Sochi Autodrom was laid out around venues from the 2014 Winter Olympics and hosted the Russian Grand Prix from that same year through 2021. The flat, semi-permanent circuit changed little, with its long Turn 3 and ninety-degree corners defining every edition.
Mercedes won every race at Sochi. Team orders moved Valtteri Bottas aside for Lewis Hamilton in the controversial 2018 finish, while late rain in 2021 cost Lando Norris a first victory and handed Hamilton his 100th.
Across 5.848 km, its 15 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a permanent racing circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
