At the current moment, there’s but one question dominating the news screens in the world of Formula 1. Is the Russian Grand Prix moving out of Sochi after the 2020 race?
Is the Russian Grand Prix moving out of Sochi?
For starters, the Russian Grand Prix is among the newest venues on the F1 calendar. It adds on the excitement of racing at the European leg of the season and broadens the interest in sports particularly in that part of the world where Soccer and Ice Skating form the prominent sporting endeavors and contests.
Together, along with Baku’s street circuit, the Russian Grand Prix venue at Sochi Autodrome is one of the feistiest challenges for the drivers out there.
Apart from the fact that the Russian Grand Prix happens to be the fourth-longest track on the calendar, the high-speed corners and daunting two long-straights make the venue a fine combination of a picturesque track as well as a physically demanding circuit.
But there’s growing clout of concern about the future of the famous race that made a starry debut back in 2014.
But before one moves ahead in a discussion that might court headlines over the course of the next few days before a final verdict is delivered, it’s important to understand the key bond between the race at Sochi and the Mercedes team.
Mercedes’ stellar record at Sochi
Mercedes happen to enjoy a position of absolute dominance at the race nestled in the “Putin-Land!”
Not once have Mercedes allowed any other team to dominate at a venue where they’ve been the consistent winners from the onset of 2014.
In fact, so overly successful have Mercedes been at the Russian Grand Prix that the only team that has ever been able to secure a second and third-place podium finish happens to be Ferrari.
In the 2017 Russian Grand Prix, while the victory belonged to Valtteri Bottas, Ferrari were able to salvage a strong second and third with Raikkonen following Vettel, for a third.
What’s further interesting is that among the other strong teams such as Red Bull, clearly the next-best outfit following Mercedes and Ferrari have failed to secure a single podium at the Sochi Autodrome.
But moving on, in the event of the Russian Grand Prix moving out of Sochi, both commentators and racing nerds would indulge keenly in the next big question.
Where will the Russian Grand Prix occur if not at Sochi?
It appears that at the moment, a new circuit is currently under construction just outside of St. Petersburg.
But the concern surrounding the existing venue for the annual Grand Prix of Russia is somewhere on the following lines:
Sochi’s circuit is formed using roads which were part of the site which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. But the track hosts few major races aside from its annual grand prix.
Source have indicated plans are being made to develop areas of the site for other purposes. The construction of a new concert hall for 2021 will force changes to the track’s configuration, shortening it to just over two kilometers. This would make it too short for Formula 1, though the venue’s rumored Formula E race would still be able to go ahead.
Race promoter Rosgonki stated it holds a contract for the Russian Grand Prix to continue until 2025 and gave no further comment.
Yet, until one gets a final word, a lasting fodder for discussion would still be where would the future race happen with Russian Grand Prix moving out of Sochi?