User:TakenFootball/2021 Russian Grand Prix

The 2021 Russian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2021) is a scheduled Formula One motor race, due to be held on 26 September 2021 at the Sochi Autodrom. It will be the 15th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. It will be the tenth running of the Russian Grand Prix and the eighth time held in Sochi.

Background
The event, to be held over the weekend of 24–26 September, at the Sochi Autodrom, is going to be the fifteenth round of the 2021 World Championship. The race will take place two weeks after the Italian Grand Prix and two weeks before the Turkish Grand Prix. Despite having to race as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), it will be Nikita Mazepin's home race.

Championship standings before the race
After championship rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, crashed at the Italian Grand Prix, the championship battle does not change, meaning Verstappen still leads Hamilton by three points. After Lando Norris' second place, he closes the gap to Valtteri Bottas to only nine points, however they remain fourth and third, respectively. Sergio Pérez remains fifth. In the Constructors' Championship, Mercedes extend their lead, after Bottas placed two places higher than Pérez, to 18 points, over Red Bull. McLaren's one-two in the previous race sees them jump Ferrari by 13.5 points. Alpine trail Ferrari by 105.5 points.

Entrants
The drivers and teams will be the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Kimi Raikkonen will return for this event, after missing the previous two, due to a contracting coronavirus.

Tyre choices
Sole tyre supplier Pirelli will allocate the C3, C4, and C5 compounds of tyre to be used in the race.

Penalties
After the previous race saw Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton make contact and both retire from the race, the stewards investigated the incident and decided that Verstappen was predominantly to blame. The stewards decided to give him a 3-place grid drop for this event. This means he will start three places lower than where he qualifies.

Practice
Free practice 1 is scheduled to start at 11:30 MST, on 24 September 2021. Free practice 2 is scheduled to start at 15:00 MST, on the same day. Free practice 3 is scheduled to start at 12:00 MST, on 25 September 2021.

Qualifying
Qualifying is scheduled to start at 15:00 MST, on 25 September 2021.

Race
The race is scheduled to start at 15:00 MST, on 26 September 2021.