Sochi runs around the Olympic Park. It is flat, the walls are close, and most of the corners are 90 degrees. Between them there are three long runs on full throttle, and turn 3 goes on for so long that it is closer to a straight than a corner.
So this F1 2020 Russia setup takes wing off, more at the rear than anywhere else in my list, and then uses the differential to keep the rear calm. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2020 Russia setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 3 | 5 |
| Camber | -2.70 | -1.10 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 1 | 8 |
| Anti-roll bar | 11 | 8 |
| Ride height | 2 | 3 |
| Tyre pressure | 21.0 psi | 19.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 50% |
| Differential off throttle | 65% |
| Brake pressure | 100% |
| Front brake bias | 50% |
In F1 2020 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11. The differential goes from 50%, fully open, to 100%, locked.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2020 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 wings. 3 and 5. The rear wing is the lowest of my 22 setups. Even Spa and Baku run 6. Sochi can do it because the corners are slow and short. In a 90 degree corner the grip comes from the tyres more than from the wing, and the three long runs pay you back for every click you take off.
The differential. 50% on throttle, 65% off. That 65% is the highest off throttle number in the list. With so little rear wing the car wants to rotate when you lift and brake. More lock off throttle ties the rear wheels together and keeps the rear behind you on the way in. It is the part of this setup that makes the low wing possible.
The camber. -2.70 at the front, more than the -2.50 most of my setups run. Turn 3 loads the right front tyre for a long time, and the extra camber helps it there. The rear is at -1.10, nearly the least the game allows, for traction.
The tyre pressures. 21.0 psi front and 19.5 psi rear, the lowest the menu allows.
The stiffest front bar in my list
The anti-roll bars are 11 at the front and 8 at the rear. 11 is the maximum, and no other setup of mine goes there at the front. It is also one of only two setups where the front bar is stiffer than the rear. The other one is Japan.
A stiff front bar makes the nose answer straight away. You feel it in turn 2 and in the last two corners, where you turn the wheel once and the car is already pointing at the exit. The cost is grip in the middle of a long corner. If the front pushes wide in turn 3 or through turns 4 to 7, this is the first number I would change.
The springs are 1 at the front and 8 at the rear. Ride height is 2 and 3, low, because the track is flat and smooth.
The brakes
Brake pressure 100%, front bias 50%. Every setup in my F1 2020 database runs 100% pressure.
There are two big stops, turn 2 and turn 13, and both come at the end of a long run with very little wing on the car. Turn 13 is the hard one because the braking zone is curved. Brake a touch earlier than you think and take the pressure off as you turn. If the fronts lock there, go to 95%.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understeer in turn 3 and turns 4 to 7 | Front anti-roll bar 11 to 8 | A softer front bar gives the front tyres more grip |
| The rear is loose in the last sector | Rear wing 5 to 6 | More rear downforce for a small cost on the straights |
| The car does not turn in when you lift | Off throttle differential 65% to 58% | Less lock lets the car rotate on entry |
| Wheelspin out of turn 2 and turn 18 | On throttle differential 50% to 58% | A little lock makes both rear wheels push |
| The rear moves under braking for turn 13 | Front brake bias 50% to 52% | More braking at the front steadies the rear |
| Front tyres lock into turn 13 | Brake pressure 100% to 95% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit |
| Slow at the end of the straights | Front wing 3 to 2 | Less drag, with a little more understeer |
For a race
Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Rear wing 5 to 6. The rear tyres live longer and the car is calmer in the last sector on a full tank.
- Front anti-roll bar 11 to 9. Kinder on the front tyres in turn 3, lap after lap.
- On throttle differential 50% to 55%. Cleaner out of the 90 degree corners.
- Brake pressure 100% to 95%. A heavy car locks more easily into turn 2 and turn 13.
- 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 run rear wing 6 or 7, a front bar around 8 and brake pressure around 90%.
F1 2020 manages the ERS for you and gives you an overtake button. Use it on the run to turn 2, where the slipstream is strong, and on the back straight before turn 13.
Where the lap time is at Sochi
- Turn 2. Turn 1 is a flat kink, so this is the first real corner. A big stop into a 90 degree right. Stay inside the kerbs, because the game is strict with track limits here.
- Turn 3. The long left around the Medals Plaza. Flat, or very close to it. Keep the car tight and do not let it drift wide before the end.
- Turn 4 to turn 7. Four right handers, all similar. Late apex in each one and early on the throttle.
- Turn 8 to turn 10. Turn 10 is the one that counts, because a long flat out run starts there.
- Turn 13. The second big stop, with a braking zone that bends. Easy to lock the inside front.
- Turn 14 to turn 16. The slowest part of the lap. Be patient and keep the rear tyres cool.
- Turn 17 and turn 18. Two 90 degree rights. The exit of turn 18 starts the longest run of the lap, down to turn 2.
If you take one thing from this page: a 90 degree corner is about the exit. Give away a little on the way in and take it back on the throttle.
Sochi in 2020
The 2020 Russian Grand Prix was run on 27 September, as round 10 of 17. Lewis Hamilton took pole in 1:31.304, after a second part of qualifying where Sebastian Vettel crashed and Hamilton only just crossed the line before the red flag.
Before the race Hamilton did two practice starts outside the designated area. He got two 5 second penalties and served them at his first stop. Valtteri Bottas won for Mercedes, Max Verstappen was second and Hamilton third. Bottas also set the fastest lap, a 1:37.030 on lap 51.
On the first lap Carlos Sainz hit the wall while rejoining at turn 2, and Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll collided, which brought out the safety car. It was Ferrari's 1000th start as a team in a World Championship event, and Kimi Raikkonen's 322nd Grand Prix start, level with the record of Rubens Barrichello.
The lap is 5.848 km with 18 corners, and the race is 53 laps.
More F1 2020 setups
All 22 tracks are on the F1 2020 setups page. The track before Sochi in the game's calendar is Marina Bay, with my F1 2020 Singapore setup, and the next one is Suzuka, with my F1 2020 Japan setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2019 Russia setup, my F1 2021 Sochi setup and my F1 22 Russia setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2020 setup for Russia?
Front wing 3, rear wing 5, differential 50% on throttle and 65% off, suspension 1 and 8, anti-roll bars 11 and 8, ride height 2 and 3, brake pressure 100% with 50% front bias, and tyres at 21.0 and 19.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run at Sochi in F1 2020?
3 at the front and 5 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would go to 6 at the rear.
Why is the off throttle differential so high?
Because the rear wing is so low. 65% keeps the rear steady when you lift and brake. If the car will not turn in, come down to 58%.
Can I use this Russia setup in a race?
Yes. I would add a click of rear wing, soften the front bar to 9 and lower the brake pressure to 95%.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would run more rear wing, a softer front bar and around 90% brake pressure.
Who won the 2020 Russian Grand Prix?
Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
How long is the Sochi Autodrom in F1 2020?
5.848 km with 18 corners. The race is 53 laps.