 2021 Sochi Race 1
| ||
|---|---|---|
 The Sochi Autodrom in 2021 | ||
| Race Information | ||
| Date | 25 September 2021 | |
| No. | 109 (16 of 2021) | |
| Event | Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021
| |
| Location | Sochi Autodrom Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia | |
| Format | 120 km / 45 min (Sprint Race) | |
| Lap length | 5.848 km (3.634 mi) | |
| Distance | 18 laps / 105.264 km (65.408 mi) | |
| Fastest Lap | ||
| Driver |  Théo Pourchaire
| |
| Team | ART Grand Prix
| |
| Time | 1:50.669 on lap 16 | |
| Race Result | ||
| First | Second | Third |
 Dan Ticktum
|
 Jüri Vips
|
Robert Shwartzman
|
| Winner Team | Carlin
| |
| Time | 36:37.195 | |
| Race Guide | ||
| Previous | Next | |
 2021 Monza Feature Race
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2021 Sochi Feature Race
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The 2021 Sochi Sprint Race, formally known as the 2021 Sochi Formula 2 Race 1, was the sixteenth race of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship, staged at the Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia on 25 September 2021.[1] The race, which was initially delayed due to heavy rain during its originally scheduled time, would see Dan Ticktum claim victory after breaking clear of Jüri Vips in the opening stages.[2]
The grid for the Sprint Race had been set by reversing the top ten from qualifying for the Feature Race, resulting in Ticktum claiming pole position with Vips alongside.[3] Championship leader Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, would start from tenth having claimed his third straight pole for the Feature Race, with Jehan Daruvala alongside him.[3]
There would be drama ahead of the Sprint Race, with heavy rain on Saturday morning causing the first race to be delayed until the afternoon, and the Second Sprint to be cancelled.[4][5] By the afternoon the circuit had dried, although there would be more chaos as Guanyu Zhou spun and stalled exiting the pitlane on his way to the grid, while Felipe Drugovich slammed into the barriers also en-route to the grid.[2]
With the two UNI-Virtuosi's retrieved but out of action the race began, with Ticktum easing into the lead although Vips and Liam Lawson went with him after starting behind the Safety Car.[2] The rest of the field followed into the first chicane without issue, with everyone having to stick to the dry-line having all started on the slick, medium, compound.[2]
Vips and Lawson would harass Ticktum for the lead throughout the opening stages, although the Estonian racer would back out of his best chance on the opening tour, deciding it was too slippery to send a lunge at turn thirteen.[2] With that the race began to settle, the only real battle being for fifth betwixt Jake Hughes and Ralph Boschung before a Virtual Safety Car was called upon after Bent Viscaal spun at the final chicane.[2]
The restart came a few minutes later, with Piastri trying to mug Daruvala for eighth into turn five, only to hit the damp part of the tarmac and lose traction.[2] That allowed Christian Lundgaard to dart past to claim ninth, before in his bid to get back on terms with the Dane the Australian racer hit another damp patch exiting turn ten and fell behind Marcus Armstrong and Richard Verschoor.[2]
Back with the leaders and Ticktum had bolted, opening out a two second lead to Vips, while Lawson stalked his teammate for second.[2] That was until the #7 Hitech broke its suspension by slapping the wall exiting turn thirteen, with Lawson pulling off a few seconds later to trigger another VSC.[2]
Another restart came and went, with Daruvala managing to gain two places with a double move on Théo Pourchaire and Ralph Boschung, the Frenchman having gotten himself stuck behind the slow reacting Swiss pilot.[2] Ticktum, meanwhile, saw his lead grow to four seconds as Vips had a wobble exiting the final corner, while Jake Hughes engaged Robert Shwartzman in a fight for the final podium spot.[2]
The final laps saw the entire field engage in a fight to set fastest lap, with the track conditions finally beginning to improve and the dry line expand.[2] It was in the midst of this pseudo-tussel that Daruvala threw away a points finish, spinning at the penultimate corner having been en-route to beat Pourchaire's then benchmark setting effort.[2]
With that the race was run, with Ticktum cruising to victory having run trouble free since the first VSC period.[2] Vips was next up ahead of Shwartzman, who managed to instantly get back ahead of Hughes after the #22 HWA Racelab had briefly grabbed third, with the Brit himself tucked right behind the #1 Prema in fourth.[2] Pourchaire was next up ahead of Boschung and Lundgaard, with Verschoor securing the final point in eighth.[2]
Background[]
Two weeks after the previous round in Monza the FIA Formula 2 Championship arrived at the Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Russia, for the sixth round of the 2021 season.[1] The circuit was unchanged for the Series' fourth trip to the Black Sea coast, with no changes to the entry list either ahead of the weekend.[1] Elsewhere, the grid for the opening race of the weekend had been set by reversing the top ten from qualifying held on Friday, with Dan Ticktum emerging on pole ahead of Jüri Vips.[3]
Weather Woes[]
Shortly before the scheduled start to the 2021 Sochi Sprint Race, the first of two Sprint's timetabled for the weekend, the FIA and Formula 2 announced that the race would be postponed as heavy rain pounded the Autodrom.[4] The race was hence moved to the afternoon, following Formula One's qualifying session, while the Second Sprint Race was cancelled due to time restraints.[5] As the rescheduled start time came around the Sochi circuit was still wet, although a distinct dry line had emerged during F1's qualifying session.[5]
Monza Marchers[]
A second victory of the campaign, combined with pole position, had boosted Oscar Piastri's bid for the title in his rookie season, the Australian youth having moved onto 149 points for the campaign. Furthermore, his advantage had grown to fifteen points as the Monza meeting came to an end, with Guanyu Zhou having kept within touching distance with second in the Monza Feature. Robert Shwartzman, meanwhile, had slipped 36 behind in third ahead of Dan Ticktum, while Théo Pourchaire rounded out the top five.
