2018 Russian Grand Prix preview

The fifth Grand Prix ever in Russia is up next! I don't remember much from the previous races besides Raikkonen's and Bottas' crash so I will talk about the first race instead.

At the start Nico Rosberg challenged his teammate Lewis Hamilton for the lead but braked too late and had to cut the corner. He was told to let Lewis through and he responded that he would actually want to pit for new tyres. That was his only stop of the race and it seems that it was a good strategy. He was 2nd right after Lewis in the end.

The only man who could have challenged Rosberg for second place was Valtteri Bottas. He actually was 2nd for a long time but got overtaken by Rosberg eventually.

Rosberg overtook Bottas by forcing him off the track and after this maneuver Bottas didn't have the speed to overtake him back.

Now Bottas has taken Rosberg's place at Mercedes as we all know and I am sure he will do great this year.

I really hope they don't do any team orders! Can't believe Niki Lauda would approve that.

Valtteri Bottas had a great race in 2014 but we shall see if he is up for the challenge this year.

Here are some Vital statistics from Formula1.com:

Circuit: Sochi Autodrom

Circuit length: 5.848 km (only Spa and Silverstone are longer)

Circuit width: ranges between 13m to 15m

Number of corners: 18 (12 right, 6 left)

Projected maximum speed: 320 km/h (between Turns 1 and 2)

Projected average speed: 215 km/h 

Projected lap time: 1m 36.9s

Longest straight: 650m (between Turns 1 and 2)

DRS zones: 2 - the first is between Turns 1 and 2 with the detection point prior to Turn 1; the second is between turns 10 and 12 with the detection point prior to Turn 10

Race laps: 53

Race distance: 309.732 km

Fascinating fact: - Sochi Autodrom is the only racing circuit in the world to be located in an Olympic venue, Sochi having played host to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in February this year

Number of Russian drivers to have started at least one Grand Prix: 3 (Vitaly Petrov, Daniil Kvyat, Sergei Sirotkin)

Best finish by a Russian driver in F1: 2nd (Daniil Kvyat)

The last thing are my predictions:

Pole position: Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

Surprise: Keep an eye on Bottas. He might be very fast this weekend.