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2018 Russia Thoughts

THE BIG PICTURE: A complete, devastating Mercedes smack down on Ferrari.

TRACK: We do like that rundown into Turn 2 at the start.

EVENT: It seems to be picking up in popularity. Being in the top Russian resort area certainly helps.

QUALIFYING: Mercedes makes the first statement, though Bottas nips Hamilton, Magnussen is best of the rest, and Q2 is a complete dud.

RACE: Just keep sticking the Red Bulls in the back of the field, and we'll be entertained...

START: It's all about defense as Bottas defends from Hamilton who defends from Vettel, while in the back offense rules as Verstappen gains six positions, while the safety car stays put for the first time in four years.

HAMILTON: The most unsatisfied winner you'll see. But the points were more important.

BOTTAS: Let's look at something many others are not. Yes, Valtteri does very well at Sochi. However, if Hamilton got the pole, which he would have had he not made mistakes on his two quick laps, we would never be talking about swapping positions.

MERCEDES: The Silver Arrows owns Russia.

VETTEL: Mathematically still possible? Sure. Still optimistic? A bit. But come on. Let's be real...

RAIKKONEN: His new contract is signed, albeit not with Ferrari, and Kimi "disappears" again.

FERRARI: They've done better this year and it lasted longer, but once again, they have not kept up with Mercedes' development.

VERSTAPPEN: Another brilliant, and more importantly, mature and measured drive by Max (19th to ninth in three laps, seventh by lap five, and fifth on lap eight). He appears to have learned his lessons, but will he be able to start a new season this way?

RICCIARDO: Not as thrilling or amazing, but (almost) just as effective coming from the back.

LECLERC: Charles is best of the rest. In a Sauber no less. And he wasn't lapped.

ERICSSON: Marcus did have some good runs at time. He was not a complete embarrassment during his career. But, he was taking up space better suited for others. And soon he won't be.

SAUBER: The Ericsson backed Swedish owners actually decided to replace him. Sauber really is serious about moving up the field.

GIOVINAZZI: A lot of skepticism about Antonio. But, he deserves a full season shot, and then we'll see.

MAGNUSSEN: Two years plus a third year option. That's a lot of confidence in Kevin.

GROSJEAN: While Romain, by the hair on his chinny chin chin, remains in F1.

HAAS: They decided to go with consistency. Not a bad strategy.

RACING POINT: Their drivers behaved themselves and properly followed team orders. And, now Ocon and Perez are tied in points. How cute.

SIROTKIN: Not even Putin himself could do anything about Sergey being dirt slow and finishing dead last amongst the finishers in front of his home crowd.

TORO ROSSO: Just because teams like to do things together, doesn't mean you need to have both drivers drop out on the same lap (four) for the same reason (brake issues) after both spun.

HONDA: Thus, we never got to see how good Honda's upgraded engine is. Now, they have to essentially debut it in front of their home crowd on their own track next week.

KVYAT: The torpedo will be back. I'm sure Vettel is just thrilled. Meanwhile, if you have a driver resume, send it to Helmot Marko. They may be looking for anybody in the second seat...

F2: Artem Markelov did a Max Verstappen, going from 19th starting spot to ninth in three laps of the feature race. Then first on lap six (with the aid of one frontrunner pitting)! A slow pit stop, however, doomed his effort. Meanwhile, George Russell won the sprint race, his sixth overall this year. The magic number for Russell to clinch the title at Abu Dhabi is 11. So, where's his F1 ride...?

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Swap.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 1-2 -- To the drivers, it matters.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: Mercedes Benz remains undefeated in Russia with five wins in the modern era (Hamilton three times, Nico Rosberg, and Bottas), and Benz taking the other two wins in 1913 (Russian Georgy Suvorin) and 1914 (German Willy Scholl) in St. Petersburg.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Fernando Alonso acknowledging his nearest threat, Lance Stroll for crying out loud, said to his team, "Yes mate, we are P15. I don't care."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Racing Point's Team Chief, Otmar Szafnauer, commenting on Kevin Magnussen's tactics preventing his driver from passing, "Well, that's par for the course."

SCHEDULE: If Ferrari doesn't stop the bleeding in Japan, start engraving Hamilton's name on the championship trophy.

Copyright © 2018 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.



