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Russian GP: Massa 4th but disappointment for Bottas


By Andrew Hooper
October 11 2015

The results of the 2015 Russian GP would see Williams Martini driver Felipe Massa finish in a fantastic 4th but the results could have been so much better. Team-mate Valtteri Bottas had been able to move into 3rd on the last lap but would be hit by Raikkonen seeing the Finn retire. At the time of the accident for Valtteri he was running in 3rd and Felipe 6th. The race could have seen Williams come away with a double points scoring finish as well as a podium but this was not to be.

 
 Russian Grand Prix Race Review
 
Bottas
 

Qualifying for the 2015 Russian Grand Prix would see Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish in third and fifteenth. It was a great result from Valtteri but for Felipe his low grid position is going to make his race a difficult time. On pole was Rosberg from Hamilton, Valtteri, Vettel, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Grosjean, Verstappen, and Ricciardo in tenth. It was announced that Sainz, who had crashed in practice, had been cleared to race but would start from the rear of the grid. Valtteri would start the race on the option super soft tyre while Felipe would start on the medium tyre. This race would be Alonso's 250th even if he was to start at the rear for the fifty three lap race. Apart from Felipe the other drivers starting on the medium were Maldonado, Ericsson, and Alonso.

The grid would move off on their parade lap with Rosberg leading the field back onto the grid. The grid would form and the lights would go off and it would be Rosberg leading Hamilton with Valtteri third. Raikkonen would get past Valtteri with Vettel in fifth behind the Williams. But the race would go under the Safety Car as a result of Hulkenberg spinning and Ericsson crashing into the Force India. Grosjean would pit while Verstappen would suffer a punctured left rear tyre. Grosjean would switch to the soft tyre as well as having a new front wing put on. Verstappen had spun as a result of the accident between Hulkenberg and Ericsson. Felipe was down in eleventh having gained from the pit stops of other cars but he had also had to avoid the accident. Sixth was Perez followed by Kvyat, Ricciardo, Nasr and Button.

 
Massa
 

Valtteri was able to get past Raikkonen using his straight line speed to his advantage. Rosberg still had Hamilton close behind while Valtteri was 1.5 seconds behind Hamilton. Vettel would try to pass Raikkonen at Turn two but he was not able to get past. Rosberg would say to his engineer "My throttle pedal is broken. Advise...what should I do if it sticks?" Lap seven and Raikkonen was 2.7 seconds behind Valtteri but at the front Hamilton would get past Rosberg with Valtteri also getting past. Rosberg would pit with Hamilton now leading from Valtteri, Raikkonen, Vettel, Perez, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Nasr, Felipe, and Button tenth. Rosberg would retire in the pit lane with the throttle issue costing him a possible race victory.

Felipe was closing in onto Nasr while Maldonado had passed Button for tenth. Hamilton was told that he could stop fuel saying and that his team-mate had retired. Valtteri was 3.1 seconds behind Hamilton after lap eleven. Felipe was just 0.7 behind Nasr after lap twelve with Maldonado a second behind Felipe. But the Safety Car would again be deployed as a result of a crash by Grosjean. Perez would pit along with Ricciardo. Sainz would also come in joined by Button. These drivers had come back out on the soft tyre. Grosjean had spun into the barrier in the middle of Turn three with his car badly damaged. Grosjean was able to get out of his wrecked car. Nasr was now up to sixth and Felipe seventh. None of the top eight had pitted under the Safety Car. Alonso would also pit taking on the option tyre.

 
Bottas
 

The damaged Lotus was removed but it would a while before the race would restart. "This is the slowest the safety car has ever gone, I can't keep temperature in the tyres," said Hamilton. With the restart Hamilton and Valtteri were able to move ahead of the Ferrari's. Vettel would try to pass Raikkonen but Raikkonen would go off the track to keep his lead. But Vettel would finally get past his team-mate at Turn six with Kvyat behind Raikkonen in fifth. Felipe was again right behind Nasr while Raikkonen would complain "I have no speed on the straight line on the restart." Lap nineteen and Valtteri was 2.6 seconds behind Hamilton. Sainz and Ricciardo were fighting over tenth place with the Red Bull leading. Perez was behind Felipe while at the front Vettel was dropping back from Valtteri. Kvyat was running in a lonely fifth.

