Well that was a shocker of a Formula 1 race – not that you’ll hear Valtteri Bottas say it. No, this was a serious weekend for Mercedes’ new kid on the block.

The Finn picked up his first grand prix win, held off Ferrari’s double challenge and left Lewis Hamilton wondering why he wasn’t having everything his own way.

For a race with only one overtake, there was a lot to keep us all going – not that Sochi isn’t on borrowed time, much like Russia’s apparent hotel shortage.

Edition 159 of The NR F1 Podcast reviews the 2017 Russian Bahrain Grand Prix in Sochi, sticks up for itself in the face of a Reddit riot and wanders through the NR F1 pit stops before the crew dishes out their Of The Weekend Awards.

* * *

The British county of Norfolk is where the iconic success of Team Lotus was cultivated, where Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Mark Webber and more honed their race craft – and home to The NR F1 Podcast.

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OFFER | You can even take advantage of that lovely offer you heard in the middle of the pod – just visit: http://cornerstone.co.uk/nrf1

As for our most popular recent podcasts, try these:
* 1 > Some 2016 best bits bonus podcast – https://audioboom.com/posts/5485019
* 2 > e155 McLaren the disgrace and Max the idiot – https://audioboom.com/posts/5833341
* 3 > e144 Sipping wine? What are McLaren playing at! – https://audioboom.com/posts/5679856
* 4 > e148 One legendary drive, the other one bottled it – https://audioboom.com/posts/5753618
* 5 > e146 Jake Humphrey sorts F1 by shouting from his kitchen – https://audioboom.com/posts/5736293

@F1 #F1 #Formula1 #2017 #Formula12017 #F12017 #RussianGP #GrandPrix #GP #Motorsport #F1isBack #FIA #F1 Sochi #McLaren #Sauber #RedBull #RedBullRacing #Ferrari #Max #Verstappen #Kimi #Raikkkonen #Williams #Mercedes #Lewis #Hamilton #Daniel #Ricciardo #Sebastian #Vettel #Valtteri #Bottas #2017 #Esteban #Ocon #Sergio #Perez #Antonio #Giovinazzi #Pascal #Wehrlein #Fernando #Alonso #Force #India

Perhaps the biggest prediction came in the previous podcast (e157) – that the 2017 Russian Grand Prix would be back to Formula 1’s processional worst. But let’s ignore that!

Instead, let’s lap up what Michael Bailey, Perry Hamilton and Kyle Cumbers have to offer ahead of Sochi – that being: success or no finish for Felipe Massa, Mercedes to pick up a one-two while Sebastian Vettel wins the race, or Kimi Raikonnen missing out on a proper points haul… Assuming he doesn’t make the podium.

Oh yes. When it comes to F1 predictions, consensus is never what you want to hear – and you can listen to them all right here, in edition 158 of The NR F1 Podcast.

Find all you need to know about The NR F1 Podcast and how to join in with the fun by visiting: http://nrf1.uk/predictf1

The British county of Norfolk is where the iconic success of Team Lotus was cultivated, where Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Mark Webber and more honed their race craft – and home to The NR F1 Podcast.

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@F1 #F1 #Formula1 #2017 #Formula12017 #F12017 #2017 #F1Sochi #RussianGP #GrandPrix #GP #Motorsport #F1isBack #FIA #McLaren #Sauber #RedBull #RedBullRacing #Ferrari #Max #Verstappen #Kimi #Raikkkonen #Williams #Felipe #Massa #Mercedes #Lewis #Hamilton #Daniel #Ricciardo #Sebastian #Vettel #Kimi #Raikkonen #Valtteri #Bottas #Daniil #Kvyat #Toro #Rosso #Pascal #Wehrlein

From Russia with love – that wasn’t quite how it worked when a couple of Sochi shunts in 2016 ultimately cost Daniil Kvyat his Red Bull drive.

So it’s fair to say given the way the Russian driver has managed to arrest last year’s decline and get his career back on track, he deserves to land a bit more luck at his home race this time around, now in a Toro Rosso.

Edition 157 of The NR F1 Podcast previews round four of the 2017 Formula 1 championship, asks how much we’ll see of Vladimir Putin this year – and whether the Sochi track is even capable of putting on a half-decent race.

The British county of Norfolk is where the iconic success of Team Lotus was cultivated, where Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Mark Webber and more honed their race craft – and home to The NR F1 Podcast.

WEBSITE | All you need to know about the pod and how to join in: http://nrf1.uk

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GET IN TOUCH | Follow our social media feeds and join the fun – pick your favourite below.
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JOIN IN | Follow and be a part of our F1 prediction league: http://nrf1.uk/predictf1

YOUTUBE | You can view our dandy karting video and F1 driver impressions on The NR F1 Podcast’s lovely new YouTube channel: http://nrf1.uk/nrf1tube

SUPPORT | Become an NR F1 Podcast supporter: http://patreon.com/nrf1

GO RACING | Why not sign up to our lovely new partner’s racing game: http://gpro.net/nrf1

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@F1 #F1 #Formula1 #2017 #Formula12017 #F12017 #2017 #F1Sochi #RussianGP #GrandPrix #GP #Motorsport #F1isBack #FIA #McLaren #Sauber #RedBull #RedBullRacing #Ferrari #Max #Verstappen #Kimi #Raikkkonen #Williams #Mercedes #Lewis #Hamilton #Daniel #Ricciardo #Sebastian #Vettel #Kimi #Raikkonen #Heikki #Kovalainen #Valtteri #Bottas #Daniil #Kvyat #Toro #Rosso #Pascal #Wehrlein

There are no punches pulled by Kyle Cumbers on the latest NR F1 Podcast, as he gets stuck into Fernando Alonso’s decision to take on Indy 500 and miss out on Formula 1’s trip to Monaco. Just don’t fall under the impression that McLaren and Jenson Butter avoid his scorn too.

