
Lewis Hamilton is aiming for a second successive world championship title. In order to make a serious claim for the title, the British driver will be looking to repeat his victory from last year in Sochi at the Russian Grand Prix.
"My Mercedes was incredible to drive in Suzuka and I expect it to be the same in the upcoming races, starting with Sochi. Last year in Russia we mathematically secured the Constructors' title and this year I will push to do the same".
His team-mate, Nico Rosberg, also promises tough competition:
"I'm confident I've got the right car to challenge for victory. Although the gap to Lewis is significant, everything remains open for me".
Ferrari, who were almost humiliated on the long Russian circuit in 2014, approach this race with much improved potential, ready to seize every opportunity to claim their fourth victory of the season. The variables are many, starting with the tyres, as Ferrari's third driver, Esteban Gutierrez, points out:
"In Sochi it's crucial to try and get the tyres to work well, to have good grip and as little degradation as possible. If we can do that, we can push almost every lap, which allows us to be more aggressive with the set-up and have a more responsive car".
Pirelli will provide soft and supersoft tyres, with which Ferrari is more comfortable, as seen in Singapore. However, Ferrari is not overly optimistic in Maranello, as the characteristics of the Russian track are too different from the Asian street circuit. Another red weekend, like Singapore, is the dream of Ferrari fans for the Russian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the 2015 Formula One World Championship, to be held in Sochi on 11 October 2015. Sebastian Vettel, who won at Yas Marina in a Ferrari, may share that dream, but he remains realistic on the eve of the first free practice session:
"I think it will be a completely different story here than in Singapore; the track is completely different and apart from the tyre compounds, I don't think there are any similarities. Of course, I wouldn't mind if the result was the same! But there is a long way to go, today is only Thursday, and we need to focus on tomorrow, trying to find the right window in the operating parameters and then work from there. I think the weather this weekend could play a significant role; maybe we won't use all the soft and supersoft tyres tomorrow, we'll see. Last year at this track it was a challenge to put everything together, the gap between the cars was quite big because many suffered more than usual. It's important to get everything to work well here, and that's what we'll be focusing on. Last year wasn't a particularly exciting race for me, but I think we have a strong car and a competitive package overall this year. It would be nice to finish on the podium at the end of the race".
The German then looks to the future:
"For next year I hope to be in an even better position, with a more competitive car, but we're still in 2015 and there are still races where we can do well and others where we can learn something, even for next year. Our goal is always to fight for the championship, that's no secret and that's the direction we want to go in".
The other Ferrari driver, Kimi Raikkonen, shares the same opinion:

"Last year this circuit offered a combination of new asphalt and different compounds to those we are using this year. We found that it could be difficult to get the tyres to work, but on the other hand there were no problems in terms of durability. This year we have soft and supersoft compounds, but that doesn't mean there are a lot of similarities with Singapore; on the contrary, there are a lot of differences. The asphalt is no longer new and the compounds are different from 2014, so we'll see what happens. Using a softer tyre doesn't necessarily give us more opportunities, but we'll do our best. There are a lot of little things that can make a big difference. Overtaking is not easy here and that could make qualifying even more important, but generally speaking, at least for us, if we can find a set-up that makes the car fast on a single lap, we do well even in race configuration".
Lewis Hamilton leads the championship by 48 points with five races remaining in the season. However, his team-mate and closest rival, Nico Rosberg, does not feel defeated in the race for the title.
"There has never been any thought of giving up. I have the car to win and that's what matters. So, full attack from Sochi to win all the races. The reality is that Lewis has a significant points advantage, so I need a bit of luck".
By Sunday evening, Mercedes had clinched their second consecutive Constructors' Championship with four races to spare.
"We have done a great job together. They have made a special car, a special engine and it would be nice to win this title. Ferrari have been very strong recently, so we have to remain cautious and work to make the most of the situation. But we are optimistic. The track? It is a very special asphalt, different from the others, so there are new challenges to overcome, especially now that the tyres are softer compared to the last edition and different from last year when I had almost no degradation. It will be a new race with new situations".
Felipe Massa believes that he and his team-mate Valtteri Bottas can be protagonists of the weekend in Sochi.
"It's a track that suits us and we can be competitive. Last year I started from the back due to engine problems, but today I think we can be in a good position with both cars".
The Brazilian confirms that the team is already working on the 2016 car, without neglecting updates to the current one until the end of the season.
"We will bring new parts even in the last races. Even here there are small innovations, but it is undeniable that we are focusing on next year's car. It is very important to finish 2015 in a strong position in the Constructors' Championship. But the better we start, the better it is for 2016, so we are already focused on next year".
