2017 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix: Snoozefest in Sochi

If you were to suggest that the regulation changes for Formula One this year have been a step backwards for the prospect of wheel-to-wheel action, it’s not likely you’ll hear too many dissenting voices — and the chances are that’ll be because everyone’s still asleep after today’s race.

The Sochi track, constructed around the streets of the former Olympic village, hasn’t provided terrific racing in its previous three attempts, but this weekend’s Grand Prix may represent a new nadir.

It didn’t look to start out that way though. Fernando Alonso’s McLaren seized up and expired before the race had even started, with the frustrated Spaniard having to retire the car on the formation lap. That led to a second formation lap as the immobile McLaren had to be recovered from the circuit.

As the race got underway, it did so with a literal bang. Valtteri Bottas, who had impressed with single lap pace during qualifying only to fail at the last hurdle, overtook both Ferraris to lead into the first corner, but it was the Renault of Jolyon Palmer — again — and Romain Grosjean’s Haas that caused the bang.

The Frenchman was quick to blame the Brit, but with a Sauber to his outside Palmer had very few options but to turn in where he did, and the stewards ultimately settled on apportioning no blame either way.

This incident brought out a safety car which stabilized the race until the fifth lap. Bottas made the most of the restart and, catching Vettel napping, immediately created a 1.9s lead for himself, which would persist until the Finn pitted for fresh tyres on lap 28.

However the safety car period proved too much for Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull, which retired almost as soon as the race resumed thanks to a rear brake igniting.

With Ferrari going deeper into the race on the ultrasoft tyres, Vettel was able to snatch the lead himself — marking the first time ever a car other than a Mercedes had lead across the line at Sochi after 187 laps — and keep a 20 second cushion until he subsequently pitted six laps later.

Although the lead Ferrari did manage to get within DRS range of Bottas, this proved to be the last of the so-called action at the Russian Grand Prix, without a single on-track overtake occurring after the first corner of the first lap. Bottas, in his 81st race, took the chequered flag as a race winner for the first time, with Vettel and Raikkonen filling out the podium.

The result sees Vettel claw out a 13 point lead in the championship standings after four races. Mercedes now leads the constructor’s championship by a single point.

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