How many of your pre-race predictions for the 2021 Russian Grand Prix were correct? Find out below!
1. WHERE WILL LECLERC FINISH?
YOUR PREDICTION: 6TH, 7TH OR 8TH
CORRECT ANSWER:
After starting near the back due to an engine penalty, Charles Leclerc made a great start to the Russian Grand Prix. He was up to twelfth by the end of the first lap and was set for a good result. That was until the rain fell – the Ferrari driver stayed out on dry tyres for longer than was optimal. He finished the race in a disappointing fifteenth place.
2. WILL THE WEEKEND BE WET?
YOUR PREDICTION: WET QUALI, WET RACE
CORRECT ANSWER: WET QUALI, WET RACE
Rain was forecast in Sochi ahead of the race weekend – and it certainly arrived! Free Practice 3 was cancelled due to the weather conditions, but qualifying was able to go ahead at the scheduled time. Wet tyres were used on Saturday until the final laps of Q3. While the race started in dry conditions, the rain arrived just a few laps from the end of the race – leading to a dramatic ending!
3. WHERE WILL MAZEPIN FINISH?
YOUR PREDICTION: LAST OF THE FINISHERS
CORRECT ANSWER: LAST OF THE FINISHERS
Nikita Mazepin managed to navigate the wet weather at Sochi Autodrom, but finished two laps down on race winner Lewis Hamilton. Mazepin finished last of the 18 remaining drivers at the end of the race.
4. WHO WILL LEAD THE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER THE RACE?
YOUR PREDICTION: LEWIS HAMILTON
CORRECT ANSWER: LEWIS HAMILTON
It was always going to be difficult for Max Verstappen to hold on to the championship lead on a weekend where he had to start from the back of the grid due to an engine penalty. Hamilton won the race, with Verstappen fighting back to second place. As a result of his 100th Grand Prix win, Hamilton leads the title race by two points.
5. WHERE WILL THE FASTEST McLAREN DRIVER QUALIFY?
YOUR PREDICTION: 4TH OR 5TH
CORRECT ANSWER: IN THE TOP 3
Only 11% of you predicted that a McLaren driver would qualify in the top three at the Russian Grand Prix. The team had never done so before, but Lando Norris changed that and took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. This was McLaren’s first pole position since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix!
Let us know how you got on with this race’s predictions! There’ll be more predictions to be made ahead of the next Grand Prix. Follow Lights Out on twitter to take part: @LightsOutF1Blog!
