2021 Russian Grand Prix

The **2021 Russian Grand Prix** was a Formula 1.5 motor race, held on 26 September 2021 at the Sochi Autodrom. It was the 15th round of the 2021 Formula 1.5 World Championship. It was the tenth running of the Russian Grand Prix, and the eighth held in Sochi. It was won by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.

## Background

The event, held over the weekend of 24–26 September, at the Sochi Autodrom, wаs the fifteenth round of the 2021 World Championship. The race take place two weeks after the Italian Grand Prix and two weeks before the Turkish Grand Prix. Despite having to race as a neutral competitor, using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), it was Nikita Mazepin's home race

### **Entrants**

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Kimi Räikkönen returned for this event, after missing the previous two races due to testing positive for coronavirus.

The title sponsor of Ferrari, Mission Winnow, returned for this race. The name and sponsor logos were used by Ferrari at the Bahrain, Emilia Romagna, Portuguese, Spanish, Monaco, and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, but were not used in any races from the French Grand Prix to the Italian Grand Prix for legal reasons.

### **Tyres**

Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated the C3, C4, and C5 compounds of tyre to be used in the race.

## Practice

The first practice session started at 11:30 MST, on 24 September 2021, and ended with no major incidents. Lando Norris spun and grazed the wall on his in lap but he was able to get back to the pits. Charles Leclerc finished 1st, with ex-team mate Sebastian Vettel in second. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was third.

Free practice 2 started at 15:00 MST, on the same day. It ended with only 1 interruption. Antonio Giovinazzi spun and hit the wall, ending his session and causing a red flag. At the end of the session, AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly ran over a curb and dislodged his front wing. No red flag was required because it was the end of the session. Gasly topped the session ahead of championship leader Norris and Ocon.

Free practice 3 was scheduled to start at 12:00 MST, on 25 September 2021, but it was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

## Qualifying

Qualifying started at 15:00 MST, on 25 September 2021. Lando Norris started on pole, having set the fastest time on slick tyres on a drying track. Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari qualified second. George Russell qualified 3rd for Williams, his second top-three starting position of the season, having previously qualified on pole at The Belgian GP.

## Race

The race started at 15:00 MST, on 26 September 2021. Carlos Sainz Jr. took the lead from Lando Norris into turn two. Charles Leclerc climbed up to 8th after starting from 16th. On lap 13, Norris overtook Sainz to retake the lead of the race. Norris would remain in the lead until the closing five laps, when rain began to fall, resulting in many of the drivers pitting for intermediate tyres, including Sainz on lap 49. On lap 51, Norris aquaplaned at turn 5. Norris finally entered the pits at the end of the lap for intermediate tyres; however, Norris aquaplaned on the pit entry and crossed the white line separating the pit lane entry from the track, for which he was reprimanded. Norris finished the race in fourth. Sainz won the race, ahead of Ricciardo and Alonso.

## Championship Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

  1
  1

Constructors' Championship standings

## External Links

1. ↑  Nicholas Latifi was required to start the race from the back of the grid for exceeding his quota of power unit elements.
2. ↑  Charles Leclerc was required to start the race from the back of the grid for exceeding his quota of power unit elements
3. ↑  Antonio Giovinazzi received a five-place grid penalty for unscheduled gearbox change. The penalty was nullified by penalties incurred by other drivers. As a result, he made a net gain of one place from his qualifying position.
4. ↑  As qualifying was held on a wet track, the 107% rule was not in force.
5. ↑ Half points were awarded, as less than 75% of the race distance was completed.
6. ↑  Includes 1 point for fastest lap
7. ↑  Lance Stroll received a post-race ten-second time penalty for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly. His final position was not affected by the penalty.