GET ready for more high-octane racing as the Formula One season moves to Russia.
Sochi plays host to what could be a pivotal race in the Driver’s Championship, with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen grappling for crucial points.
First up though there are two practice sessions today, before qualifying on Saturday.
- Practice start times: 9.30am/1pm BST
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…
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MAX STILL OPTIMISTIC
Max Verstappen had the penalty hanging over his head and he explained the reasoning behind the decision to take it in Russia.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s not only the results, we took everything into account, also the weather for tomorrow. We thought it would be best to take it here.
“In 2018 the gaps to the midfield were bigger so I think it will be a bit more difficult to cut through. We had to take a penalty anyway and if we hadn’t have taken it here we’d have to take it somewhere else so we thought we’ll decide to do it here and try and make the best of it.
“We just try to make the best possible race car for this weekend after we decided to take that engine. Of course it’s going to work out and let’s first see how the weather will be tomorrow.”
‘NOTHING TO LOSE’
Christian Horner believes that Lewis Hamilton is “under way more pressure” to win the 2021 title than Max Verstappen is.
Ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, Hamilton suggested that Verstappen was feeling the pressure of going for his first World Championship and said he could empathise as he felt the same when he was doing so in 2007.
He said: “I think Lewis trying to get his eighth title is under way more pressure than Max going for his first.
“Max is just enjoying what he’s doing, he’s driving better than ever. If you want to look at how he deals with pressure just go and look at Zandvoort, the intense pressure that he was under that weekend.
“Look, he’s driving better than he’s ever driven, he’s enjoying driving the car, he’s enjoying the challenge, he’s enjoying the competition.
“He’s got nothing to lose.”
‘BIG SHAME FOR MAX’
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes must make the most of the opportunity offered by Max Verstappen’s grid penalty at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who lies five points behind Verstappen at the top of the championship table, said the development “doesn’t really change anything for us” but admitted it gave him a valuable opportunity.
He said: “We’ve just got to do our thing and focus. It’s a tough year, I think, for everyone with reliability. That’s definitely a shame for him.
“But we’ve got to try and capitalise on that, get a maximum result. A one-two would be spectacular for us as a team.”
LEW-K OUT
Lewis Hamilton had a successful practice run but he messed up when he arrived back in the pits.
The Brit pressed on the brakes a fraction too late and almost hit his mechanic.
The mechanic quickly took a few steps backwards but lost his balance and ended up on his back – fortunately he got up right away and appears to be okay.
CRASH!
Giovinazzi crashes his Alfa Romeo! Red flag!
He’s understeered at Turn 8 and spins and then slams backwards into the barriers.
That’s made a mess of his rear wing, and the barriers.
The session is suspended to recover the car, and fix the barriers.
LANDO GOING WELL
In third is Pierre Gasly with Brit Lando Norris finishing up fourth.
Max Verstappen could not improve on his FP1 run and is down in sixth place.
MERCEDES HIT BACK
FP2 ends in the same way as FP1 with Valtteri Bottas leading the way followed by Lewis Hamilton.
The pair recorded times of 1:33:593 and 1:33:637 respectively.
LECLERC THE MAN TO BEAT
Charles Leclerc is the early pacesetter in FP2, and is now ahead of Mercedes pair Valteri Bottas and lewis Hamitlon.
The Ferrari driver recorded the third-fastest time in FP1 but has improved on that return.
MAX BLOW
Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid after being hit with a penalty due to Red Bull opting to take a new Honda power unit at Sochi.
Verstappen lost his second engine of the season after his heavy crash at Silverstone, caused by contact with title rival Lewis Hamilton.
He had to switch to a brand new power unit for the next race in Hungary, as a crack was discovered in the repaired engine after qualifying, which moved him onto his third set of major engine components of the season.
Drivers can only use three each of the international combustion engine, MGU-H, turbocharger and MGU-K in a season before grid penalties start being applied.
Honda attempted to salvage the cracked power unit but it cannot be used in races again this season, leaving Verstappen with only the engine introduced in Hungary and a high-mileage engine from early in the season to get to the end of the year without a penalty.
‘LEWIS WON’T BAIL’
Lewis Hamilton has decided not to back out of on-track battles when he believes he has a right to the corner, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says.
Wolff said it followed discussions over the aggressive approach to racing of title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
Wolff said: “The change in approach is that Lewis pretty much decided not to bail out any more when he thinks the corner is his.
“Now it needs two to understand when a collision can be avoided.”
‘NICE TO BE FIGHTING’
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in practice one and he is glad to be competing with the race leaders.
Leclerc told The Race: “They have two different styles. Max is a bit more on the aggressive side, Lewis a bit more on the clean side. It’s nice to be fighting with both of them.
“Lewis is always very, very clever in the way he positions his car to put you in a difficult situation. And he most of the time manages to make the pass in a clean way.
“But I enjoy racing with both, and if anything I quite like fighting with Max because it’s always really on the limit.”
NINTCHDBPICT000682061343Credit: Reuters ‘WE NEED CHAOS’
Fernando Alonso is feeling confident ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix but admits he would near close to a miracle to win.