In the Teams' Championship Prema Racing's ominous march towards retaining their title had continued at their home round, with the Italian squad having moved onto 262 points after the final fight at Monza. UNI-Virtuosi were 69 points behind in second, while Carlin had moved back into the top three, eight behind Virtuosi. Hitech Grand Prix had made way for Carlin and slipped to fourth after a rare double DNF, while ART Grand Prix completed the top five.
Entry List[]
The full entry list for the 2021 Sochi Sprint Race is displayed below:
- * Placeholder liveries are show for the second drivers in each team.
Grid[]
The grid for the first Sprint Race of the weekend was set by reversing the top ten results from qualifying for the Feature Race, as per-FIA Formula 2 Championship rules.[3]
| Pos. | Pos. | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Driver | |
| ______________ | ||
| Row 1 | 1 | ______________ |
| Dan Ticktum | 2 | |
| ______________ | Jüri Vips | |
| Row 2 | 3 | ______________ |
| Liam Lawson | 4 | |
| ______________ | Robert Shwartzman | |
| Row 3 | 5 | ______________ |
| Jake Hughes | 6 | |
| ______________ | Ralph Boschung | |
| Row 4 | 7 | ______________ |
| 8 | ||
| ______________ | Théo Pourchaire | |
| Row 5 | 9 | ______________ |
| Jehan Daruvala | 10 | |
| ______________ | Oscar Piastri | |
| Row 6 | 11 | ______________ |
| Marcus Armstrong | 12 | |
| ______________ | Christian Lundgaard | |
| Row 7 | 13 | ______________ |
| 14 | ||
| ______________ | Richard Verschoor | |
| Row 8 | 15 | ______________ |
| Bent Viscaal | 16 | |
| ______________ | Lirim Zendeli | |
| Row 9 | 17 | ______________ |
| Roy Nissany | 18 | |
| ______________ | Guilherme Samaia | |
| Row 10 | 19 | ______________ |
| David Beckmann | 20 | |
| ______________ | Marino Sato | |
| Row 11 | 21 | ______________ |
| Enzo Fittipaldi | 22 | |
| ______________ | Alessio Deledda |
- * Zhou and Drugovich were unable to start the race after spinning en-route to dummy grid.[2]
Race[]
Report[]
Results[]
The final classification of the 2021 Sochi Sprint Race is displayed below:
| 2021 Sochi Sprint Race Race Result | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Laps | Race Time | Strat. | Fastest lap | Pts. |
| 1st | 5 | Dan Ticktum
|
Carlin
|
18 | 36:37.195 | 
|
1:50.899 | 15 |
| 2nd | 8 | Jüri Vips
|
Hitech Grand Prix
|
18 | +4.422s |
|
1:50.886 | 12 |
| 3rd | 1 | Robert Shwartzman
|
Prema Racing
|
18 | +6.638s |
|
1:51.280 | 10 |
| 4th | 22 | Jake Hughes
|
 HWA Racelab
|
18 | +8.894s |
|
1:51.502 | 8 |
| 5th | 10 | Théo Pourchaire
|
ART Grand Prix
|
18 | +9.824s |
|
1:50.669 | 8 |
| 6th | 21 |  Ralph Boschung
|
 Campos Racing
|
18 | +12.994s |
|
1:51.724 | 4 |
| 7th | 9 |  Christian Lundgaard
|
ART Grand Prix
|
18 | +13.669s |
|
1:51.802 | 2 |
| 8th | 11 |  Richard Verschoor
|
MP Motorsport
|
18 | +14.172s |
|
1:51.750 | 1 |
| 9th | 2 |  Oscar Piastri
|
Prema Racing
|
18 | +14.921s |
|
1:51.462 | |
| 10th | 12 | Lirim Zendeli
|
MP Motorsport
|
18 | +17.268s |
|
1:51.526 | |
| 11th | 17 |  Marcus Armstrong
|
DAMS
|
18 | +18.179s |
|
1:51.620 | |
| 12th | 6 |  Jehan Daruvala
|
Carlin
|
18 | +28.131s |
|
1:51.362 | |
| 13th | 15 |  Guilherme Samaia
|
 Charouz Racing System
|
18 | +28.764s |
|
1:51.311 | |
| 14th | 25 |  Marino Sato
|
Trident
|
18 | +40.661s |
|
1:51.227 | |
| 15th | 20 | David Beckmann
|
Campos Racing
|
18 | +57.671s |
|
1:50.680 | |
| 16th | 16 |  Roy Nissany
|
DAMS
|
18 | +1:10.465 |
|
1:51.584 | |
| 17th | 14 | Enzo Fittipaldi
|
Charouz Racing System
|
18 | +1:11.672 |
|
1:51.727 | |
| 18th | 23 | Alessio Deledda