Fernando Alonso has spoken again about the incident he was involved in during the Japanese Grand Prix, when he described the car's performance as "embarrassing" and the engine as GP2 level.
"I think what you say to the team during a Grand Prix should remain private. In any case, my words were nothing but frustration. When you're in the race and you see your opponents easily overtaking you, it's understandable to vent with the team. But I confirm that I will stay with McLaren both next year and in 2017. I am surprised by all this emphasis on my words".

And he adds:
"If you had listened to all my conversations and Jenson's with the factory this year, you would be even more surprised. For me, the most important thing that happened in Suzuka is that I went to the factory on Wednesday and saw the Honda engine for next year. We are working to improve and I got clear messages from the team. We have identified the problems and we are positive for next year. I think that in this Russian Grand Prix we have to continue the work of the last races, trying to get as much information as possible for next year's car. The aim is to improve the Honda engine. The last two races have been the least negative of the season and we must continue on this path".
This will be the second Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi circuit, and Daniil Kvyat will again be the home favourite.
"It's nice to have a home Grand Prix to feel the support of the fans, although I don't think it's the easiest track for us, like Singapore or Hungary, but we have improved and we have to keep pushing, even if the long straights are not in our favour, but who knows what can happen at home".
Asked about the future of Red Bull, who may also decide to leave F1 at the end of the season, the Russian driver replied:
"It's not nice to hear these things about the future of the team, but I remain focused on the car. The team and I are 100% confident in what we are doing and I trust them. What can I change? I can only drive my car and try to get it as high as possible at the end of the race. I am sure the best decisions will be made and they will do their best for the team and the brand".
Romain Grosjean meets the press after the official announcement of his signing with the Haas team for next season.
"I hope to be successful. It's a great opportunity for me to join the Haas team, even though it's very emotional to leave Lotus after ten years. It's a very solid, strong and professional group that is entering F1 in a very intelligent way, with Ferrari as its engine supplier. To have a new experience with an American team is very nice for me".
Sebastian Vettel, perhaps with a hint of satisfaction, made this appeal from the Ferrari motorhome in Sochi:
"Save Red Bull, it would be a shame for everyone if a team like that disappeared from F1".
He won four world championships with Red Bull and when he left it wasn't in the best way. In short, he could look at his former team's situation from a position of superiority. But he doesn't. On the contrary, he seems genuinely concerned. And how could he not be? Red Bull, whose continued presence in F1 is in jeopardy because of the mismanagement of its engine supply, has been, and to some extent still is, one of the most glorious realities of the circus. Not just because of the magnificent cars that Adrian Newey has put on the track, not just because of the young, talented drivers that Helmut Marko manages to discover every year, not just because of the VIPs, athletes and glamour that it brings to every race, but above all because of the enormous amount of innovation that it manages to accompany every initiative, every project. All this is now at risk. To understand the gravity of the situation, we need to reconstruct the whole history. After five years of triumphs and applause, the arrival of the hybrid engine in F1 has broken the historic supply relationship between Red Bull and Renault. The French, like the Italians, took the wrong approach to the new engine in 2014.

Except that while Ferrari found the key to catching up with Mercedes in 2015, Renault's were getting worse. In a somewhat unusual move, Red Bull decided to end the relationship prematurely. And, even more unusually, they did so without having an alternative ready. So, from the summer, the men of the Anglo-Austrian team started looking for another supplier. Their first choice was Mercedes. The Stuttgart-based company undoubtedly produces the most powerful engine. However, the idea of handing over the engine to a team that is known to have the best aerodynamics in the field was not appreciated by the top management of the three-pointed star, who feared for their hard-won supremacy after years of hard work. Negotiations dragged on until September, when it became clear that the deal would not be completed. Then Red Bull's top management tried Ferrari. At first, Marchionne seemed tempted by the prospect of a lucrative deal with the Austrians. But then he had to face reality: Ferrari had already started work on the 2016 engine and was planning to supply a total of three teams (Haas, Ferrari, Sauber); adding a fourth and a fifth (Red Bull and Toro Rosso), in short, doubling the workload in the middle of the season, would have plunged the production department into crisis and risked jeopardising the entire 2016 World Championship, which was supposed to be a revival. Maranello therefore briefly considered the possibility of supplying the 2015 engines, but the Austrians made it clear that they were only interested in a watertight contract that would oblige Ferrari to supply only the latest specification engines (including development). A contract that Ferrari could not - and perhaps did not want to - sign. So here we are in mid-October, with the most successful team of the last decade still without an engine for next season's car and, more importantly, threatening to pull out of the sport.