Edition 156 of The NR F1 Podcast reviews the latest F1 news, comes up with the best names for Claire Williams’ forthcoming baby and wonders when they should book in that trip to visit Channel 4 f1 host Steve Jones.

The podcast’s Tweets & Social segment also has the best of your audio contributions over the last few weeks.

***

Everyone at The NR F1 Podcast sends Billy Monger all our very best wishes for the future. To help Billy with his recovery:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/billymonger23

***

The British county of Norfolk is where the iconic success of Team Lotus was cultivated, where Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Mark Webber and more honed their race craft – and home to The NR F1 Podcast.

WEBSITE | All you need to know about the pod and how to join in: http://nrf1.uk

SUBSCRIBE | http://nrf1.uk/podsubscribe

JOIN IN | Follow and be a part of our F1 prediction league: http://nrf1.uk/predictf1

YOUTUBE | You can view our dandy karting video and F1 driver impressions on The NR F1 Podcast’s lovely new YouTube channel: http://nrf1.uk/nrf1tube

GET IN TOUCH | Follow our social media feeds and join the fun:
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/thenrf1
FACEBOOK: http://fb.me/thenrf1
EMAIL: nrf1podcast@gmail.com

SUPPORT | Become an NR F1 Podcast supporter: http://patreon.com/nrf1

GO RACING | Why not sign up to our lovely new partner’s racing game: http://gpro.net/nrf1

OFFER | You can even take advantage of that lovely offer you heard in the middle of the pod – just visit: http://cornerstone.co.uk/nrf1

@F1 #F1 #Formula1 #2017 #Formula12017 #F12017 #BahrainGP #F1Sochi #RussianGP #GrandPrix #GP #Motorsport #F1isBack #FIA #McLaren #Sauber #RedBull #RedBullRacing #Ferrari #Max #Verstappen #Kimi #Raikkkonen #Williams #Mercedes #Lewis #Hamilton #Daniel #Ricciardo #Sebastian #Vettel #Valtteri #Bottas #2017 #Esteban #Ocon #Sergio #Perez #Antonio #Giovinazzi #Pascal #Wehrlein #Fernando #Alonso #Force #India #Honda #C4F1 #Steve #Jones #Pastor #Maldonado

Three DOWN in the 2017 Formula 1 season – and some should already be put OUT of their misery.

Sure, Lewis Hamilton blew his chance of 25 points by making his Mercedes too wide in the pit lane. Yes, Sebastian Vettel looked comfortable enough that even Ferrari couldn’t mess up his race. And of course, Valtteri Bottas undermined his excellent Saturday come Sunday.

But as edition 155 of The NR F1 Podcast reviews the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, it finds it too tempting not to twist the knife on McLaren as Stoffel Vandoorne fails to start the race – never mid finish it. Then there’s Max Verstappen – great racer, but not quite as efficient when it comes to Brazilians.

The Sakhir weekend gets the full treatment from the NR F1 crew – including the pod’s Of The Weekend Awards.

The British county of Norfolk is where the iconic success of Team Lotus was cultivated, where Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Mark Webber and more honed their race craft – and home to The NR F1 Podcast.

Find all you need to know about The NR F1 Podcast and how to join in with the fun by visiting our website: http://nrf1.uk

SUBSCRIBE | http://nrf1.uk/podsubscribe

JOIN IN | Follow and be a part of our Formula 1 prediction league: http://nrf1.uk/predictf1

YOUTUBE | You can view our dandy karting video and F1 driver impressions on The NR F1 Podcast’s lovely new YouTube channel: http://nrf1.uk/nrf1tube

GET IN TOUCH | Follow our social media feeds and join the fun – as well as casting your vote to name Claire Williams’ forthcoming baby :

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email: nrf1podcast@gmail.com

SUPPORT | Become an NR F1 Podcast supporter: http://patreon.com/nrf1

GO RACING | Why not sign up to our lovely new partner’s racing game: http://gpro.net/nrf1

OFFER | You can even take advantage of that lovely offer you heard in the middle of the pod – just visit: http://cornerstone.co.uk/nrf1

@F1 #F1 #Formula1 #2017 #Formula12017 #F12017 #BahrainGP #GrandPrix #GP #Motorsport #F1isBack #FIA #McLaren #Sauber #RedBull #RedBullRacing #Ferrari #Max #Verstappen #Kimi #Raikkkonen #Williams #Mercedes #Lewis #Hamilton #Daniel #Ricciardo #Sebastian #Vettel #Valtteri #Bottas #2017 #Esteban #Ocon #Sergio #Perez #Antonio #Giovinazzi #Pascal #Wehrlein #Fernando #Alonso #Force #India #