RACE 16

Russian Grand Prix

Sochi

The Russian Grand Prix was first raced in 1913 in Saint Petersburg, and again the following year. However, it would be a century before another Grand Prix was raced in Russia.

In spite of an attempt to create a Grand Prix of the Soviet Union in 1983, and several more failed projects, officially supported by Vladimir Putin from 2001, the Russian Grand Prix did not return until 2014.

Sochi Autodrom

Sochi Autodrom is a street circuit which passes around the venues of the Olympic Park, set up for the 2014 Olympic games.

The circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, is the fourth longest on the F1 calendar, and the flattest track of all, having less than 2m of elevation change. It's signature corner is surely turn 3, which sweeps around the Olympic medals plaza.

Winners

Lewis Hamilton is the only multiple winner of this recent event, with three wins. Valteri Bottas, and Nico Rosberg have both won once.

Unusually, perhaps uniquely, at the time of writing the Russian GP has only ever been won by Mercedes. Even the two earliest events were won by Benz.

Crowds

The Russian GP attracts around 60,000 on race day, and just short of 150,000 for the race weekend.