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Raikkonen leads the field after FP1

Published on 28 Apr 2017 11:24
2
By: Fergal Walsh

Kimi Raikkonen has ended the first practice session in Sochi in first after setting a lap time of 1:36.074. The Iceman was only half a tenth ahead of his compatriot Valtteri Bottas who ended the session in P2.

Lewis Hamilton finished half a second behind his new teammate, while Max Verstappen completed the top four. Sebastian Vettel was only fifth and had a troublesome session after spinning in sector three.

Daniel Ricciardo was sixth, ahead of the Force India of Sergio Perez. Perez's teammate Esteban Ocon revealed more than he would have hoped for as his engine cover blew off, showcasing the Mercedes power unit to eager photographers. The Frenchman set the tenth fastest time.

The two Williams drivers slotted in between the Force India's, with Felipe Massa setting his time half a tenth faster than Canadian Lance Stroll. Daniil Kvyat enters his fourth home Grand Prix and started his weekend by setting a time good enough for eleventh. He was half a second faster than teammate Carlos Sainz who ended up in P14.

In between the two Toro Rosso's was Kevin Magnussen's Haas, a car that has switched brake manufacturers for this weekend, running with Carbon Industrie brakes. Fernando Alonso's time saw him finish in P13.

Renault didn't have the start they were hoping for, as a hydraulic issue meant Sergey Sirotkin, who was driving Nico Hulkenberg's car this morning, was forced to stop out and track, and the Russian driver failed to set a timed lap. Palmer began his weekend with a P15 finish.

Romain Grosjean was P16, followed by Stoffel Vandoorne in the McLaren. The two Sauber's of Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson were the slowest of the timed runners, ending the session in P18 and P19.

Fergal Walsh

F1Grand Prix Russian - Free practice 1

Sochi Autodrom - 28 April 2017

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

#
1

Kimi Räikkönen

Ferrari

1:36.074

19
2

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:36.119

+0.045

24
3

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:36.681

+0.607

23
4

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:37.174

+1.100

19
5

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:37.230

+1.156

19
6

Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull Racing

1:37.290

+1.216

19
7

Sergio Perez

Force India

1:37.457

+1.383

29
8

Felipe Massa

Williams

1:37.900

+1.826

29
9

Lance Stroll

Williams

1:37.944

+1.870

30
10

Esteban Ocon

Force India

1:38.065

+1.991

28
11

Daniil Kvyat

Toro Rosso

1:38.496

+2.422

17
12

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:38.747

+2.673

23
13

Fernando Alonso

McLaren

1:38.813

+2.739

16
14

Carlos Sainz jr

Toro Rosso

1:38.976

+2.902

17
15

Jolyon Palmer

Renault

1:39.158

+3.084

16
16

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:39.533

+3.459

17
17

Stoffel Vandoorne

McLaren

1:39.541

+3.467

19
18

Pascal Wehrlein

Sauber

1:39.731

+3.657

21
19

Marcus Ericsson

Sauber

1:40.079

+4.005

20
20

Sergey Sirotkin

Renault

no time

2

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F1 News Max Verstappen Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton Sebastian Vettel Kimi Räikkönen Sergio Perez Esteban Ocon Lance Stroll Force India Mercedes Williams

Replies (2)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Surely Mercedes is sandbagging? This track should suit them, although perhaps not as well as Baku or Canada.
- + 0
- Apr 28 2017 - 15:01
renaultFanF1

Posts: 80
Really wanted to see what Sirotkin can do in that Renault. Can't be any worse than Palmer for sure
- + 0
- Apr 28 2017 - 16:13