2016 Track Preview; Russian Grand Prix, Sochi

As we head to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix this weekend for the fourth race of the 2016 season, Pirelli have nominated three compounds medium, soft and supersoft P Zero compounds for the weekend.

Although the track is now three years old, the asphalt is still evolving and may be different and with wear and degradation being low, we would not expect a high number of pit stops this weekend during the Grand Prix. A high degree of track evolution is expected, as the track is not otherwise used extensively.

The weather conditions tend to be mild, so thermal degradation is not a big issue for the Pirelli tyres this weekend. The most challenging corner is Turn 3: a multi-apex left-hander that recalls Istanbul's Turn 8. About 1.7 kilometres of the 5.848-kilometre lap are run on roads open to the public.

But this could also be the last daytime Russian GP with a night race a possibility in Sochi for 2017.
Here's my facts and figures as well as my predictions heading into the Russian Grand Prix this weekend.

Facts and Figures:-

•Sochi has hosted the Grand Prix since 2014.

•Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at the track with two wins.

•Mercedes is the most successful constructor to win the Grand Prix with two wins.

•Race distance: 310km

•Number of turns: 18

•Laps: 53

•Top speed: 336kph

•Lap record: Valtteri Bottas- Williams (2014)- 1.40.896

Past winners of the Russian Grand Prix:-

•2014- Lewis Hamilton
•2015- Lewis Hamilton

My five things to look out for this weekend:-

1.Tyre performance F1 is back in Russia just six months after the previous Grand Prix, the track will present a new challenge to the teams and the drivers this year and with the track still evolving as time goes on during the race on the Sochi circuit; alongside the new rules that have been implemented this season, it will be interesting to see how that affects tyre usage. Will this impact anyone's race on Sunday as a result?

2.Performance of Ferrari With Ferrari at the moment being Mercedes' closest competitor, all eyes will be upon Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen this weekend to see if they can translate the form they have shown so far this season. Question is; can they win this weekend and take the fight to Mercedes.

3.Performance of the Mercedes team With Mercedes being the firm favourites heading into the race this weekend, all eyes will be upon them to see if they are as competitive as they were last season. However with Ferrari showing good performance and pace in the first two races, has their advantage and stranglehold on the sport been broken?

4.Performance of Sergey Sirotkin With Sirotkin getting an F1 drive with the Renault team in FP1 on Friday, this will be the first time he has been back in an F1 car since the 2014 Russian GP where again he took part in FP1 with Sauber. How will the local GP2 driver perform?

5.Performance of Daniil Kvyat With Kvyat coming into his home race with a podium finish from Shanghai, all eyes will be upon him this weekend to deliver that again. There have been talks that Kvyat has got what it takes to stay driving with the Red Bull team and it would be another opportunity for him to prove that he can and deliver a result his country and fans would be proud of.

Sky Sports F1 are showing uninterrupted coverage of every Practice session, Qualifying and race for the Grand Prix (and every race of the season) and the BBC also are showing coverage, details for both are below:-

•Sky Sports F1:- Friday (Practice 1 and 2) 7.45am and 11.45am [Replays throughout Friday], Saturday (Practice 3 and Qualifying) 9.45am and 12.00pm [Replays throughout Saturday], Sunday (Race) 11.30am

•Channel Four- Saturday (Qualifying highlights) 5.30pm, Sunday (Race highlights) 6.00pm

Sarah Jones- @jonesy_laaa