russian GP: Max Verstappen tops practice
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/49850735

 

[Notebook]

Qualifying results.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/2019/russian-grand-prix/results/qualifying

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/49865749

 

[Star Voyager]

Just watched the first few laps, too bad for the Haas guys.

 

[Fabri91]

Ferrari: champions at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[Notebook]

Didn't see it:

Russian GP: Lewis Hamilton wins after Sebastian Vettel ignores team orders

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/49870864

2019 Russian Grand Prix Results

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/2019/russian-grand-prix/results

 

[Lucy]

It was Vettel's MGU-K failure that handed the race to Mercedes, because it brought out the VSC, leaving Hamilton and Bottas with a cheaper pit stop. Just after the VSC ended, Russell crashed out with a locked up left front, which brought out the full safety car, and Ferrari decided to use this to put Leclerc on the soft tyre like the Mercedes, sacrificing 2nd place in hopes of improving his chances of a win. But Leclerc could find no way past Bottas, who held on despite sustained pressure from behind while Hamilton cruised off into the distance for a gift of a win. All too easy, in the end.

 

[BenSisko]

Xyon, you missed the part that Ferrari spent their first stint fighting between themselves over whether and when to swap LeClerc for Vettel even though Vettel wasn’t having any of it (he pulled a variation of his “Multi 21” move). While that played out, Hamilton hung on to their wake and inched closer. Mercedes tire choice, Hamilton’s and Bottas’ driving, aided by Vettel’s VSC and Russell’s SC gave Mercedes the 1-2. Even though they now have the better package, Ferrari has failed again. Failure in power unit, failure of trust between drivers (LeClerc now trusts Vettel to stab him in the back), failed strategy (his tires were 2 laps younger than the Silver Arrows, LeClerc’s switch to softs lost him track position that he couldn’t get back). From 1-3 to 1-2 to 3-DNF isn’t the way to a Driver’s or Constructor’s championship.

 

[Lucy]

Xyon, you missed the part that Ferrari spent their first stint fighting between themselves over whether and when to swap LeClerc for Vettel even though Vettel wasn’t having any of it (he pulled a variation of his “Multi 21” move). While that played out, Hamilton hung on to their wake and inched closer. Mercedes tire choice, Hamilton’s and Bottas’ driving, aided by Vettel’s VSC and Russell’s SC gave Mercedes the 1-2. Even though they now have the better package, Ferrari has failed again. Failure in power unit, failure of trust between drivers (LeClerc now trusts Vettel to stab him in the back), failed strategy (his tires were 2 laps younger than the Silver Arrows, LeClerc’s switch to softs lost him track position that he couldn’t get back). From 1-3 to 1-2 to 3-DNF isn’t the way to a Driver’s or Constructor’s championship.

True enough. They can't realistically win either championship now anyway, it's all about 2020.

 

[BenSisko]

I think the power unit stays the same for 2020 (the big changes are in 21) and F1 is beta testing bigger tires over the last half of the F2 season prior to rolling them out next year. If Ferrari has figured out their front downforce issues, they should be the team to beat. If Ferrari stops shooting itself in the foot, Mercedes and Red Bull will have their work cut out for them.