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Valtteri Bottas completes practice double for Russian Grand Prix as Mercedes dominate

Finnish Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes-AMG Petronas in action during the first practice session of the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at the race track in Sochi, Russia 25 September 2020. The Formula One Grand Prix of Russia will take place on 27 September 2020. Formula One Grand Prix of Russia, Sochi, Russian Federation - Bryn Lennon/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

 

Lewis Hamilton was unable to match Valtteri Bottas as the world champion's Mercedes team-mate completed a practice double for the Russian Grand Prix.

Hamilton's attempt at matching Michael Schumacher's victory record began by finishing a surprise last but one in the opening running.

And although the six-time world champion moved up the order later in the day, it is Bottas who holds the advantage heading into the weekend.

Hamilton trailed the Finn by 0.2 seconds at the Sochi Autodrom, with Daniel Ricciardo a distant third for Renault and the McLaren duo of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris fourth and fifth respectively. Ricciardo was more than a second off Bottas' pace with Mercedes the class of the field once more.

Hamilton moved to within one victory of Schumacher's 91 wins following his triumph in Mugello earlier this month. The Brit was on course to finish ahead of Bottas on Friday afternoon, but ran wide at Turn 13 and abandoned his lap.

Hamilton was among a number of drivers to slip off the circuit during both practice sessions, with Max Verstappen on a personal-best lap before he spun in his Red Bull. The Dutchman had to settle for seventh.

The most significant accident involved Nicholas Latifi earlier on Friday. The rookie driver lost control of his Williams through the right-handed Turn 10 at the Sochi Autodrom, sliding backwards into the barriers.

Latifi sustained significant damage to his car but emerged unscathed from the heavy impact before the session was suspended to recover his stricken car. His Williams team performed an impressive repair job to ensure the Canadian could take part in the second session.

He finished 15th, one spot ahead of George Russell in the other Williams.

McLaren's Carlos Sainz spun at the same corner as Latifi, but the Spaniard was able to limp back to the pits, albeit without his broken rear wing.

Hamilton's chance of a fast lap in the morning running was thwarted when he was caught out under braking for the opening corner. Hamilton missed the apex of the right-handed bend before heading through the run-off area and cancelling his lap.

For team-mate Bottas, who trails Hamilton in the championship standings by 55 points, there were no such concerns. The Finn is chasing his first win since the opening round of the campaign in Austria.

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel finished eighth and tenth on an improved, yet unremarkable, showing for Ferrari.

The 10th round of the season is being played out in front of a significant number of spectators for the first time this season, with 30,000 fans expected through the gates.

Final Times after second practice

  1. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:33.519

  2. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:33.786

  3. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:34.577

  4. Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:34.723

  5. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:34.847

  6. Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:34.890

  7. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:35.048

  8. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:35.052

  9. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:35.139

  10. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:35.183

  11. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:35.210

  12. Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:35.242

  13. Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:35.461

  14. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:35.516

  15. Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:35.563

  16. George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:35.575

  17. Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:35.627

  18. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:35.729

  19. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:36.053

  20. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:36.858


01:34 PM

FP2 - Classification

  1. BOT
  2. HAM
  3. RIC
  4. SAI
  5. NOR
  6. PER
  7. VER
  8. LEC
  9. OCO
  10. VET
  11. GAS
  12. ALB
  13. KVY
  14. RAI
  15. LAT
  16. RUS
  17. STR
  18. MAG
  19. GIO
  20. GRO

01:33 PM

FP2 ends - Bottas quickest ahead of Hamilton

Decent day for him, though he still made a right mess of the final sector on both his quick runs in this session. Daniel Ricciardo a very decent third for Renault, though he was a second slower than Bottas...


01:30 PM

FP2 - Hamilton comes into the pits after complaining of vibrations

Has run for just seven laps on these soft tyres. The softest three compounds are on offer for the teams here, so it could hopefully be more than just a one-stopper. I am not too hopeful of that, however. 


01:24 PM

FP2 - Order with around seven minutes remaining

  1. BOT
  2. HAM
  3. RIC
  4. SAI
  5. NOR
  6. PER
  7. VER
  8. LEC
  9. OCO
  10. VET
  11. GAS
  12. ALB
  13. KVY
  14. RAI
  15. LAT
  16. RUS
  17. STR
  18. MAG
  19. GIO
  20. GRO

Decent showing from Latifi to be ahead of Russell after sticking it in the barriers in session one. And more generally, in all honesty. He's in the seat for next year so his aim should be to be closing the gap to Russell by the end of the year. 


01:16 PM

FP2 - Bottas still leads the way as the long runs are ongoing

Looks like any team getting within a second of them will be a shock this weekend. Could they even be 1.5s quicker than the next fastest team?!