"If we don't find the engine by the end of the month, we're leaving".
This is a situation that frightens everyone, even Bernie Ecclestone, who takes Italian journalists under his wing in the paddock, urging them to put pressure on Marchionne. He jokes, of course, but only up to a point.
"How will this story end? I don't know, all parties are very concerned and this usually produces very balanced results".
Meanwhile, on Friday 9th October 2015, in the pouring rain, it's the Williams of Felipe Massa that sets the fastest time in the second free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix. However, only eight drivers took part in the session. The two Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, did not put in any timed laps, while Kimi Raikkonen remained in the pits. The other Ferrari driver, Sebastian Vettel, finished 0.2 seconds behind the Brazilian. Third place went to the other Williams, with Valtteri Bottas 0.230 behind his team-mate. Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz and Jenson Button followed. There was a lot of confusion during the morning free practice session. The weekend of the Russian Grand Prix did not start well for the organisers. The first free practice was delayed by about half an hour due to a significant fuel leak on the track. While preparing the track, a maintenance vehicle experienced a malfunction that caused fuel to spill at turns eight and nine. Initial attempts to cover the spill with cement powder proved unsuccessful, so the marshals used hydrants to clean up more thoroughly. As soon as the track was usable again, the reconnaissance laps began, just as the rain started to fall. Amid the general chaos, the surprise leaders at the end of the first session were Nico Hulkenberg's Force India, with the fastest time of 1'44.355, followed by Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari. Behind the top three were Sergio Perez's Force India, Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull and Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was seventh in his Mercedes, followed by Valtteri Bottas' Williams and Max Verstappen's second Toro Rosso. Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari was tenth. Jenson Button's McLaren was eleventh, followed by Felipe Massa's Williams and Fernando Alonso's other McLaren. Sebastian Vettel commented on the session:

"It was quite tricky because half of the track was wet and the other part was just a bit damp. Anyway, it was fun to go out and do some laps. A Mansell-Senna type challenge between me and Hamilton? I think he has a bit of an advantage at the moment. We're working hard and hopefully in the future we'll be a lot closer; that's our goal, I wouldn't mind that. He's one of the best riders out there, so it would be nice to fight with him".
The German goes on to discuss the situation at Red Bull. It seems that Ferrari have refused to supply engines for next year.
"What would F1 be like without Red Bull next season? It's difficult for everyone to imagine that they won't be on the grid next year, so I hope that a solution will be found somehow. Obviously it's not my decision, but having been there, I know the team like the back of my hand and I know there are a lot of talented people in it. It would be a shame for the riders and all the people who are part of the team if they didn't have a job next year. Is Bernie sure it will happen? He has become more relaxed with age".
On the eve of the Russian Grand Prix, while Red Bull and Ferrari are discussing contracts and deliveries for next season, Mercedes are preparing to win the Constructors' World Championship for the second year in a row. In fact, just like last year, the Anglo-German team have the first match point of the season here in Russia: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg only need to close the already abysmal gap between them and Ferrari by three points (506 to 337) to start the celebrations. If they succeed, it will be a signal to the competition not to underestimate them. In short, it would mean that Mercedes have achieved the technical and sporting miracle of improving on last year's performance. This is not to say that Ferrari has not grown. The engine designed in Maranello is now much more competitive than it was in 2014. However, it is undeniable that Mercedes' dominance has been more unquestioned than a season of podiums and three magnificent victories would suggest. In short, if Ferrari really want to compete with the Anglo-Germans in 2016, they will have to work hard and, above all, they cannot afford to make any mistakes. This is exactly what Maurizio Arrivabene insisted on with Sergio Marchionne, trying to convince him not to give engines to Red Bull, who were left without a supplier after the hasty dumping of Renault. The agreement, which seemed to have been concluded with a handshake between Sergio Marchionne and Didier Mateschitz at Monza, has stalled. If Ferrari were to take on two new customers in addition to Sauber and Haas, it would have to revise its entire work plan, hire new engineers, find new space to manufacture parts and overwork its suppliers. They would have to build fifty power units instead of the current thirty. A huge risk in terms of reliability and efficiency. Arrivabene explained this to Marchionne, who felt responsible and decided to change course: Ferrari is prepared to supply Red Bull with last season's engines, those of 2015. A product of excellent quality, but with a loss of around twenty horsepower compared to the latest generation. A valid solution for Toro Rosso, but not for Red Bull, who rejected it.
"Be as competitive as possible or we withdraw".