Bottas would be informed of Vettel's pace behind him and Valtteri was asked for tyre feedback. "Consistent at the moment," would say the Finn. Lap twenty three and Hamilton was 7.2 seconds ahead of Valtteri. Of those who stopped under the Safety Car Perez was down in eighth 24 seconds behind Hamilton. Sainz would get a five second penalty for cutting the white line at the pit entry. Vettel was now in DRS range but Valtteri had the advantage of been quicker in a straight line. Valtteri would tell his team that the tyres were dying seeing Valtteri pull into the pits. Valtteri would get a set of soft tyres and would come back out in eleventh but behind several drivers who had already made their second stop. His engineer had offered a front wing adjustment, which Valtteri declined. Vettel was now in second followed by Raikkonen and Kvyat. Felipe was now sixth but still behind Nasr.

 
Massa
 

Valtteri was behind tenth placed Sainz who was to receive his penalty. Valtteri would pass Sainz and was now tenth. Vettel would pit on lap thirty two taking on the soft tyre. Felipe would also come in while Vettel would come back out in front of Valtteri. Felipe was back out on the option super soft tyre while on lap thirty three Raikkonen would pit taking on the soft tyre. Raikkonen would come out close behind Valtteri with the pair coming very close to each other going through Turns three and four. Hamilton would pit on lap thirty four changing to the soft tyre. Vettel would get past Perez going into Turn thirteenth with Vettel now fourth. Kvyat was now second and Nasr third, but neither had pitted. Kvyat would pit on lap thirty five coming out in ninth. Felipe was now down in twelfth running behind Alonso.

Valtteri was in sixth 0.5 behind Ricciardo. Perez was in fourth but this would become third as Nasr pitted on lap thirty six. The order was now Hamilton, Vettel, Perez, Ricciardo, Valtteri, Raikkonen, Sainz, Kvyat, Button, and Felipe. Felipe had been able to get past Alonso for tenth. Raikkonen was running right behind Valtteri with the Ferrari driver getting alongside the Williams on a few occasions. Ricciardo a bit further up the track but Valtteri was closing in onto the Red Bull. Valtteri was 1.0s behind Ricciardo now, while Perez was 2.3s ahead of the Red Bull. Felipe was able to get past Kvyat now running in eighth. Valtteri was told that Perez was struggling at that he could still get the podium. Valtteri would finally get past Ricciardo for fourth and now starting to close in onto Perez.

Valtteri was told "Brilliant Stuff" as he continued to push to close the gap to Perez. Raikkonen was looking to pass Ricciardo but would run wide at Turn two seeing him having to give the place back. Sainz would go off the track with a brake issue seeing him back his car into the barrier at Turn thirteen. He would get going but would pull off the track and stop. Felipe was now in seventh as a result of Sainz's retirement. Kvyat was now eighth followed by Nasr and Maldonado. Raikkonen would finally pass Ricciardo for fifth. But Ricciardo would be another retirement pulling off the track at Turn eight with something broken in the rear of his car. Felipe was now in sixth while Valtteri was 0.6 behind Perez. But the Finn could not get past the Force India as the laps counted down. But in the dying moments Valtteri was able to get past Perez. But now Raikkonen was right behind the Williams having also got past Perez.

But at Turn four Valtteri and Raikkonen would make contact seeing Valtteri spin into retirement. Hamilton would win with Vettel second and Perez third. Felipe was able to get past Raikkonen for fourth with the Ferrari fifth. Kvyat was sixth followed by Nasr, Maldonado, Button, and Alonso tenth. Valtteri would say "What the **** did he do??" The incident between Valtteri and Raikkonen was under investigation. Despite the disappointment of the retirement of Valtteri it was a great effort from Felipe to come home fourth.

 
BOttas
 

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Russian GP: Massa 4th but disappointment for Bottas
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 11/10/2015 14:09
Williams F1
11/10/2015 14:09
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