2014 Russian GP - Sochi

[BanMeToo]

I really hope Bottas gets Rosberg at the start though, I don't think either of them have the pace to race Hamilton but a nice duel between the two would be fun to watch.

I was thinking about that too. I don't believe Mercedes' tire saving advantage is going to be as large at this track. Might be interesting.

[SiLo]

Yeah, anything to create some excitement at the front. Although I think the best race will actually be behind with Ferrari, McLaren, Torro Rosso and Red Bull. That's one race I don't want to predict!

[SectorOne]

Mercedes will bugger off into the distance, their gaps have always been much bigger in the races then Quali.
So Bottas 3 tenths off, i´m expecting a solid 7-8 tenths per lap in the race.

[BanMeToo]

Two tenths off Rosberg, not three. I'm sorry, you're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe you didn't get a chance to watch qualifying today but in Q3, on his last lap, Bottas was actually faster than Hamilton in both Sector 1 and Sector 2. It's just that he made an enormous mess of the last two corners. Those two mistakes on their own do not mean he'll be slow in the race: I think there is a chance, just a chance, that he can challenge the slower of the two Mercedes cars.

[SiLo]

Two tenths off Rosberg, not three. I'm sorry, you're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe you didn't get a chance to watch qualifying today but in Q3, on his last lap, Bottas was actually faster than Hamilton in both Sector 1 and Sector 2. It's just that he made an enormous mess of the last two corners. Those two mistakes on their own do not mean he'll be slow in the race: I think there is a chance, just a chance, that he can challenge the slower of the two Mercedes cars.

Imagine that for the title fight, Hamilton wins, Bottas second and Rosberg third... Hamilton would then be 20 points ahead...

[Manoah2u]

Two tenths off Rosberg, not three. I'm sorry, you're looking at this the wrong way. Maybe you didn't get a chance to watch qualifying today but in Q3, on his last lap, Bottas was actually faster than Hamilton in both Sector 1 and Sector 2. It's just that he made an enormous mess of the last two corners. Those two mistakes on their own do not mean he'll be slow in the race: I think there is a chance, just a chance, that he can challenge the slower of the two Mercedes cars.

Imagine that for the title fight, Hamilton wins, Bottas second and Rosberg third... Hamilton would then be 20 points ahead...

that'd be awesome.

Still, Bottas may be in 2 sections faster, the track is about all the sections, and because he 'overburned' in sector 1 and sector 2, he lost out in sector 3, and thus couldn't make it. Had he 'eased up' in sector 1 and 2, he probably had made it in sector 3 too. But then still wouldn't have been faster. So in the end - the Williams is right behind the Mercs, but still, behind.

So i think during the race this will turn out the same. Bottas might pull one over rosberg at the start and first few corners, and defend good, but after a couple of laps, the Merc will sail pass.

[mrluke]

I think the end of qualy was more to do with the tyres going off than the williams being much quicker than the merc.

Still an epic lap by bottas and i was cheering for him

[Mr Alcatraz]

Vettel starting to reveal himself as an ordinary driver.

You must think Raikkonen an ordinary driver too..

Kimi didn't even show up this year dukie!

[BanMeToo]

I already regret adding my opinion to the driver conversation. A single good or bad year does define not a racing driver. I won't hold your hand the rest of the way.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I already regret adding my opinion to the driver conversation. A single good or bad year does define not a racing driver. I won't hold your hand the rest of the way.

Sorry son but it is what it is.

[ringo]

Vettel starting to reveal himself as an ordinary driver.

Vettel has been an excellent EBD car Driver. But he seems to need the stability and infinite traction on the rear end.
He looked quite ordinary against Webber (being clearly out- paced a couple of times by Webber at the beginnning of 2012) when EBD wasn't working properly. Once EBD started to work properly and the rear end became stable he started embarrassing Webber.
The current Formula doesn't work well for him and I see rather difficult times ahead for him with the twitchy Ferrari next year.
It appears to me he also has difficulties with the current PU generation to accelerate smoothly out of turns with part throttle thereby making the rear end in- stable and killing his rear tyres over a race distance. Ricciardo can almost always drive longer stints than Vettel.
Edit: The 2015 nose regulations with a further shift of DF from the rear to the front is probably going to hurt him even more.

That's just saying he isn't a top class driver. What you are saying that he needs from the car to excel would be what any decent driver would need to do well. Nothing to suggest that he's really as good as his 4wdc suggest. As it stands i know Vergne is as good as riciardo, which says something about Vettel. Any how, lets watch how he deals with the remaining races.
What i do see is someone who is falling apart and is in fact running out of the team before all of his polish rubs off. Which is a smart move.

[ringo]

Vettel starting to reveal himself as an ordinary driver.

You must think Raikkonen an ordinary driver too..

Kimi didn't even show up this year dukie!

Kimi isn't top class. Massa put up better showings against Alonso. Ferrari had to use team orders to make Massa move over for Alosno quite a few times. Kimi hasn't been fast enough to be told to move over. He's not ordinary, but they aren't as good as the accolades that were bestowed on them when they were flying up front with Newey cars with journeyman teammates.

[ollandos]

mclaren looks very very quick maybe the faster on hard tyre.......mxmxxmxxmxm safety car on pit open window for mediums
and full attack for a win for mclaren ........

[Juzh]

Even in previous years, Renault was always down by around 50 BHP against Mercs.

[NathanOlder]

Just watching the GP3, big smash at turn 1 on opening lap. Does anyone else think the gap in the barrier looks a bit dangerous there ? It doesn't really overlap that much therefore leaving a bulge where Stanaway hit.