Bernie Ecclestone, horrified by such a prospect, is trying to put things right. Three possible solutions: Ferrari, in exchange for the freedom to develop engines throughout the season, gives in and provides 2016 engines, but at the last moment to penalise Red Bull as much as possible. Red Bull gives in, takes the 2015 engines and earns a credit with Bernie Ecclestone. Or neither side gives in, and Renault, mistreated by Mateschitz, agrees to renew relations with its former partners. In that case, the French, who have just taken over Lotus, would earn the credit with Bernie. More will be known soon. Meanwhile, Mercedes have put the champagne on ice. Speaking of the market, before the start of the Russian Grand Prix, on Thursday 1st October 2015, Manor Marussia F1 signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz to have the engine produced in Brixworth. Mercedes officially announced a long-term deal, making Manor Marussia F1 a kind of junior team, similar to Toro Rosso for Red Bull Racing or Haas for Ferrari. At Banbury, the team's new headquarters, they have already received the engine dummy.

The new car, under the direction of Italian Luca Furbatto, will have the opportunity to make a significant leap in quality. Bob Bell, the former technical director of the Brackley team, who had excellent relations with Mercedes, played a major role in bringing the plan to fruition. According to the statement, the power unit will use Fluid Technology Solutions developed by Petronas, Mercedes-Benz's technology partner. Under the agreement, Manor Marussia F1 will have the engine, but the gearbox and some suspension components will come from Williams. As a result, the entire rear end will be very similar to the FW38 being developed at Grove. John Booth, Manor Marussia F1 Team Principal, is very pleased:
"I am delighted to announce our partnership with Mercedes-Benz for the 2016 season and beyond. Having the most competitive power unit is a nice challenge for us after 2015, which was a year of rebuilding in every aspect of our business. Although there were no major improvements in competitiveness on the track, the team has laid a solid foundation for the future. The new car can be developed in the wind tunnel and Mercedes will help us grow rapidly. I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari for the support they have given our team over the last two seasons. I am now pleased to announce that we will be entering into a technical partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, who will supply us with components for the gearbox and suspension".
Manor Marussia F1 will take over the supply that previously belonged to Lotus. Andy Cowell, CEO of Mercedes AMG HPP, explains:
"It is a great pleasure to welcome Manor Marussia F1 as a customer of Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains. We will provide a level of hardware and service that reflects the high standards of Mercedes-Benz. This agreement allows us to keep three more customer teams on our supply list for 2016, providing the ideal technical and production conditions".
Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, adds:
"Mercedes-Benz has a clear philosophy in Formula One: in addition to supplying the Silver Arrows, we also supply independent customer teams. In anticipation of Renault F1's acquisition of the Lotus team, we are delighted to announce the agreement with Manor Marussia F1 as a new customer for Mercedes-Benz. They are a tenacious team and we look forward to enabling them to make a leap in quality with our engines next year".
Also on Thursday 1st October 2015, the McLaren-Honda team surprisingly confirmed Jenson Button as their title driver for 2016. The renewal of the British driver's contract with the Woking-based team is announced in a press release that includes a photo of Button - wearing the suit of new sponsor Chandon - and Ron Dennis shaking hands in front of the MP4-30. Ron Dennis states:
"Over the last few weeks Jenson and I have been talking privately to understand his intentions for next season. Now we can say that we are very happy to have renewed our partnership for 2016. Jenson signed a contract with us two seasons ago for 2015, with an option for 2016. His determination to continue, his performances and his professionalism have led us to exercise the option and, as I said, we are really happy to have him back and to be working together next season".
Jenson Button adds:
"In the last few months I have had many moments where I have thought about what to do in the future, whether to continue in F1 or not. I have been at McLaren for six seasons now and I know Ron very well. We have talked a lot over the last few weeks and we both seemed very determined to get McLaren out of this difficult situation. That is why we have decided to work together for another season. Now I will do my best to finish 2015 well and get the team going in the early races of next season".

Two days earlier, after weeks of rumours and speculation, it was announced that Romain Grosjean would be one of the two main drivers for the Haas F1 Team, a new entry in Formula One for next season. The Frenchman, who was introduced at the headquarters in Kannapolis, was presented by team principal Gunther Steiner and the owner of the American team, Gene Haas. During the presentation press conference, Romain Grosjean made his first comments as a Haas driver, although he will have to wait until next season to wear the new colours:
"What Gene Haas and the team have built is impressive and I am very proud to be a part of it. Formula One is incredibly competitive and the only way to succeed is to bring something new. This is a new opportunity in the circus, with a completely new team taking a completely different approach to the category. I believe in their approach and they believe in me. Having said that, I will be giving my all for my current team, Lotus, in the remaining five races of the season. I am very excited about my future as part of the Haas F1 Team".
