Sochi Autodrom is expected to hold the Russian Grand Prix for the final time next year, RaceFans has learned.
The venue in the Black Sea resort has held the Russian Grand Prix since it was added to the calendar in 2014. Two years ago the race promoted signed a new deal, extending its contract to 2025.However development plans in the area have prompted moves to relocate Russia’s round of the world championship.
Sochi’s circuit is formed using roads which were part of the site which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. But the track hosts few major races aside from its annual grand prix.
Source have indicated plans are being made to develop areas of the site for other purposes. The construction of a new concert hall for 2021 will force changes to the track’s configuration, shortening it to just over two kilometres. This would make it too short for Formula 1, though the venue’s rumoured Formula E race would still be able to go ahead.
Race promoter Rosgonki stated it holds a contract for the Russian Grand Prix to continue until 2025 and gave no further comment.
A new circuit under construction outside St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest circuit, is considered a likely new home for the race.
Formula 1 is understood to be aware of the potential change and is content for it to go ahead providing the race moves to a venue they view as another destination city.
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Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
26th September 2019, 11:09
Always a sign of great strength when a series owner can’t even decide where the contracted races are held.
Liberty must have retained true contractual wizards.
bosyber (@bosyber)
26th September 2019, 11:11
Was this contract signed while Liberty had control, or was that still Bernie @proesterchen?
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
26th September 2019, 11:23
It happened in late Feb 2017, when Liberty owned the business:
https://www.racefans.net/2017/03/01/f1-fanatic-round-up-0103-3/
Bernie reportedly helped facilitate the deal, though this sounds more like he was doing the negotiating on the other side from Liberty:
https://www.racefans.net/2019/01/23/ecclestone-made-new-russian-gp-deal-more-efficient/
GnosticBrian (@gnosticbrian)
26th September 2019, 11:24
bosyber – The original may have been Bernie but the renewal, two years ago, was not.
Dave
26th September 2019, 12:40
Er, the article says the exact opposite. The circuit change needs F1 to approve it. The article also noted that Liberty Media would be receptive to a change to, well, pretty much anywhere that’s not Sochi.
Jesper (@jesperfey13)
26th September 2019, 11:19
Great news! Any piece of asphalt is better than this terrible circuit. (Apart from Paul Ricard of course)
The sooner we get rid of it, the better!
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
26th September 2019, 11:30
You say that now.
And then you end up racing somewhere halfway between St Petersburg and the Finnish border wondering why you keep letting your valued partners call their race tracks after cities 1 1/2 hours away or more. (“Moscow” Raceway, anyone?)
It’s a destination alright, it’s just the city part that needs more work than in South Korea a decade ago. :P
mfreire
28th September 2019, 3:00
Ricard is a better circuit than at least half of the circuits on the calendar- Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Catalunya, and Shanghai. It’s also the 4th fastest track on the calendar.
mfreire
28th September 2019, 3:00
*Ricard is a better circuit than at least 5 other circuits on the calendar- Sochi, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Catalunya, and Shanghai. It’s also the 4th fastest track on the calendar.
Miltiadis (@miltosgreekfan)
26th September 2019, 11:25
Lets be honest, no one will miss racing at Sochi. The only decent/exciting part is turn 3, around the stadium. The rest is character-less, layout wise and the surroundings… Does anyone know that the Formula E layout would look like?
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
26th September 2019, 11:31
Formula E will probably race around the F1 paddock. That’s about the size of circuit they like.
Diego Oliveira
26th September 2019, 13:43
Bottas will miss it!
zomtec (@zomtec)
26th September 2019, 14:47
Permanent circuit:
https://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/russia/sochi.html#.XYy_9n_gphE
Esploratore (@esploratore)
27th September 2019, 12:23
Only bottas will miss it.
matt90
7th October 2019, 13:58
I don’t think turn 3 is around a stadium.
DAllein (@)
26th September 2019, 11:54
First – good riddance!
Second – if it is not scrapped completely (which I think should be done), then a circuit definitely should be closer to Capital, with proper International Airports nearby.
MakB
26th September 2019, 13:06
Moscow has lot’s of problems with logistic (street race is impossible), and Moscow raceway has quite a boring layout, and St. Petersberg has more landmarks and has two international airports nearby
MakB
26th September 2019, 13:04
“A new circuit under construction outside St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest circuit, is considered a likely new home for the race.”
“new circuit” is an Igora-Drive Raceway – the circuit was designed to get FIA grade 2, but due to lack of funds run-off areas depth was reduced, so even getting Grade 3 is now a big question. Also, there’s a lack of area on the building site (here’s an areal render: https://nsp.ru/files/ckeditor/c4/8d/b0/25994.jpg), so it’s hard to imagine, that track can ever get Grade 1. But a race on St. Petersburg streets is a very interesting option.