|
HWA Racelab
|
18 | +1:33.339 |
|
1:54.052 | |
| Ret | 7 | Liam Lawson
|
Hitech Grand Prix
|
5 | Accident |
|
1:53.083 | |
| Ret | 24 | Bent Viscaal
|
Trident
|
3 | Spin |
|
1:54.950 | |
| DNS | 3 |  Guanyu Zhou
|
UNI-Virtuosi
|
|||||
| DNS | 4 | Felipe Drugovich
|
UNI-Virtuosi
|
|||||
| Source:[7] | ||||||||
- Italics indicate that a driver set fastest lap.
Milestones[]
- Dan Ticktum secured his third and final victory.
- Carlin claimed their tenth win as an entrant in Formula 2.
Standings[]
Oscar Piastri had failed to score for the first time since the 2021 Baku Sprint Race 1, although the Australian racer's lead was still a fairly healthy fifteen points. Indeed, second placed Guanyu Zhou had also failed to score in the first race at Sochi, while third placed Robert Shwartzman had closed in on the lead duo with his home podium finish. Sprint winner Dan Ticktum had also gained ground in fourth ahead of Théo Pourchaire, with the Frenchman level on points with Jüri Vips.
In the Teams' Championship Prema Racing had increased their advantage to 72 points, as the Italian squad moved onto 272 points for the campaign. Behind, Carlin had moved up to second as they moved past the 200 point mark, displacing UNI-Virtuosi as Prema's closest challengers. Hitech Grand Prix were next up ahead of ART Grand Prix, while HWA Racelab had scored their first points since the opening round but remained at the foot of the table.
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Only point scoring drivers are shown.
References[]
Images and Videos:
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 'FIA Formula 2 Championship 2021 season provisional calendar announced', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 10/11/2020), https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/1lFF2lrhzJbOeFTnd2hPE4/fia-formula-2-championship-2021-season-provisional-calendar-announced, (Accessed 11/11/2020)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 'SPRINT RACE 1: Ticktum masters slippery Sochi conditions en route to victory', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 25/09/2021), https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/6JwKYy9h9w6O3k52vWg0E2/sprint-race-1-ticktum-masters-slippery-sochi-conditions-en-route-to-victory, (Accessed 03/04/2022)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 'QUALIFYING: Piastri beats Daruvala to Sochi pole with title rival Zhou in fourth', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 24/09/2021), https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/2XaRrwRb221989mDSTQsiF/qualifying-piastri-beats-daruvala-to-sochi-pole-with-title-rival-zhou-in, (Accessed 03/04/2022)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 'Sochi Sprint Race 1 postponed', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 25/09/2021), https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/1hirJkgp3DzFjOcbtL3wnB/fia-formula-2-sprint-race-1-postponed, (Accessed 03/04/2022)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 'Revised Round 6 Sochi Timetable', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 03/04/2022), https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/6TxZTkHyjHqODI1qPBmknm/revised-round-6-sochi-timetable, (Accessed 03/04/2022)
- ↑ Archived, 'Teams and Drivers', fiaformula2.com, (FIA Formula 2, 2021), https://web.archive.org/web/20210816222954/https://www.fiaformula2.com/Teams-and-Drivers, (Accessed 27/03/2022) - Original
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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