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Facts and Stats: Your guide to the Russian Grand Prix

After a short break following the latest triple-header, everyone at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team is raring to get back to racing at the Sochi Autodrom in Russia. 

Having joined the F1 calendar in 2014, Sochi has a relatively short history in Grand Prix racing but has already played host to some memorable races.

Ahead of the latest instalment of the Russian Grand Prix, we're bringing you the best facts and stats from the Sochi Autodrom circuit.

Prior to the arrival of the Sochi Autodrom, plans for a race had been circulating since the early 1980s, with a proposed circuit in Moscow set to play host to the 'Grand Prix of the Soviet Union'. 

The proposal was ultimately unsuccessful with Hungary eventually becoming the first Soviet nation to host a Grand Prix.

Despite this, Formula One and officials in Russia were still keen to bring the Championship to the country, with conversations continuing into the new millennium.

The eventual site of the Russian Grand Prix would see Sochi, venue of the 2014 Winter Olympics, selected as a ready-made facility for the event.

The Sochi Autodrom, effectively a street circuit, made its debut on the calendar seven years ago and has hosted the Russian Grand Prix ever since. 

Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the track itself comprises a series of technical twists and turns, with a total of 18 corners. 

Located on the outside of Turn 2, the Vitaly Petrov Grandstand, named after the first Russian to compete in F1, offers the best view of the circuit for fans attending the race.

Ranked as the best overtaking spot on the circuit, the sharp right-hander of Turn 2 comes at the end of the long start / finish straight and sets the drivers up for a slingshot into the famous Turn 3.

Arguably the most distinctive feature of the circuit, Turn 3 is a long left hander rotating through a full 180 degrees and taking drivers around the outside of the dramatic Poyushchiye fountain. 

Sebastian Vettel once said of the circuit, "It's an interesting layout with a good mix of high-speed corners and technical sections. It's a huge challenge in a Formula 1 car." 

Despite a relatively short stint on the Formula One calendar to date, Sochi has played host to some intense in track battles. 

In the 2015 Russian Grand Prix, Team Silverstone took a podium position in dramatic fashion on the final lap of the race.

Having conceded P3 to Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas earlier in the race, Sergio Pérez looked set for a highly respectable P5 finish.

But as the two Finns battled for the final podium position, a collision between the pair on the final lap left Pérez with a clear run to the podium and a trophy for the team. 

With a crowd capacity of 55,000, the Russian Grand Prix offers fans not only great racing, but also an opportunity to enjoy a range of attractions around the circuit facility itself.

Dubbed the 'Summer Capital' of Russia, Sochi blends the waters of the Black Sea with the mountains of the Caucasus, providing a spectacular destination for fans to visit while attending the Grand Prix.

Looping around and weaving through such impressive facilities as the Bolshoy Ice Dome, the Adler Arena Skating Centre and the train station, the Sochi Autodrom merges almost seamlessly into its surroundings.

Outside of the circuit, visitors can enjoy the rich history and culture of Russia by attending an Opera at the Winter Theatre, exploring the vast museums, or simply enjoying the coast.