Gene Haas, owner and founder of the American team, which will also have a base in the UK at the former Marussia headquarters in Banbury, adds:
"We were looking for an experienced driver who would be able to develop our car and grow our team to be able to compete for points and improve race by race. We found that in Romain Grosjean. I've been in the world of motorsport for many years and I know that the driver is a crucial component of any team. Romain has excellent credentials and I believe he will be a great asset to the Haas F1 Team".
Gunther Steiner, Haas Team Principal, adds:
"In addition to being a very experienced driver, Romain is technically and mentally very strong. He will provide us with consistent and specific feedback to help us develop the car in the best possible way. As we develop the car in pre-season testing and throughout the year, his assessments will be crucial to our development".
Returning to the Russian Grand Prix, on Saturday 10th October 2015, during the third and final practice session, a serious incident occurs involving Carlos Sainz Jr: the Toro Rosso driver hits the wall of turn 12 and ends up against the barriers of turn 13. The driver is conscious, but is taken to hospital as a precaution, where no serious physical problems are found. Following the incident, the session, which had initially been suspended, was definitively stopped. The drivers had initially tested the soft tyres before switching to the Supersoft. With the former, Valtteri Bottas was the fastest, while with the softer compound, Nico Rosberg managed to improve on the limit set by the Finn. The other Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, finished the session in third place.
"The driver is conscious, he's fine. He had a bad impact, he was taken out of the car, but he is fine. He spoke to the paramedics, so we think he's OK".
An FIA spokesman tries to reassure everyone about the condition of Carlos Sainz Jr, who was taken by helicopter to hospital after the serious incident that interrupted the final free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix.
"Everything is fine. Nothing to worry about. I am already thinking about how to convince the doctors to let me race tomorrow".

Carlos Sainz Jr. reassures everyone about his condition via Twitter after the terrible incident during the final free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix. However, it is almost impossible for Sainz Jr. to take part in qualifying. Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost said:
"Putting him in the car right away seems a bit risky, so we'll wait and see".
Immediately after the incident at Turn 13, the on-site medical team removed his helmet and applied a neck brace. After a few minutes, the Spanish Toro Rosso driver was removed from the car, placed on a stretcher and taken to the medical centre at the Sochi circuit. He waved before getting into the ambulance.
"We'll have to investigate exactly what happened; it doesn't seem like there was a problem with the car, but we'll see".
Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost then gave an update on the serious incident involving Carlos Sainz Jr:
"Carlos lost the car while braking".
On the day that Mercedes reaffirmed its dominance of the world championship, perhaps for good, Formula One rediscovered itself as fragile, human and scared. Exactly one year after the tragic incident that claimed the life of Jules Bianchi, a young driver from the Ferrari Academy, the extraction team returned to action and left everyone breathless for a few minutes. The FIA team, which specialises in extracting drivers after serious accidents, with their ritual of covering their faces to protect them from violent or inappropriate images, entered the track around the 35th minute of the third free practice session, the last before qualifying, just after the red flag had been waved to stop all activity on the track. The dynamics of the incident are clear from the start. Carlos Sainz Jr, the son of an artist - his father was a two-time World Rally Championship winner - made a rather glaring mistake at turn thirteen. A small but complex high-speed corner. While braking, he lost control of his Toro Rosso and the car began to slide on the icy and rough asphalt. Like a billiard ball between two cushions, the left side of the car (travelling at around 307 km/h at the time) hit the wall and then, without slowing down, shot towards the barrier on the other side of the corner. The second impact was extremely violent, with sensors registering a force of around 42 Gs, which caused the barrier to lift off the ground and the car to slide underneath, creating a sort of guillotine effect. Silence descended on the track and from the pits the track engineers tried to contact Sainz Jr, but he did not respond. The radio was broken, but they would only know later. When the rescue team arrived, they immediately realised that the situation was less serious than it seemed. Sainz Jr. gave them a thumbs up and then, although dazed, tried to remove his helmet. He was taken to hospital and, once the fear had passed, the driver even expressed his desire to race on Sunday. His condition will be assessed later. For the rest of the Circus, however, the fear did not subside, and the image of the barriers being lifted off the ground with the car trapped underneath remained in their minds for a long time. And now he is about to race on a track whose safety is, at the very least, questionable. Sebastian Vettel says:
"It's shocking for us drivers to see how his car went through the barriers like that. It's clear that it can't happen again”.
