2020 Russian Grand Prix - Sochi

Latest news and info on the 2019 Russain Grand Prix in Sochi, including race information and places to stay.

Russian Grand Prix
© XPB Images

Key figures

Date:25 - 27 September 2020
Number of laps:53
Circuit length:5.848 km
Race distance:309.732 km
Lap record:1:35.861
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2018

2019 Russian Grand Prix Session Reports:

No sessions run yet

2019 Russian Grand Prix News:

2019 Russian Grand Prix Guide + Info:

Winding around a number of venues used for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi Autodrom is a permanent circuit with a street-circuit feel to it at many points. The long run to Turn 2 sees cars exceeding 320kph, with the first real corner on the track offering overtaking opportunities. A slight left at Turn 3 is followed by a long, fast, sweeping left-handed Turn 4 where a close barrier on the outside will punish any mistakes. A series of 90-degree corners follow before the back straight which sees drivers sweep to Turn 14, with the need to turn under braking adding to the challenge. A tight section around the back of the pits and paddock then follows, with two 90-degree right handers to end the lap.

DESTINATION GUIDE

Sochi is Russia's largest and most popular resort city. Located along the Black Sea coast, it is approximately 1,600km south of Moscow, and sprawls for 145km along the shores of the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains.

While you may have visions of Russia having a largely cold climate Sochi belongs to a tiny part of Russia which is located in the subtropical climatic zone. The average winter temperature reaches +8/+10 degrees, but in summer it can reach +40 degrees. Sochi can even boast around 200 sunny days a year.

The circuit itself is in Adler, so take the time to check out the whole Olympic Park itself. It houses the main Olympic Stadium used for the Games' ceremonies. The park was designed so that all of the large-scale sporting venues would be accessible within walking distance of each other. The venues are situated around a water basin containing a music fountain.

Annually Sochi also hosts several international and national competitions in athletics, tennis, football, volleyball, and sailing.

The city of Sochi offers many interesting attractions. Visitors can visit Sochi’s art and history museums, take in an opera at the dramatic Winter Theatre, explore the stunning Dendrary Botanical Gardens or one of the other picturesque parks, sample Russian cuisine in a local restaurant, discover sea creatures at the Discovery World Aquarium, or wander along the Black Sea coast observing the amazing architecture. Sochi is also known as a health resort and boasts numerous spas situated around healing mineral springs.

The Winter Olympics were hosted here due to the mountain resort some 50km inland. The climate of the mountainous part of Greater Sochi is significantly colder, allowing for a full ski season in winter and early spring. Thanks to that, Sochi guests can visit the world class ski resort of Krasnaya Polyana in the West Caucasus mountains. The Western Caucasus also contains the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO world heritage site that is described as ‘the only large mountain area in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact’.

HOW TO GET THERE

Sochi Autodrom is approximately 30km away from the centre of the city, 10km away from Adler Railway Station, 10km from Sochi International Airport and 50km from the mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana. Taxis or buses from the airport are the only viable way of reaching the circuit. There is a dedicated railway station for the Olympic Park from the centre of Sochi.