2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix

[Dennisch]

Even the radio messages are getting dull.

All is good. Tyres are good.

Good.

 

[Grayfox]

Riccardo has lost unless there is a safety car.
He pitted early and his mediums will be more worn than his team mates and most of the grid.

 

[mustafur]

Rosberg will get 3rd, button is losing too much time.

 

[niky]

My money is on Button. I don't think anybody at Mercedes was pleased with Nico for doing such a silly thing, because he basically took his strategy and dropkicked into the trash, and personally (although the Mercs seem to have very small tyre wear) I don't think he'll be able to finish the race wiith the same set of tyres.

I was up off my seat when he pulled that move and actually made it stick... but it was obvious, from all the smoke, that he'd done himself a world of damage.

Even if he'd managed to keep it on and didn't have to give that place back, his race was basically over.

Shame... this would be such a great track for wheel-to-wheel... if only the guys who could go wheel-to-wheel were on the same piece of track...

Still... that was an epic race start... as expected.

 

[20832]

Yeah, the only thing that would add to the dullness would be Mercedes getting yet another double win.
But fortunately that's (probably) not going to happen.

 

[Robin]

EDIT: The track's ugly as Russia's human rights, but the layout is fantastic.

I agree the layout is pretty good but visually it's as boring as Valencia, just a concrete car park apart from the cool flag circle and Olympic flame. I think scenery counts just as much as the track from a TV spectator point of view.... a night race would help hide the ugly bits!

This race is somehow, getting dull...at least for me.

Yeah I also feel it's getting dull now, especially as most have pitted till the end.

 

[NW48]

At least you guy's can see the race. My stream has acted up and it turns out that F1 won't be broadcast at all tonight. Good to see Button on the podium for now, bit worried that Rosberg is gonna catch up and pass him though...

 

[mustafur]

Next time they come here supersoft and softs would be the ideal tyres.

 

[Blitz24]

Boy Sochi really does look like the Quebec Nordiques logo.

 

[20832]

Massa seems to have quite a bit of trouble with Perez. And Bottas is losing ground on Hamilton, as expected.

 

[Vinylshark]

Rosberg will get 3rd, button is losing too much time.

The question is if Rosberg can finish the race on those tyres or if he has to stop again for new ones.

 

[Dennisch]

Button was in the pits for nearly 10 minutes.

 

[dhandeh]

It is probably a nice track to drive on, but my god is it boring to watch. At last we have a Valencia mkII.

 

[20832]

The question is if Rosberg can finish the race on those tyres or if he has to stop again for new ones.

He definitely has to stop for new tyres. His tyres are already starting to act up, and that's basically at half time, there's no way he's going to finish with this set of tyres.

 

[Vinylshark]

What a bad stop for Alonso.

 

[20832]

Bottas in pits. And Vettel's passed him

 

[Legro]

Bottas pits.

 

[20832]

And now Hamilton pits

 

[niky]

Well, overtaking is certainly possible here... more so than in Valencia... and we're seeing quite a few overtakes as Rosberg filters through the pack. The problem is that we're not seeing evenly matched cars in line with each other.

The problem is that the track is so easy on tires that everyone has to be careful not to grain or wear them.... because adding an extra pitstop to your race can be a disaster... as it was for Nico.

 

[Blitz24]

Game over. Unless Hamilton has an issue it's over.

 

[ZEROX]

Sutil spins by Grosjean. But rejoin easily.

 

[Vinylshark]

Contact between Sutil and Grosjean in Turn 2.

 

[MHPALA]

Sauber in a position for points?

 

[20832]

Well, overtaking is certainly possible here... more so than in Valencia... and we're seeing quite a few overtakes as Rosberg filters through the pack. The problem is that we're not seeing evenly matched cars in line with each other.

The problem is that the track is so easy on tires that everyone has to be careful not to grain or wear them.... because adding an extra pitstop to your race can be a disaster... as it was for Nico.

And again, I think Rosberg has to pit one more time. His tyres are not going to last through the entire race, he has a worse setup than Hamilton.

And Sutil spun, thanks for Maldonado (who else? ), or was it Grosjean?

 

[niky]

Sutil should have left a little more space for Grosjean there...

Rosberg might be able to make it to P2 by saving his tires... but no way can he reach Hamilton.

If he makes another big mistake, though, kiss a podium goodbye.

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

In Sochi Russia, Grosjean spins you.

 

[Dennisch]

Sauber in a position for points?

No he still has to stop.

 

[Blitz24]

What is that ringing noise I heard when Hamilton entered pit road? Is that a pit crew "rooster call"?

 

[Vinylshark]

I'm a bit suprised that Bottas can't seem to get past Vettel. You would think he could easily pass him on the straight, specially with DRS.

 

[Legro]

Vettel in pit.

And Rosberg overtakes Bottas.