Jenson Button, one of the most experienced drivers in the circus, agrees:
"The serious thing is that he went under the barriers, which didn't slow him down, and crashed at full speed into the steel protection behind. It's an inevitable dynamic when you're in a car with a low nose and the barriers are not well fixed to the asphalt. I don't know what can be done to solve the problem. But I'm sure there's room for improvement. We just have to make sure that something is done".

Perhaps before the race. Meanwhile, the first qualifying session began a few hours later than planned, but with the need to carry out repairs to turn 13, the site of the incident involving Carlos Sainz Jr, who did not take part in qualifying and was not replaced by another driver. Nico Rosberg was fastest in the first session, followed by Valtteri Bottas and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel, fourth, also tries a set of Supersoft tyres after a trial on the Soft tyres, but is undone by heavy braking. The Marussia drivers, Marcus Ericsson and Fernando Alonso, retired. The McLaren driver was beaten by Felipe Nasr at the last attempt. In the second qualifying session, Nico Rosberg is once again the fastest driver. However, this time it was his team-mate Lewis Hamilton who set the second fastest time, relegating Valtteri Bottas to third place. The drivers will complete two warm-up laps before making their fastest attempt. Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Nasr, Jenson Button, Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa are eliminated. In the decisive phase, the first drivers to set a significant time are the two Force India drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg ahead of Sergio Pérez, while the other drivers do two warm-up laps before the fast lap. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton set the fastest times. In his final attempt, the Briton made a mistake at Turn 13, losing the chance to set a better time than his team-mate. Nico Rosberg will start the Russian Grand Prix on pole position, ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The Ferraris will start with Sebastian Vettel in fourth and Kimi Raikkonen in fifth. The Williams of Valtteri Bottas is third.
"I think we will be closer to the Mercedes tomorrow, but it would have been easier if we had been closer today”.
Sebastian Vettel seems confident enough to start the race in fourth place.
"Let's see tomorrow, I thought the gap was smaller and I think it will be tomorrow. Let's see what happens".
Sunday, 11 October 2015 - Carlos Sainz is allowed to take part in the Russian Grand Prix, although he did not set a time in qualifying and will start from the back of the grid. At the start of the race, Nico Rosberg leads the field with Lewis Hamilton close behind. Further back, Nico Hulkenberg spun in turn two, tagging Max Verstappen and Marcus Ericsson. Verstappen suffered a puncture, while Hülkenberg and Ericsson retired on the spot, prompting the safety car to come out. Meanwhile, Raikkonen and Kvyat made good starts, moving up two and four places respectively. The race resumed at the end of lap 3, with Rosberg maintaining his lead. Further back, Bottas overtook Räikkönen to take third place. By lap 7, Sainz had moved up to 14th and Felipe Massa had moved up from 15th to ninth. Unfortunately, race leader Nico Rosberg retired at the end of the seventh lap with a blocked throttle, handing the lead to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. On lap ten, Pastor Maldonado moves up to tenth place ahead of Jenson Button, while Hamilton extends his lead over second-placed Bottas. A second Safety Car period came on lap 12 when Romain Grosjean crashed his Lotus into the barriers in Turn 3.
Grosjean escaped uninjured, but the safety car remained out until lap 17 due to debris on the track. On the restart, Vettel attacked team-mate Raikkonen for third. Although Räikkönen initially stayed in front by going wide into Turn 2, he eventually relinquished the position to Vettel. A lap later, Ricciardo and Sainz battled for tenth, with Ricciardo taking the lead. On lap 20, Max Verstappen, hampered by his earlier tyre failure, moves up to twelfth. Meanwhile, at the front, Hamilton extended his lead over Bottas to 7.5 seconds on lap 24, with Vettel closing in on the Finn. After several drivers pitted during the second safety car period, most of the front runners decided to make their regular pit stops from lap 25 onwards. Carlos Sainz Jr. crosses the white line on his way out of the pitlane and receives a five-second penalty, to be served on his second stop. Bottas is the first of the front runners to pit on lap 27, coming out in traffic. This allowed Sebastian Vettel to make up time by staying out longer, eventually emerging from his pit stop on lap 31 ahead of Bottas. A lap later, Raikkonen also pitted and came out just behind Bottas. Race leader Hamilton pitted a lap later, maintaining his lead without incident. On lap 37, Räikkönen used the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to pass Bottas for fifth place, only for the Williams driver to regain the position in the next corner. An early pit stop during the safety car period saw Sergio Pérez move up to third, with Daniel Ricciardo following in fourth.

