2018 Russian Grand Prix - Sochi Autodrom, 28 - 30 September

[PlatinumZealot]

Mercedes ultrasoft to soft.
race over.

[TAG]

If I had to script it, a Mechanical DNF for Hamilton, a win for Bottas and an 18 point cut to the WDC leader would be just what the powers that be would want to liven things up. Hamilton starting from the back in Austin due to a new PU. If there were such a thing as WWF1, they would make it so.

[godlameroso]

Who's going to be brave and do a 2 stopper hypersoft for 14 or 15 laps a pop then soft to the end.

[F1Krof]

Vettel's so taking the lead at T2 tomorrow. And then we'll see 57 laps with probably less than 3 overtakes the whole race. And then Bottas will let Hamilton by to finish 2nd after Vettel.

[djones]

Ferrari is 0.4+ seconds a lap slower and has very bad tyre wear here.

Under normal, reliable racing conditions they stand no chance of winning.

[Fulcrum]

I’ll raise again, what i said during Q2 and no one has commented or picked up on it...

Why didnt they use HS on Kimi’s car during Q2? They should have split the strategy to put more pressure on Mercedes at the start. Softer tire, more traction, better start. Doing the same will only limit their possibilities. Or; use the softs during Q2 on Kimis car. Assmining it would have been enough, run long first stint, then hold up the Mercedes after they pitted.

Running the same tire strategy on both cars with the championship is daft, especially knowing there is no way they’d be challenging for pole and RedBull, their only competitors, starting from the back of the grid.

I'll second this. Ferrari have had an almost free option to explore alternative strategies with Raikkonen all year, and they simply don't do it as often as they should.

If Raikkonen settles into 4th - then they'll probably pit Vettel first and leave Raikkonen out in a vain attempt to hold up the newly pitted Mercedes.

[Ringleheim]

What's with the sudden disrespect for Vettel? (Or am i not understanding correctly?)

If you can't win with him in the car then i'm afraid it's the team/car, not him that's the issue?

I recently read some articles how he was supposedly falling off and now i read here that Arrivebene is losing patience with him?

What's going on?

Vettel was given a championship winning car this year and he threw it away with mistakes behind the wheel. He's done it too many times to win the championship now.

I think that is why some perceive him to be calm or relaxed in Russia. I think he is calm and relaxed because he knows the fight is over.

You never know, though. I am hoping and praying for Hamilton and Bottas to crash into each other at Turn 2, Lap 1.

[Ringleheim]

Ferrari is 0.4+ seconds a lap slower and has very bad tyre wear here.

Under normal, reliable racing conditions they stand no chance of winning.

Don't confuse quali pace with race pace, though I agree they are going to have some bad tire degradation issues.

I think on sheer pace, the Ferrari doesn't have what it needs to win, but I hope I'm wrong.

Hamilton could have a mechanical issue or maybe someone will rip one of the corners off his car on the first lap. One can hope.

[Ringleheim]

I’ll raise again, what i said during Q2 and no one has commented or picked up on it...

Why didnt they use HS on Kimi’s car during Q2? They should have split the strategy to put more pressure on Mercedes at the start. Softer tire, more traction, better start. Doing the same will only limit their possibilities. Or; use the softs during Q2 on Kimis car. Assmining it would have been enough, run long first stint, then hold up the Mercedes after they pitted.

Running the same tire strategy on both cars with the championship is daft, especially knowing there is no way they’d be challenging for pole and RedBull, their only competitors, starting from the back of the grid.

With graining issues on this track and bad tire wear, I don't think starting the race with full tanks and the softer compounds is a recipe for success. It would be easy to destroy the tires way too early doing it that way.

[GrandAxe]

So, weather predictions are similar to yesterday, mild and cloudy.

The race is gonna be about tyres, tyres, tyres - about winning as slowly as possible.

Those who can't manage their tyres will flunk it.

[Restomaniac]

Ferrari is 0.4+ seconds a lap slower and has very bad tyre wear here.

Under normal, reliable racing conditions they stand no chance of winning.

Don't confuse quali pace with race pace, though I agree they are going to have some bad tire degradation issues.

I think on sheer pace, the Ferrari doesn't have what it needs to win, but I hope I'm wrong.

Hamilton could have a mechanical issue or maybe someone will rip one of the corners off his car on the first lap. One can hope.

So we’re back to hoping a driver gets a DNF again.

[GrandAxe]

Ferrari is 0.4+ seconds a lap slower and has very bad tyre wear here.

Under normal, reliable racing conditions they stand no chance of winning.

Don't confuse quali pace with race pace, though I agree they are going to have some bad tire degradation issues.

I think on sheer pace, the Ferrari doesn't have what it needs to win, but I hope I'm wrong.

Hamilton could have a mechanical issue or maybe someone will rip one of the corners off his car on the first lap. One can hope.

So we’re back to hoping a driver gets a DNF again.

That fellows posts are sort of angry.

[Restomaniac]

Don't confuse quali pace with race pace, though I agree they are going to have some bad tire degradation issues.

I think on sheer pace, the Ferrari doesn't have what it needs to win, but I hope I'm wrong.

Hamilton could have a mechanical issue or maybe someone will rip one of the corners off his car on the first lap. One can hope.

So we’re back to hoping a driver gets a DNF again.

That fellows posts are sort of angry.

Indeed.
Surely it would be better to hope that the other 4 time WDC got his sh** together?
This is what I don’t get. It’s not Hamilton’s fault that at times earlier in the season he has been driving the wheels off his car whilst putting up with a DNF and such. Whilst Vettel in the class of the field car has been average.
So why hope for ANOTHER Hamilton DNF. The focus needs to be on the Ferrari car number 5 and it’s driver’s shortcomings.

[saviour stivala]

Just an aside....Does anybody know why Ross Brawn has suddenly become Ross Brown? When being talked to by Ted Kravitz, he was wearing a shirt with Ross Brown embroidered on it.

Because it down on him that he is now acting poacher and not gamekeeper any more, that's when he changed his Brawn to Brown.

[NathanOlder]

Ferrari is 0.4+ seconds a lap slower and has very bad tyre wear here.

Under normal, reliable racing conditions they stand no chance of winning.

Don't confuse quali pace with race pace, though I agree they are going to have some bad tire degradation issues.

I think on sheer pace, the Ferrari doesn't have what it needs to win, but I hope I'm wrong.

Hamilton could have a mechanical issue or maybe someone will rip one of the corners off his car on the first lap. One can hope.

Generally the Merc has been stronger on race pace than qually pace. The gap could be even bigger!

And I love how people know vettel needs lots of good luck to win another title.