Kitty Riot
26th September 2019, 13:25
Let’s hope this will be the end of the Russian GP.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
26th September 2019, 13:29
The first bit of 2021 news that excites me :)
Although, I must say that @proesterchen ‘s en route to Finland comment cracked me up.
montreal95 (@montreal95)
26th September 2019, 13:42
Good. they can’t do any worse than this rubbish circuit
James Brickles (@brickles)
26th September 2019, 14:30
The circuit in question that is being built near St Petersburg is the Igora Drive. It looks… alright, very flowing. Although it’s yet another Tilke, he isn’t trying to cram everything into a circuit like he usually does.
https://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/russia/igora-drive.html#.XYy8cCMrIxe
imhotep222 (@imhotep222)
26th September 2019, 14:59
But what the heck is going on with that pit exit? Looks like you’d lose masses of time so encourages a 1-stop… Ok for overtaking though if they can get close out of the last corner
ColdFly (@)
26th September 2019, 15:50
The pit exit should be in T4, @imhotep222.
Yes, I’m serious. This way the time lost during a pitstop would be minimal, which encourages more pitstops and full-throttle racing throughout the race as you do not have to worry about saving your tyres.
Ericglo
26th September 2019, 16:13
I agree with that. Turn 4 would be better.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
26th September 2019, 16:42
I can’t help but feel it’d be pretty close to everyone just driving through the pit lane lap after lap, it increase pitstops from the 1 per race to 68.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
27th September 2019, 8:55
YES this! Pitstops should gain you time, then all kinds of strategies can be done.
montreal95 (@montreal95)
26th September 2019, 21:32
@brickles Quite nice layout this track has. And those who cry about it being an hour away from St Petersburg like @proesterchen, please do remind me what’s the closest big city to Spa? Suzuka? Road America? Nurburgring? How far away are they located from it? And these are some of the finest circuits on the planet! When I visited Road America for example I had no problem driving there for two hours each way 3 times during the weekend from where I was located. Because it was worth it. I wouldn’t drive even 20 minutes for Sochi level rubbish
GongTong (@gongtong)
26th September 2019, 22:09
@montreal95 I completely agree. Monza and Hungaroring? Neither were exactly city centre. And Silverstone might be NEAR things but cars can’t move on race weekend, so it’s academic.
It’s not relevant to me. I thought we all camped at the circuit anyway.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
27th September 2019, 6:59
@montreal95
May I direct your attention to the final paragraph of this article?
“providing the race moves to a venue they view as another destination city”
The woods 90 minutes (best case) north of St Peterburg are definitely a destination. It’s just the city part that seems to be absent.
Craig Simons
26th September 2019, 15:03
Proshchay, Sochi. You’re a rubbish circuit anyway.
American F1
26th September 2019, 15:57
What?!? I can’t believe that F1 would let such an iconic track just disappear from the schedule! When I think back to that time that Mercedes won, and that other time Mercedes won, and those two other times Mercedes won and those 10-12 hours of my life I spent watching cars circulate around such a smooth and level circuit it just warms my heart. Who needs dramatic elevation change like Spa or COTA? And do corner complexes like Maggots/Beckets really make a race more interesting? And, honestly do we really want dramatic passing like Danny Ric on Perez to set up his maiden win at Canada…oh who am I kidding, this track was crap from day one. It is absolutely lifeless and soulless. About the only interesting thing I ever saw here was watching Kvyat play bumper cars with Vettel. Could we possibly speed up the time line and ditch it after this weekend?
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
26th September 2019, 16:53
One positive of Sochi is that I get the impression these roads being closed for an F1 is not inconveniencing anyone for about 500 miles.
David B
26th September 2019, 16:15
Bahrain, France & Russia shouldn’t be on the calendar. I have a feeling that the Vietnam & Dutch tracks will be the same.
Whilst they’re at it, they should swap Brazil with Abu Dhabi again.
Ericglo
26th September 2019, 16:22
I like this and furthermore would like to see more countries move the race around. In the US, F1 should alternate between COTA and a couple of street races like Vegas. Germany could do the same with Hockenheim and a street race in Berlin or Tempelhof. Spain could go between Catalunya and Jerez. Etc.
Zenaracer
26th September 2019, 17:37
You talk easy mate – just move the circuits like they are like scalectrix sets. There is only ONE street circuit in F1 that is Monaco. The rest are rubbish and unbecoming of F1. TIME to move back to more proper race tracks, built by true petrol head junkies with high octane flowing through them. Such a pity iconic F1 teams are allowing this sport to turn into a roadshow for socalled fans who have no glue what the game is all about
Ericglo
26th September 2019, 18:15
Unto each their own, but this is big business more than a sport. Liberty has said they want to go to the cities. It is going to happen. I prefer elevation changes over flat circuits any day. There are plenty of cities that have elevation changes that can become interesting tracks.
Qeki (@qeki)
26th September 2019, 16:40
(Well again, but not so signifigant) bad news for Bottas as Sochi seems to suit his driving style quite well. But who knows what will happen if the race is moved.
BillC
26th September 2019, 16:47
Just leave Russia and other such dictatorships.
Frasier (@frasier)
26th September 2019, 18:21
@keithcollantine
second largest city, surely?
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
26th September 2019, 18:42
OH, NO!
Said no one
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
26th September 2019, 23:55
Like missing a dentist appointment.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
26th September 2019, 20:37
Why leave Sochi after 2020? Why not now?