By lap 43, Ricciardo, Bottas and Raikkonen were all within striking distance of Pérez, who was trying to keep his older tyres alive. On lap 45, Bottas uses DRS to get ahead of Ricciardo's Red Bull. A lap later, Raikkonen tries to follow, but runs wide, handing the position back to Ricciardo. On lap 47, Carlos Sainz retired after a brake failure caused him to spin off the track and lose his rear wing. A track marshal retrieves the wing from the track in racing conditions, and the passing Sebastian Vettel, who barely avoids contact, calls him a very brave Russian. Shortly after being overtaken by Raikkonen on lap 49, Daniel Ricciardo retired with a suspension failure. At the end of lap 52, Valtteri Bottas passed Pérez for third place, with Raikkonen also overtaking the Force India. However, a few corners later, on the final lap of the race, the two collided, with Bottas retiring and Räikkönen's Ferrari heavily damaged. Pérez reclaimed third place, the first podium finish for Force India this season. At the front, Vettel was closing in on Hamilton, who was suffering from a damaged rear wing, probably caused by rubber debris in the slot gap. But Hamilton held on to take his ninth victory of the season, ahead of Vettel, who is now his closest rival for the championship. Mercedes wins the Constructors' Championship, Lewis Hamilton secures the Drivers' Championship (which he could win at the next Grand Prix) and Sebastian Vettel overtakes Nico Rosberg in the Constructors' Championship. The Russian Grand Prix marks a clear line in the history of this championship: Lewis Hamilton's resounding victory and Nico Rosberg's surprise retirement (due to a broken accelerator pedal) have changed everything. While Mercedes and Ferrari celebrated, the fans were certainly not bored: the battle for third place (eventually won by the talented Perez) was fierce. Bottas, Perez and Raikkonen overtook and counter-overtook each other until the final lap. However, Kimi's final manoeuvre resulted in a 30-second penalty.
Felipe Massa's Williams finished fourth ahead of Daniil Kvyat's Red Bull. Felipe Nasr's Sauber is sixth, ahead of Pastor Maldonado's Lotus, Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari (penalised) and Jenson Button's McLaren. Fernando Alonso's McLaren completes the top ten and scores some points. But it was Kimi Raikkonen's determination that ignited the race. First at the start, when he overtook two cars at once to get in front of Sebastian Vettel, and then in endless duels with the German. But the best was yet to come, as on the final lap Kimi again attacked Bottas hard (perhaps too hard), forcing him out of the race and causing him to suffer a suspension failure, which allowed Perez to overtake him. However, the Mexican deserved this historic third place (the third in Force India's history) because he fought like a lion with a one-stop strategy, implemented early in the race. But let's get back to the dominator, Lewis Hamilton, celebrating with Vladimir Putin on the podium: this is his ninth victory of the season, the second in a row in Sochi and the 42nd of his career, which practically seals the title, thanks also to Nico Rosberg's retirement due to an accelerator problem in the early stages of the race. Finally, a round of applause for Carlos Sainz Jr. The Spanish Toro Rosso driver, who started from the back of the grid after skipping qualifying, retired with a broken wing after spinning with six laps to go in seventh place. Tenacity and determination are never in short supply from the young Spaniard, who is undoubtedly a great prospect for the future of F1. At the end of the race, a flash of humanity suddenly appears in this hybrid and somewhat politically correct Formula One, bringing the circus back to the glory of the golden age, the 70s, the era of hero and playboy drivers. It all happens after the race, in the press room. As the champagne flowed on the podium, the three protagonists of the Grand Prix let their hair down. Lewis Hamilton managed to get the girls he had contacted before the race to join the journalists in the room. The girls gathered near the photographers' platform and, now in civilian clothes, they all looked like a bouquet of flowers. After a few minutes of questions, the usual ones, the real show begins. First up is Sebastian Vettel.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand a word you're saying".
He says to Livio Oricchio, a legend of Brazilian sports journalism.
"The show distracts me too much, it's fantastic".

The tone is friendly, Oricchio's eyes widen. Sebastian Vettel continues to joke into the microphone, addressing Lewis Hamilton:
"I know you're waiting... for them to find you tonight at the Radisson, room 708. But at least let them sit down now, they've been standing all day...".
Annoyed, Oricchio repeats his question. But the situation was getting out of hand. Sergio Perez was distracted and kept looking at the back of the room. Lewis Hamilton replies, but his mind is elsewhere, taking pictures and sending messages on his mobile phone. After the press conference, things get hectic. Sebastian Vettel, a new father, disappears, leaving the field to Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez. The British driver approaches a girl and leaves her a phone number:
"It was Perez's".
He explains. And in the evening, Bernie Ecclestone, the circus master, informed of the unplanned event, tells Matteo Bonciani (FIA press office):
"I heard about what happened... If anyone has a complaint, send it to me, I'll look into it".