01:09 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Stefano Domenicali to replace Chase Carey as President and CEO of Formula 1

This news, rumoured for a day or two, has now been confirmed by Liberty. Carey will become non-executive Chairman. The change will take place on January 1 2021. 

Here's what the former Ferrari boss had to say:

“I am thrilled to join the Formula 1 organization, a sport that has always been part of my life.  I was born in Imola and live in Monza.  I’ve remained connected to the sport through my work with the Single Seater Commission at the FIA and I look forward to connecting with the teams, promoters, sponsors and many partners in Formula 1 as we continue to drive the business ahead. The past six years at Audi and then leading Lamborghini have given me broader perspective and experience that I will bring to Formula 1.”

Have to say I think this is very, very good news for F1.  


01:07 PM

FP2 - Bottas breaks up his long run with a stop in the pits

He was complaining about something sticking to his left hand in the cockpit, meaning he couldn't steer as he wanted. That'll be a pain. He's back out there again. Looking like he'll top FP2 as well as FP1, but neither Mercedes driver really nailing their hot laps. 


01:05 PM

FP2 - Still half-a-second or so out there

Taking all of the best sector times (1+2 Bottas, 3 Hamilton) the potential session best is a 1.33.009, which is 0.510s quicker than the fastest time we currently have. Ominous for any non-Mercedes. 


01:01 PM

FP2 - Mercedes clearly out front with 30 minutes left

But from Sainz in fourth all the way down to Magnussen in 18th, there is just 1.006s. 


12:53 PM

FP2 - It'd be a great race were Mercedes not in it...

I say that every week but if Red Bull are having a bit of a difficult time, as they are here, then it's fascinating. 


12:46 PM

FP2 - Yellow flags as Verstappen spins

That Red Bull looks a real handful at this track today. Encouraging for the rest of the midfield where, at certain tracks, they have an outside shot of a podium. 


12:45 PM

FP2 - Running order at the half-way stage

  1. BOT
  2. HAM
  3. RIC
  4. NOR
  5. PER
  6. VER
  7. OCO
  8. VET
  9. ALB
  10. GAS
  11. KVY
  12. RAI
  13. LAT
  14. RUS
  15. STR
  16. MAG
  17. GIO
  18. LEC
  19. SAI
  20. GRO

Only seven laps for Ricciardo but still in third. 


12:43 PM

FP2 - Ricciardo in third now

A second off the pace of Bottas. Decent, he's driving really well this season. Verstappen has a BIG moment in the long left-hander, getting a wobble on at high speed and without much traction. It's quite mixed up below the Mercedes cars. 


12:41 PM

FP2 - I guess the Racing Point could be that much slower than the Mercedes...

In low fuel but that seems unlikely given Bottas lost at least four tenths in the final sector with an error. That and George Russell has just gone eighth and quicker than Stroll. 


12:37 PM

FP2 - Time for Lance Stroll to give it full beans

He's seven-tenths down in the first sector, though, so this may be with a bit more high fuel. Indeed, he's 1.6s off the pace after two sectors, so it suggests it could be. He ends up going fifth 2.108s off the pace. 


12:33 PM

FP2 - Bottas goes quickest

With two purple sectors in S1 and S2, but he runs VERY wide again at the final turn. It is still enough for him to go fastest by 0.267s.

He is losing time to Hamilton in the final sector, which may be why he was pushing so much.  Hamilton may be giving it another go, which suggests his tyres were fine after that lock up. 


12:32 PM

FP2 - Hamilton does not improve his time

As he locks up heading into T13 and just manages to stay out of the barrier. By how much? A few feet. Those soft compound tyres will be good for nowt, now and I expect he will come back in. Time for Bottas to wind it up...


12:30 PM

FP2 - Bottas gets it together enough to move up to P2

His earlier lap featured a big tankslapper in the final corner. Hamilton going again and setting quick sectors, so may drop into the early 1.33s here...


12:23 PM

FP2 - A spin for Lance Stroll brought out yellow flags

No damage. 


12:20 PM

FP2 - Perez pops up into P4

His lap was just a second off Hamilton's time but, interestingly, on the hard compound tyre. Encouraging for Racing Point. 


12:18 PM

FP2 - Running order so far

  1. HAM
  2. RIC
  3. VER
  4. BOT
  5. ALB
  6. NOR
  7. PER
  8. RAI
  9. GAS
  10. MAG
  11. OCO
  12. LEC
  13. KVY
  14. VET
  15. STR
  16. RUS
  17. GIO
  18. SAI
  19. GRO
  20. LAT

12:16 PM

FP2 - Hamilton goes quickest

Ricciardo slots in in P2, 0.451s behind him. Both on the medium compound tyres. 


12:16 PM

Which team has the quickest car in qualifying?

