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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
Sochi Autodrom - 28 April 2017
972 members have this team as their favourite
Replies (2)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Surely Mercedes is sandbagging? This track should suit them, although perhaps not as well as Baku or Canada.
renaultFanF1
Posts: 80
Really wanted to see what Sirotkin can do in that Renault. Can't be any worse than Palmer for sure