RACE RESULTS
  Driver Laps
1. Hamilton 53
2. Bottas 53
3. Vettel 53
4. Raikkonen 53
5. Verstappen 53
6. Ricciardo 53
7. Leclerc(R) 53
8. Magnussen 52
9. Ocon 52
10. Perez 52
11. Grosjean 52
12. Hulkenberg 52
13. Ericsson 52
14. Alonso 52
15. Stroll 52
16. Vandoorne 51
17. Sainz 51
18. Sirotkin(R) 51
NC Gasly(R) 4
NC Hartley(R) 4

Time of Race
1:27:25.181

Margin of Victory
2.545 sec.

Safety Car
None

Lead Changes
4 among 4 drivers

Lap Leaders
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen

Fastest Race Lap
Valtteri Bottas

Pole Position
Valtteri Bottas

CURRENT STANDINGS
  Driver Pts.
1. Hamilton 306
2. Vettel 256
3. Bottas 189
4. Raikkonen 186
5. Verstappen 158
6. Ricciardo 134
7. Magnussen 53
  Hulkenberg 53
9. Alonso 50
10. Perez 47
  Ocon 47
12. Sainz 38
13. Gasly(R) 28
14. Grosjean 27
15. Leclerc(R) 21
16. Vandoorne 8
17. Ericsson 6
  Stroll 6
19. Hartley(R) 2
20. Sirotkin(R) 1

  Team Pts.
1. Mercedes 495
2. Ferrari 442
3. Red Bull 292
4. Renault 91
5. Haas 80
6. McLaren 58
7. Racing Point 35
8. Toro Rosso 30
9. Sauber 27
10. Williams 7
EX Force India (59)
 
 

2024 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Japan
China Miami Emilia Romagna Monaco
Canada Spain Austria Great Britain
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Azerbaijan Singapore United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Las Vegas Qatar Abu Dhabi

2023 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Azerbaijan
Miami Emilia Romagna Monaco Spain
Canada Austria Great Britain Hungary
Belgium Holland Italy Singapore
Japan Qatar United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Las Vegas Abu Dhabi

2022 Thoughts
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia Emilia Romagna
Miami Spain Monaco Azerbaijan
Canada Great Britain Austria France
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Singapore Japan United States
Mexico City Sao Paulo Abu Dhabi

2021 Thoughts
Bahrain Emilia Romagna Portugal Spain Monaco
Azerbaijan France Steiermark Austria Great Britain
Hungary Belgium Holland Italy
Russia Turkey United States Mexico City
Sao Paulo Qatar Saudi Arabia Abu Dhabi

2020 Thoughts
Austria Steiermark Hungary Great Britain Anniversary
Spain Belgium Italy Tuscany
Russia Eifel Portugal Emilia Romagna
Turkey Bahrain Sakhir Abu Dhabi

2019 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Azerbaijan Spain
Monaco Canada France Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Russia Japan
Mexico United States Brazil Abu Dhabi

2018 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Azerbaijan Spain
Monaco Canada France Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Russia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2017 Thoughts
Australia China Bahrain Russia
Spain Monaco Canada Azerbaijan
Austria Great Britain Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Malaysia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2016 Thoughts
Australia Bahrain China Russia Spain
Monaco Canada Europe Austria
Great Britain Hungary Germany Belgium
Italy Singapore Malaysia Japan
United States Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2015 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Austria
Great Britain Hungary Belgium Italy
Singapore Japan Russia United States
Mexico Brazil Abu Dhabi

2014 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia Bahrain China
Spain Monaco Canada Austria
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan Russia
United States Brazil Abu Dhabi

2013 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Great Britain
Germany Hungary Belgium Italy
Singapore South Korea Japan India
Abu Dhabi United States Brazil

2012 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Canada Europe
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan South Korea
India Abu Dhabi United States Brazil

2011 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Turkey
Spain Monaco Canada Europe
Great Britain Germany Hungary Belgium
Italy Singapore Japan South Korea
India Abu Dhabi Brazil

2010 Thoughts
Bahrain Australia Malaysia China
Spain Monaco Turkey Canada
Europe Great Britain Germany Hungary
Belgium Italy Singapore Japan
South Korea Brazil Abu Dhabi

2009 Thoughts
Australia Malaysia China Bahrain
Spain Monaco Turkey Great Britain
Germany Hungary Europe
Belgium Italy Singapore
Japan Brazil Abu Dhabi


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