It's obviously Mercedes. But by how much? And what is the rest of the order? Below is the raw pace ranking across the first nine rounds of the season. 100.000% represents the quickest lap over the course of a weekend, so the percentages are all based around the average of that. As Mercedes have the fastest lap in every round, they score at an average of 100.000%. 

  1. Mercedes - 100.000%
  2. Red Bull - 100.955%
  3. Racing Point - 101.433%
  4. McLaren - 101.484%
  5. Renault - 101.653%
  6. Ferrari - 101.713%
  7. AlphaTauri - 101.861%
  8. Williams - 102.898%
  9. Haas 102.899%
  10. Alfa Romeo - 103.247%

12:10 PM

FP2 - Bottas heads the timesheets... again

He goes 0.065s ahead of Norris but on a hard compound, compared to Norris on the mediums. He had a big moment in the final couple of turns and probably lost the best part of a second there. 


12:05 PM

FP2 - Norris goes quickest

Ahead of Grosjean by 2.963s to be precise. He got a bit sideways in the final corner and took a chunk out of the turf on the way through. 


12:01 PM

FP2 begins!

Anyone out yet? Yes, Romain Grosjean and Lando Norris. 


11:56 AM

FP2 about to begin

In five minutes or so. 


11:49 AM

FP1 highlights

Plenty of action. 


11:46 AM

Clearly not a great deal was learned from that FP1 session

Mind you, have we really learned anything in any FP1 this season? Since the first one, anyway. I suppose we learned that the Sochi Autodrom has a pretty slippery surface, as the numerous spins and handful of shunts showed. 


11:31 AM

Final times after first practice

  1. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:34.923
  2. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:35.430
  3. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:35.577
  4. Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:35.796
  5. Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:35.965
  6. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Renault 1:36.061
  7. Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:36.230
  8. Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1:36.254
  9. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:36.323
  10. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:36.706,
  11. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:36.896
  12. Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:36.970
  13. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:37.110
  14. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:37.201
  15. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:37.230
  16. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:37.430
  17. George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:37.595
  18. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:37.649
  19. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:37.716
  20. Nicholas Latifi (Can) Williams 1:37.784

11:17 AM

Afternoon all

After an eventful first practice, the second session gets underway at 1pm BST, so in about 45 minutes or so. 


09:37 AM

Okay, that's it from me for now

I'll be back from around 12.30 for second practice, which begins at 1pm. 


09:34 AM

FP1 - Classification

  1. BOT
  2. RIC
  3. VER
  4. PER
  5. STR
  6. OCO
  7. KVY
  8. ALB
  9. VER
  10. GAS
  11. LEC
  12. SAI
  13. NOR
  14. GIO
  15. RAI
  16. MAG
  17. RUS
  18. GRO
  19. HAM
  20. LAT

09:34 AM

FP1 - Grosjean not happy with a scruffy session

"We need to check what's going on," he says. When he spun earlier on in the session he asked his team what happened. Maybe he needs to look at himself? Not sure he'll be in that Haas next season. 


09:31 AM

FP1 ends

And Bottas is quickest. He's made a habit of that this season, though it has not really carried through to any great success in qualifying (close though he has been to Hamilton) or the races. So make of that what you will. 


09:28 AM

FP1 - Plenty of drivers out there now

Making the most of track time in a stop/start session. 


09:23 AM

FP1 - Top 10

  1. BOT
  2. RIC +0.507
  3. VER +0.654
  4. PER +0.873
  5. STR +1.042
  6. OCO +1.138
  7. KVY +1.307
  8. ALB +1.331
  9. VET +1.400
  10. GAS +1.783

09:22 AM

FP1 - 10 minutes to go

A fairly eventful first practice, as it happens. Still a Mercedes at the top of the timesheets. 


09:20 AM

FP1 - Renault showing signs of getting it together in the last handful of races

Think they've missed a couple of opportunities on race day but the underlying pace is good. Showing decently here today, too.

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS20 during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on September 25, 2020 in Sochi, Russia. -  Dan Istitene - Formula 1

09:17 AM

FP1 - Hamilton goes...

Well, nowhere actually. He stays 19th. Russell has a lock up of reasonable proportions. He's currently in P17. 


09:15 AM

FP1 - Hamilton on a "quicker" lap

On the hard tyres, mind you. He hasn't managed to string together a representative flying lap in this session, which is why he's down in 19th, 2.8s off the pace. 


09:13 AM

FP1 - Ricciardo into second

With a decent lap, just half a second off Bottas's quickest time. The track is pretty slippery today, if there's one theme of the session, that is it. 


09:07 AM

FP1 - Verstappen goes second

0.654s off Bottas's quickest time. There was a yellow flag in the middle of the lap as Grosjean spun at turn 13 but it was not in the right place to affect Verstappen's lap at all. 


