Russia – Free Practice 1: Rosberg ahead of Hamilton for the first time in Sochi
The first free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix in Formula 1 saw both Mercedes take the top spots on the timesheet, with Nico Rosberg ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Jenson Button is third.
The sun is shining in Sochi for the start of the first practice sessions of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix. This first session will be contested by Sergey Sirotkin, in place of Esteban Gutierrez, and by Roberto Merhi, in place of Kamui Kobayashi. However, Marussia has chosen to field only one car for the entire weekend, leaving the race-ready car but unfortunately empty of Jules Bianchi on his side of the garage.
The session has started and it’s Fernando Alonso who sets off first. The rest of the pack calmly completes their installation laps and Nico Rosberg is the first driver to set a time in Sochi at 1:49.932, with several mistakes. In the very next lap, he gains three seconds. Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest provisional time at 1:45.120 but then returns because he complains of vibrations. Rosberg takes the opportunity to regain the lead by four-tenths. Subsequently, Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, and Jenson Button top the timesheet.
Translate: After half an hour, Button is ahead of Bottas, Alonso, Kvyat, and Rosberg. As often, calm has returned to the circuit, with drivers needing to return their first set of medium tires. Lewis Hamilton, for his part, is on the pit wall while work is being done on his car. Sebastian Vettel is the first to get back on the track for a fairly long stint. He is followed by other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who manages to get back on the track.
After one hour, the Mercedes took the lead again with Rosberg ahead of Hamilton. The German is now complaining about vibration in the corners this time. The two men are ahead of the McLarens of Button and Magnussen and the Toro Rosso of Kvyat. Mistakes are multiplying as drivers push the limits: Button spins at turn 8, while Hamilton and Alonso lock up heavily. Later, it’s the young Roberto Merhi who makes a mistake in the same corner as the McLaren driver.
The end of the session consists of long runs. Romain Grosjean complains about his Renault engine: “I’m losing three tenths on the straights!” he laments on his radio. Lotus will switch to Mercedes engines in 2015.
The session ends with the fastest time by Nico Rosberg ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
| No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
1 | Rosberg | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1:42.311 | 29 | |
2 | Hamilton | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1:42.376 | +0.065 | 25 |
3 | Button | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.507 | +0.196 | 28 |
4 | Alonso | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:42.720 | +0.409 | 27 |
5 | Magnussen | McLaren Mercedes | 1:43.026 | +0.715 | 28 |
6 | Perez | Sahara Force India F1 Team | 1:43.129 | +0.818 | 26 |
7 | Kvyat | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 1:43.164 | +0.853 | 29 |
8 | Räikkönen | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:43.212 | +0.901 | 23 |
9 | Vergne | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 1:43.327 | +1.016 | 24 |
10 | Bottas | Williams Martini Racing | 1:43.542 | +1.231 | 9 |
11 | Massa | Williams Martini Racing | 1:43.741 | +1.430 | 22 |
12 | Ricciardo | Infiniti Red Bull Racing | 1:43.821 | +1.510 | 25 |
13 | Hülkenberg | Sahara Force India F1 Team | 1:43.976 | +1.665 | 21 |
14 | Vettel | Infiniti Red Bull Racing | 1:44.506 | +2.195 | 30 |
15 | Sutil | Sauber F1 Team | 1:44.625 | +2.314 | 26 |
16 | Maldonado | Lotus F1 Team | 1:44.876 | +2.565 | 26 |
17 | Sirotkin | Sauber F1 Team | 1:45.032 | +2.721 | 22 |
18 | Grosjean | Lotus F1 Team | 1:45.190 | +2.879 | 25 |
19 | Merhi | Caterham F1 Team | 1:46.782 | +4.471 | 18 |
20 | Ericsson | Caterham F1 Team | 1:46.922 | +4.611 | 18 |
21 | Chilton | Marussia F1 Team | 1:47.284 | +4.973 | 26 |
