The Russian Grand Prix: A Festival of Speed and Entertainment

The general public will be able to attend what the circuit has called “a four-day festival of speed and entertainment.”

Sports Pundit contacted the organizers of the Russian Grand Prix to learn more about the rules and conditions that will be in place to ensure the health and safety of the public attending the Grand Prix in such unprecedented times, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The decision to hold the race with spectators was made in cooperation with colleagues from Formula 1 and the Government of the Russian Federation.

The health of the spectators and all participants is a priority, therefore, safety rules in full compliance with the current requirements of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) will be in effect at the race in Sochi,” said Russian Grand Prix promoter Rosgonki.

“During the activities, all sanitary and epidemiological requirements will be observed to minimize the risk of the threat of the spread of coronavirus infection. All relevant promoter personnel, FOM/FIA, and sports personnel will be tested.

“We will arrange special seating in the grandstands, temperature checks, and other measures for the spectators to ensure the safety of the fans.

In addition, medical teams will be on standby in the places of mass gatherings. Additional trains and buses will also be provided on intra-city routes, considering the peak loads,” Rosgonki told Sports Pundit.

The Russian Grand Prix is the tenth round of the 2020 Formula One revised calendar, which so far features 13 races - all in Europe, with new venues expected to be added over the upcoming weeks, as the series targets a season of 15-18 races.

Getting to know the Sochi Autodrom

Designed by architect Hermann Tilke, the circuit spans on 5.848 kilometers (3.634 mi), and was built around the Sochi Olympic Park.

The infrastructure comprises modern facilities, including hotels and convenient access to transportation.

“We are glad that Russian fans will be able to attend the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix and are ready to ensure all the necessary safety measures for the guests of Sochi Autodrom.Now we are working on a scenario with the number of spectators not exceeding 50% of the total capacity of the Olympic Park, that is about 30,000. The exact data will be announced after the final agreement with Rospotrebnadzor.

“We are confident that the efforts we are making to host the Grand Prix will pay off and the Russian round will be the first opportunity for fans to become part of a large festival with racing and entertainment.”

The promoters in Sochi have also confirmed to Sports Pundit, “the access to the paddock will be restricted in accordance with epidemiological safety requirements and applicable rules set by our colleagues from Formula 1.”

The city of Sochi is the largest resort city in Russia, ideally located on the banks of the Black Sea.

THE REVISED 2020 CALENDAR

As it stands, three other races will follow the Russian Grand Prix, filling the revised calendar of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship until November.

The Eiffel Grand Prix will be host at the circuit of Nurburgring in Germany.

Two weeks later, the Algarve International Circuit will welcome for the very first time the Portuguese Grand Prix, an event that has not been part of the Formula One calendar since 1996.

According to the organizers of the latter, fans will be allowed to assist the event.

“With restricted rules and conditions, we will have a limited number of spectators at the event. We hope we can achieve 60.000 spectators for this event,” the Portuguese organizers explained.

At last, the 13th round of the calendar will be celebrated at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, for the first time since 2006.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be featured, as a condensed two-day event from Oct 31-Nov 1.

Only a week will separate the race in Portugal and the Grand Prix in Imola.

The Russian stars competing in Formula 2

During the Formula One Russian Grand Prix weekend, the Sochi Autodrom is also set to host the tenth round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Russian drivers Robert Shwartzman, Nikita Mazepin, and Artem Markelov, are representing the country in the 2020 Formula 2 season.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ AT HOME IN RUSSIA

Since its debut in 2014, the Russian Grand Prix could be considered Mercedes-Benz territory.

The German team has been at the top of the podium of each race held in the circuit.

In 2016, F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg took victory on a Sunday afternoon - that same year, the German would go on to win the world championship over teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The British driver has four wins in Russian soil while current teammate Valtteri Bottas secured his first career win in Formula One at the Sochi Autodrom in 2017.

In 2019, six-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix, followed by Bottas, and Charles Leclerc in third.