09:04 AM

FP1 - Current order

  1. BOT
  2. OCO
  3. PER
  4. VER
  5. RIC
  6. LEC
  7. GAS
  8. VET
  9. SAI
  10. KVY
  11. STR
  12. MAG
  13. ALB
  14. RUS
  15. HAM
  16. LAT
  17. RAI
  18. GRO
  19. NOR
  20. GIO

Session has now restarted. 


09:00 AM

Latifi loses it


08:58 AM

RED FLAG

Latifi has stuffed his Williams into the wall... back end first. 

33 minutes remaining and Bottas leads Ocon. Hamilton locked up and flat spotted his hard compound tyres just before the flag. 


08:45 AM

No guarantee that Sainz is going to be back on track

According to team principal Andreas Seidl. He was running in seventh. Bottas leads currently 1.6s ahead of Verstappen. 


08:39 AM

FP1 - Sainz into the barriers...

At fairly low speed, then. But still plenty of damage. 


08:36 AM

FP1 - That's the VSC, then, as Sainz heads back to the pits

Daniil Kvyat also had a spin, though without any damage other than perhaps a flatspotted tyre or two. 


08:34 AM

FP1 - Vettel on his hot lap

Plenty of traffic on the lap, though they all do well to get out of the way on this wide track. Think it's possibly a high furl run for Vettel here...as he's over two seconds off the pace.

Yellow flags, though, as Carlos Sainz is limping around the track with his rear wing hanging off. Not sure what's happened there, I assume he has gone into the barriers backwards somewhere?


08:32 AM

FP1 - Verstappen goes quickest

On the hard tyres, ahead of Ricciardo and Perez. Plenty of motors buzzing around the Sochi track now as Sebastian Vettel winds one up for a hot lap on the soft tyres. 


08:28 AM

FP1 - Okay, so plenty more laps on the board

So here's a quick update on the running order so far. Still not everyone has set a lap, though.

  1. KVY
  2. OCO
  3. PER
  4. BOT
  5. MAG
  6. GAS
  7. VER
  8. LEC
  9. HAM
  10. ALB
  11. SAI
  12. RUS
  13. RIC
  14. RAI
  15. GRO
  16. STR
  17. LAT
  18. NOR
  19. VET
  20. GIO (no time)

08:22 AM

FP1 - Very little action so far

As Kvyat (2nd) and Albon (4th) are the latest drivers to set times. Bottas still quickest at the moment. 


08:10 AM

FP1 - Now Bottas quickest

0.403s ahead of Hamilton. You should read absolutely nothing into it, though.  


08:08 AM

FP1 - Hamilton the first to set a proper lap time

A 1.37.716 it is. Would not be a surprise to see him end up there at the end of the day. Obviously. 


08:02 AM

FP1 begins!

Anyone out? Yes. A few for their installation laps. 


07:57 AM

OK, we're nearly ready to get going

Have to say this is not my favourite track. In fact it is one of my least favourite on the calendar. Doesn't mean we haven't had interesting races here, though...


07:48 AM

Current constructor standings


07:35 AM

Current driver standings - Top 10

Looking pretty rosy for Hamilton...


07:26 AM

Fans back in greater numbers this time

Around 2,900 tickets were available to each day of the Tuscan Grand Prix two weeks ago, but this is a little different. 


07:01 AM

Good morning F1 fans

And welcome to our live coverage of practice for the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Things kick off with first practice in a little under an hour with second practice later on in the day. The time difference between central Europe and the more easterly Black Sea location of Sochi means we get things done and dusted an extra couple of hours earlier this weekend. 

What is to be done and dusted in the first place? Well, judging by the entire season so far it will surely be a) Mercedes bossing first and second practice, b) Mercedes bossing qualifying with Lewis Hamilton beating Valtteri Bottas to his 725th pole position of his career (he has a lot...) and then, perhaps, something a little bit more interesting happening in the race where Hamilton ends up extending his championship lead, even if he has an awful race. 

Sorry, it has been one of those seasons, hasn't it? Still, the greatest narrative this year and this race is of Hamilton matching Michael Schumacher's long-standing record 91 Grand Prix wins and equalling his seven titles. The former looks likely happening this weekend and what a landmark it would be. The latter will come about in due course. 

That is all giving this race some extra context. 91 seemed like an un-passable total when it was set – given how far ahead he was of the next best driver – but, really, Hamilton's imminent record-equalling feat will be achieved in the same manner as Schumacher. Get the quickest driver, who makes few mistakes, into the one of the sport's most dominant ever teams and the glory will follow. Not a difficult equation but you still have to beat what's in front of you...

As ever, I'll be here for the two practice sessions today, with all the live updates and news around the F1 paddock this weekend. And a bit of performance analysis, of course.