Sochi is flat, smooth and full of 90 degree corners. There are two long flat out runs and one long left that never seems to end.
The setup is built for that. Medium wing, the car as low as it goes, and anti-roll bars at the two ends of the scale to make it turn. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2019 Russia setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 3 | 6 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 1 | 2 |
| Anti-roll bar | 1 | 11 |
| Ride height | 1 | 2 |
| Tyre pressure | 24.2 psi | 21.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 50% |
| Differential off throttle | 70% |
| Brake pressure | 85% |
| Front brake bias | 55% |
In F1 2019 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2019 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
The lap on board
Why this setup works at Sochi
The lap is 5.848 km with 18 corners. The run from the last corner to turn 2 is long, and the back section after turn 10 is long too. Between them it is one medium speed corner after another.
The wings. 3 and 6. I run the same pair in France and at Silverstone. It is a medium level. The front is low for the two long runs. The rear at 6 keeps the car planted in turn 3, the long left around the Medals Plaza, and gives traction out of all the 90 degree corners.
The differential. 50% on throttle, fully open. Almost every corner here ends with a slow or medium exit where you want the power down early. Off throttle it is 70%. That keeps the rear calm when you brake for turn 2 and turn 13 from high speed.
The brakes. 85% pressure and 55% front bias. Two big stops, turn 2 and turn 13, and a lot of medium ones. Nothing unusual.
The geometry and tyres. Camber -2.50 and -1.00, toe 0.05 and 0.20. All four are the least angle the menu allows. Less drag on the long runs and a flat tyre for braking and traction. Pressures are 24.2 at the front and 21.5 at the rear. The high front pressure makes the car answer quickly in the direction changes.
The bars at 1 and 11
This is the part of the setup that stands out. The front anti-roll bar is at 1, the softest. The rear is at 11, the stiffest. Sochi is the only track in my list with the front bar at 1.
A soft front bar gives the front tyres grip. A stiff rear bar takes grip away from the rear and makes it rotate. Together they kill understeer. At Sochi understeer is the problem all lap, in turn 3 and in every 90 degree corner where the car wants to push wide.
The price is a rear that moves if you are rough with the throttle. The open differential helps with that.
Springs are 1 and 2. Soft, so the car can use the kerbs on the inside of the tight corners.
Ride height is 1 and 2. I only go this low here and in Japan. The track is flat and the surface is smooth, so there is nothing to hit. A low car has less drag and more grip from the floor.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The rear steps out in the 90 degree corners | Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 9 | A softer rear bar gives the rear more grip |
| The rear slides in turn 3 | Rear wing 6 to 7 | More rear downforce in the long corner |
| Still understeer in turn 3 | Front wing 3 to 4 | More front load at speed |
| Wheelspin out of turns 14 to 16 | Rear tyre pressure 21.5 to 21.1 psi | A bigger contact patch on the exits |
| Front tyres lock into turn 2 | Brake pressure 85% to 82% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit |
| The car hits the kerbs hard | Ride height 1 and 2 to 2 and 3 | More room under the floor |
| Too slow on the run to turn 2 | Rear wing 6 to 5 | Less drag. The rear gets lighter in turn 3 |
For a race
A rear bar at 11 is hard on the rear tyres over a stint. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 9. The rear tyres last longer and the car is easier to drive on worn rubber.
- Front anti-roll bar 1 to 2. It keeps the balance when you soften the rear.
- Ride height 1 and 2 to 2 and 3. A full tank pushes the car down onto the kerbs.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would go to brake pressure around 80%, the rear anti-roll bar at 8 and the rear wing at 7.
F1 2019 has manual ERS modes. Spend the battery on the run to turn 2 and on the back section to turn 13. Save from turn 14 to turn 18. You pass into turn 2 with the slipstream, and the real race in 2019 showed how strong that slipstream is.
Where the lap time is at Sochi
- Turn 2. The first real corner, after the flat kink of turn 1. A big stop into a 90 degree right. Brake in a straight line and do not run wide, the exit is tight.
- Turn 3. The long left around the Medals Plaza. Flat or nearly flat in time trial. Hold a steady line and let the car drift out slowly.
- Turns 4 to 7. Four right handers. They look the same and they are not. Give each one a late apex and think about the exit.
- Turns 8 to 10. Turn 10 is the one that counts. It leads onto the back section, so sacrifice turn 9 to be early on the throttle.
- Turn 13. The second big stop. The braking zone is slightly curved, so be careful with the rear when you hit the pedal.
- Turns 14 to 16. The slowest part of the lap. Be patient, wait for the car to turn, then go.
- Turns 17 and 18. Two 90 degree rights. The exit of turn 18 starts the longest run of the lap.
If you take one thing from this page: the 90 degree corners are all about the exit. Brake a little early, turn the car, and be the first one back on the throttle.
Sochi in 2019
The 2019 Russian Grand Prix was round 16 of 21, on 29 September, over 53 laps. Charles Leclerc took pole position in 1:31.628, his fourth pole in a row.
Sebastian Vettel took the slipstream on the long run to turn 2 and led into the corner. Ferrari asked him to give the place back and he stayed in front. Leclerc got ahead again at the pit stops. Then Vettel's car stopped with a hybrid failure. The virtual safety car came out, both Mercedes pitted under it, and Lewis Hamilton came out in the lead.
Hamilton won, Valtteri Bottas was second and Leclerc third. Hamilton set the fastest lap, a 1:35.761 on lap 51.
More F1 2019 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2019 setups page. Russia is round 16. The round before it is the F1 2019 Singapore setup and the next one is the F1 2019 Japan setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 Russia setup and my F1 2020 Russia setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2019 setup for Russia?
Front wing 3, rear wing 6, differential 50% on throttle and 70% off, suspension 1 and 2, anti-roll bars 1 and 11, ride height 1 and 2, brake pressure 85% with 55% front bias, and tyres at 24.2 and 21.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run at Sochi in F1 2019?
3 at the front and 6 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would keep them and soften the rear anti-roll bar.
Can I use this Russia setup in a race?
Yes, with small changes. Rear anti-roll bar to 9, front anti-roll bar to 2 and ride height to 2 and 3.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would lower the brake pressure to around 80%, soften the rear anti-roll bar to 8 and run the rear wing at 7.
Why are the anti-roll bars at 1 and 11?
To kill understeer. A soft front bar gives the front grip and a stiff rear bar makes the rear rotate. Sochi is full of 90 degree corners where the car wants to push wide.
Where can I overtake at Sochi in F1 2019?
Into turn 2 after the long run from the last corner, with DRS and the slipstream. Turn 13 is the second place.
How long is the Sochi track in F1 2019?
5.848 km with 18 corners. The real race is 53 laps.