2016 Russian Grand Prix - Sochi, Apr. 29 - May 01

[dans79]

New transmission and a 5 place grid penalty for Vettel!
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/04/29/v ... e-penalty/

[BanMeToo]

Frustrating. I hope Nico and Ham have a real competition this weekend.

[godlameroso]

It seems that Mercedes and Ferrari are close to each other, and a second back it's Williams and Red Bull with Red Bull with an edge pace wise but not over one lap, then slightly behind them it's McLaren, followed closely by everyone else.

Also curious this little bit on Alonso's stint
8 P 2:02.191
9 8:45.012
10 1:39.518
11 1:54.472
12 1:39.400
13 1:56.734
14 1:39.673
15 P 2:06.010
Notice how it's a fast lap and a slow lap, but it wasn't a full attack qualifying run, it's race pace. Looks like Honda still comes up short with MGU-H harvesting because there's more than enough braking here to charge 2MJ. If the car is capable of 39's but has to compromise it's race pace there's some potential there. Some will say "it's just a low fuel run" but fuel cannot account for 4 seconds, in a race the cars do not improve so much, and I don't think it was a qualifying run because there were multiple attempts on the same tire.

[GoranF1]

It seems that Mercedes and Ferrari are close to each other, and a second back it's Williams and Red Bull with Red Bull with an edge pace wise but not over one lap, then slightly behind them it's McLaren, followed closely by everyone else.

Also curious this little bit on Alonso's stint
8 P 2:02.191
9 8:45.012
10 1:39.518
11 1:54.472
12 1:39.400
13 1:56.734
14 1:39.673
15 P 2:06.010
Notice how it's a fast lap and a slow lap, but it wasn't a full attack qualifying run, it's race pace. Looks like Honda still comes up short with MGU-H harvesting because there's more than enough braking here to charge 2MJ. If the car is capable of 39's but has to compromise it's race pace there's some potential there. Some will say "it's just a low fuel run" but fuel cannot account for 4 seconds, in a race the cars do not improve so much, and I don't think it was a qualifying run because there were multiple attempts on the same tire.

I didnt have the time to follow much....so are you saying Alonso race pace was slower only to Merc,Ferr,RB and Will....faster than TR,FI,Hass...?

[godlameroso]

Yes, although having looked Sainz was faster than both McLaren's, we'll see how much they can improve tomorrow. Pole last year was a 1:37.1, we're .5 off that and it's only practice 2, I'm guessing pole will be in the mid to high 35's.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

So, yet again we are not going to see a normal race? Where Mercedes' and Ferraris have a normal start and a race.

Vettel gets five-place grid drop for gearbox change

[GoranF1]

Yes, although having looked Sainz was faster than both McLaren's, we'll see how much they can improve tomorrow. Pole last year was a 1:37.1, we're .5 off that and it's only practice 2, I'm guessing pole will be in the mid to high 35's.

Its quite amazing how much entire field is faster than 2015....Mclarens whit this speed are title contenders last year...almost.
Anyway solid friday for Mclaren...Honda needs to spend some tokens soon and Mcl is closing on RB&Will.

[Andres125sx]

More problems for Ferrari?

Past season they had most reliable PU, maybe this season they´re a bit closer to Mercedes, but with this reliability they wouldn´t fight Mercedes not even if they´re equally fast, and they´re not

I guess Vettel will realice soon the reason Alonso moved out Ferrari

[giantfan10]

So, yet again we are not going to see a normal race? Where Mercedes' and Ferraris have a normal start and a race.

Vettel gets five-place grid drop for gearbox change

whats surprising is that Hamilton changed his gearox AGAIN... must have damaged his in his collision too.
maybe we get to see Vettel try to overtake the red bulls and williams cars in the firs few laps

[motobaleno]

More problems for Ferrari?

Past season they had most reliable PU, maybe this season they´re a bit closer to Mercedes, but with this reliability they wouldn´t fight Mercedes not even if they´re equally fast, and they´re not

I guess Vettel will realice soon the reason Alonso moved out Ferrari

and now fernando feels really better right?
with a faster and more reliable car for sure.

[GoranF1]

More problems for Ferrari?

Past season they had most reliable PU, maybe this season they´re a bit closer to Mercedes, but with this reliability they wouldn´t fight Mercedes not even if they´re equally fast, and they´re not

I guess Vettel will realice soon the reason Alonso moved out Ferrari

and now fernando feels really better right?
with a faster and more reliable car for sure.

2nd or last...same thing

[iotar__]

So, yet again we are not going to see a normal race? Where Mercedes' and Ferraris have a normal start and a race.
Vettel gets five-place grid drop for gearbox change

Grid penalties are normal and so are bad starts. Ferrari should not worry, they still have Raikkonen.

[Nuvolari]

I highly doubt it ..... Williams will more than likely be in their usual spot fighting with Force india and to a lesser extent with red Bull

The stint by Bottas on the SS (below) looks quicker than Raikkonen? Bottas also had an impressive stint on the Softs at the end of FP2 if I'm not wrong.

• RAI BOT
  1:42.393 1:42.013
  1:42.426 1:42.226
  1:42.729 1:42.295
  1:43.939 1:42.975
  1:43.231 1:43.307
  1:43.215 1:49.351
  1:43.337 1:43.029
  1:43.590 1:42.641
  1:43.278 1:45.365
  1:43.436 1:43.432
  1:42.844
  1:42.948
  1:42.259
  1:42.557
  1:42.343

[Andres125sx]

More problems for Ferrari?

Past season they had most reliable PU, maybe this season they´re a bit closer to Mercedes, but with this reliability they wouldn´t fight Mercedes not even if they´re equally fast, and they´re not

I guess Vettel will realice soon the reason Alonso moved out Ferrari

and now fernando feels really better right?
with a faster and more reliable car for sure.

2nd or last...same thing

This. Probably not for drivers like Verstappen or Grosjean, but it is for a two times WDC, second and last are the same.

And yes, Fernando now feels really better, even if 13th. He got too frustrated at Ferrari when he only could fight for 2nd as much, and that was outdriving a faster car (webber), and in the seasons with best perfomance by Ferrari, from that point Ferrari went downward so I can see his frustration with the red team

Now Vettel will have to prove if he really is the team player many people think he is. It´s easy to be a team player with a winning car or in first season of a new project, but we´ll see how does he handle second season with no options for the title. Alonso handled 5 seasons before getting too frustrated, 4 if you want, we´ll see if Seb can handle that much

I wouldn´t bet for that, specially if his car continue with reliability problems

[PlatinumZealot]

I think Kimi slows VEttel down because Vettel just seems too nice to him on track because he's his friend. I like Vettel better when he's ruthless to his teammate, that's when you see the best Vettel.