This week we return to the Sochi Autodrome for the Russian Grand Prix. Set in the park for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, this circuit is the 4th longest track on the calendar (5.85km), after Spa, Baku and Silverstone. Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record of 1:35.76, set during the 2019 Russian Grand Prix
Over 53 laps, drivers negotiate 18 corners, including numerous 90 degree turns and a 180 degree left-hander. Fans may think this format looks familiar. That's because the Sochi Autodrome is of Hermann Tilke design. Tilke is responsible for the design of numerous circuits on the F1 calendar, including Baku and Bahrain. However his designs have faced criticism from fans for being too "samey-samey." Some argue that his tracks create boring racing from a lack of overtaking opportunities. In the case of Sochi, all of it's races since 2014 have been won by Mercedes drivers and this year doesn't look much different - so make of that what you will.
Despite this criticism, Sochi has been the home of the Russian Grand Prix since it joined the calendar in 2014. This was the result of over 30 years of campaigning, which started with a push to get the 'Grand Prix of the Soviet Union' into the championship in the 1980s. This was cancelled for bureaucratic reasons.
This did not ruins the Russians' passion for racing. Moscow and St Petersburg continued to be suggested as possible locations. Russian businessman, Alex Shnaider, brought racing even closer when his team, Midland F1 Racing, revealed their 2005 car outside of the Kremlin. Finally in 2014, Russian fans' prayers were answered and Sochi hosted the first Russian Grand Prix in over 100 years.
However, the Sochi Autodrome is coming to the end of its relationship with F1. In 2023, the Russian Grand Prix will move to St Petersburg, at the Igora Drive Circuit. Following the introduction of the new regulations in 2022, it will be exciting to see what racing this new circuit creates.
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