He told Autosport: “I think we are the fifth or sixth team in the field. So to take a podium we need a very chaotic race. Without that, P6 or P7 is our maximum achievable position.
“A clean Friday is important, because it could be the only dry run of the weekend.
“You never know, but at least we have more confidence here than in Monza.”
Lando Norris crashed into the wall and damaged the front wing on his McLaren as he made his way back to the pits at the end of first practice at the 2021 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix.
He somehow managed to clip a concrete barrier on his way into the pits and ended up in a spin.
It was a momentary lapse in concentration of an otherwise positive opening session for the Brit, who recorded the sixth-fastest time in first practice.
MERCEDES ON TOP
We’re halfway through first practice and it is Mercedes pair Valterri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton who have set the fastest times so far.
Charles Leclerc follows closely behind and then comes Hamilton’s rival Max Verstappen, just under a second down on the Brit.
It is heating up to be an exciting qualification.
FP1 LATEST
More good speed from Bottas on a glorious morning in Russia, with the Mercedes man going fastest to top the leaderboards.
Let’s hope that the rain forecast doesn’t wreak havoc on FP2 and FP3, because the track looks in terrific condition for racing.
TO THE MAX
Verstappen on the soft tyres and he finally puts his foot to the floor.
The Driver’s Championship leader goes fastest in FP1.
BOTTAS ON THE CHARGE
Valtterri isn’t half bad at this track – and is showing good early pace on the hard tyres.
A terrific last sector puts him fastest with a 1:36.4, Leclerc and Hamilton nex.t
FP1 LIVE
Hamilton, Bottas and Leclerc showing good early pace on this pancake of a track.
There’s just under 2m of elevation through the entire thing.
We mentioned the weather earlier and that’s something to keep an eye on for qualifying and the race itself on Sunday – the forecast is for heavy rain…
LECLERC PENALTY
An upgrade to Ferrari’s power unit has put Leclerc on the back of the grid on Sunday.
Carlos Sainz though, he still has the old unit and will have NO penalty. Ferrari didn’t want both their cars starting at the back.
They’re out on the track now, with the two Mercedes’ also joining the fray.
HAMMER TIME
Lewis Hamilton is adamant he will not crack under the pressure of his intense F1 title fight with Max Verstappen.
The rivalry has exploded on track with the two coming to blows at the British and Italian Grands Prix.
Last out at Monza, Hamilton said he was lucky to be alive after Verstappen landed his Red Bull racecar on to the top of his Mercedes – earning the Dutchman a three-place grid penalty here in Sochi.
Hamilton, who is locked in to his 10th title fight, was quizzed whether Verstappen’s actions were showing he is struggling to cope with the added pressure.
He said: “Obviously he won’t admit to it, I’m not going to make an assumption.
“But I’m just saying I remember [my first one] was difficult. It was intense. I was going through a lot of different emotions, I didn’t always handle it the best. And that’s to be expected, it’s a lot of pressure.
“You’re working in a big team, there’s a lot of self-expectation and pressure because the desire to win is huge.”
MERC TERRITORY
This is Mercedes’ track, if previous years are anything to go by.
FP1 IS GO!
Time for action in Russia, where there’s just been an impressive fly-past from the military.
This could be one of those practice sessions that tells us everything – or nothing.
But it wouldn’t be F1 without that unpredictability.
The drivers just about to head out on track under clear skies.
MAX ATTACKS
Max Verstappen has taken another swipe at Lewis Hamilton as their F1 battle is set to erupt in Russia.
The two clashed at the Italian GP where Hamilton claimed he was lucky to be ALIVE after Verstappen launched his Red Bull off a kerb and on to the roof of the Brit’s Mercedes.
And they have looked horns again after Hamilton had hinted that the pressure could be getting to the 23-year-old, who is in his first title fight, with Verstappen hitting back saying: “You don’t even know me.”
Hamilton was quizzed whether Verstappen’s desperate lunge in Monza showed he is struggling to cope with the added pressure.
He said: “Obviously Max won’t admit to it, I’m not going to make an assumption!
“But I remember [my first title battle] was difficult. It was intense. I was going through a lot of different emotions.
“I didn’t always handle it the best. And that’s to be expected, it’s a lot of pressure.”
SCHEDULE
There’s no sprint qualifying at the Russian Grand Prix, so the weekend takes on a familiar pattern.
First and second practice will be held on Friday, September 24 at 9.30am BST and 1pm BST.
Qualifying follows on Saturday, with the action getting underway at 1pm.
And the big race itself will be held on Sunday, September 26 with lights out at 1pm.
You can catch all of the action live on Sky Sports F1.
Coverage of first practice begins at 9am on Friday, with streaming available on Sky Go.
WE GO AGAIN
Ready for more?
After Monza threw up thrills and spills galore, F1 is back this weekend for the Russian Grand Prix.
Neither Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen finished the race in Italy, crashing together mid-race and further fuelling their ongoing rivalry.
The Dutchman has been slapped with a three-place grid penalty ahead of this weekend’s Russian GP for causing the smash that took them both out.
Ahead of the big race on Sunday, we have two practice sessions today (9am and 1pm) before qualifying tomorrow.
We could be in for a real treat – don’t miss a second with our live blog from Sochi.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