Nobody at Ferrari believes it. Second place in Sochi, with Sebastian Vettel overtaking Nico Rosberg in the standings, would allow a naive person to have illusions. What if Mercedes prove unreliable in the coming races? Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene laughs.
"But who? The unreliable Mercedes? They have already won the constructors' title with four races to spare. No, no, thank you. We're not looking at this championship, we're looking at next year, 2016".
Sebastian Vettel agrees, although he admits to a certain temptation:
"At a certain point in the race, the car was doing so well that I really thought about chasing Hamilton".
But then he comes back to reality:
"The goal is still to stay close to him in 2016. We're improving race by race, so it's possible".
Ferrari stepped down from the second step of the podium in Sochi to get its feet firmly on the ground. Maurizio Arrivabene explained later in the evening, when the adrenaline had subsided and the Anglo-German team were celebrating in their motorhome:
"It was a circuit we feared very much. We thought it would be a minor disaster, but the team reacted superbly".
In particular, the ability of the engineers and mechanics to react quickly to unpredictable situations was a positive surprise:
"Both in Japan and here in Russia we had very variable conditions and very little time to test the car on Friday. But we managed to find the best solutions in a very short time and be competitive on Saturday, even on less than ideal tracks".

This means that the team understands the car's behaviour and works well together.
"And this is what makes me optimistic for next year".
In Maranello, the work is now focused almost exclusively on 2016.
"There is a team of aerodynamicists who continue to propose parts for the current car, a small group thinking about 2017, but the bulk of production is concentrated on 2016".
There's a lot of catching up to do, that's the verdict of the circuit, and unlike last year, the development margin for these engines is much narrower.
"In 2015, we recovered about 90 hp compared to 2014. For next year, the target can only be much lower (around 20 hp, they say). But it's the same for everyone. I have a lot of confidence in this team and in Vettel, who is really phenomenal. I am sure it will be a fun season”.
This Russian autumn evening is sweet for Lewis Hamilton. And it's sweet for his bosses, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda, who have succeeded in the great prestige game of making their opponents think they've come a lot closer, but in fact have left them on the back foot. In 2014, the season that cost president Luca Montezemolo his job and team principals Stefano Domenicali and Marco Mattiacci, designer Nicholas Tombazis and engine specialist Luca Marmorini, Mercedes won the Constructors' World Championship after sixteen races; this year, the season of applause and songs sung on the radio, of a barrage of podiums and three victories, Mercedes closes the season after just fifteen races. This is not to say that Ferrari has not improved this year. On the contrary, it has grown a lot and laid the foundations for an exciting development in 2016. But it simply means that, despite the improvements and investments, despite the anomalous races, Mercedes remain the absolute and undisputed masters of the situation. The news of Mercedes' victory arrives in the least exciting way possible. At the end of the evening, while all the teams were busy packing their things to be shipped to the other side of the world, to Austin, Texas, the stewards, after a few meetings, decided to penalise Kimi Raikkonen for his rather desperate and daring attempt to overtake his compatriot Valtteri Bottas at the end of the race. Racing stuff - as Maurizio Arrivabene says - true.
But also stuff that damaged Valtteri Bottas, who stopped just short of his second podium of the season, and even less that of Kimi Raikkonen, who still managed to finish fifth, surrounded by sparks and smoke. Inevitable, therefore, the 30-second penalty imposed on the second Ferrari driver, who slipped to ninth place, leaving a lot of points on the asphalt. The Mercedes team uncorked the champagne in anticipation of the impact that the inscription F1 World Champion 2015, which will be stamped on all the German factory's commercial engines, will have. But the Russian Grand Prix was not just good news for the Anglo-Germans. On the contrary. For the umpteenth time this season, the two cars showed unusual signs of fragility. Lewis Hamilton had a slight problem with his rear wing in the last few kilometres. Just a shudder, nothing more. Nico Rosberg's, on the other hand, retired due to a grotesque problem with the accelerator pedal. Nothing to do with the legendary German reliability. So what happened? While waiting for the engineers to find out, Mercedes can only look at the standings and see that Sebastian Vettel has overtaken Nico Rosberg. Now, although not very threatening, Ferrari #5 is in second place. But there is no need to worry: in order not to be overly ambitious, Lewis Hamilton will only need to increase the gap between himself and the German by 9 points at the end of the next race. This means that if the Englishman wins in Austin and Vettel finishes third (as has happened four times this season), Hamilton will be crowned world champion. But if anything else goes wrong, even with this strange, unexpected, unthinkable fragility, there could be trouble.