Russia – Free Practice 1: Räikkönen answers critics and sets the fastest time

Weather conditions are ideal for this first free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix. The air temperature is 19° and the track is at a modest 34° which is expected to rise throughout the weekend.

As is customary, the majority of drivers take to the track for a reconnaissance lap after the fifteen-day break following the Bahrain Grand Prix won by Sebastian Vettel. This first session should indeed reveal the form of the Ferraris, which seem more comfortable on long race stints and in hot conditions, as opposed to the Mercedes, which are faster over a single lap but struggle more to find the right operating window for the tires.

One of the first drivers to hit the track is the Russian, Sergey Sirotkin, who has been given a morning session in front of his home crowd by the Renault team, just like last year.

Unfortunately, the experience will be short-lived for the driver as his car comes to a stop in turn number 2 and won’t restart.

Early trouble for Sirotkin as he grinds to a halt on the inside of Turn 2

He’s unable to restart the car 😓#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/t2MVK8Pj9i

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 avril /f1/actualite/21898-renault-sirotkin-participera-aux-el1-a-sotchi.html

In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton sets the first benchmark of the morning with a 1:39.558 on yellow-banded Soft tires. The battle with the Ferraris is already emerging as Sebastian Vettel snatches the fastest time from the Briton with a 1:38.709, immediately beaten by Valtteri Bottas with a 1:36.998 on the other Mercedes! It should be noted, however, that the Silver Arrows have already switched to Super Soft tires. The weekend promises to be competitive.

Behind the two favorite teams, Force India and Williams exchange the title of “best of the rest.” Sergio Pérez and Felipe Massa are ahead of their respective teammates, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll. The Red Bulls are slightly further back but manage to stay in touch.

At mid-session, the ranking is as follows:

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION: The scores on the doors so far from Sochi as we approach the halfway point in #FP1 #RussianGP 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/P5lKV0p0Vg

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 avril /f1/actualite/21898-renault-sirotkin-participera-aux-el1-a-sotchi.html

The session was interrupted by a red flag 20 minutes before the end following an unusual incident involving Esteban Ocon. Indeed, the engine cover of the Frenchman’s Force India vanished in action, leaving debris on the track. The marshals intervened quickly and the session resumed after a few minutes.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, it’s Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari leading the pack with a time of 1:36.074, ahead of the two Mercedes of Bottas and Hamilton and Sergio Pérez’s Force India. Romain Grosjean’s Haas brings up the rear with the 19th time since Sirotkin, who still hasn’t returned to the track, hasn’t been credited with any time in this session following the breakdown he experienced earlier in the morning.

In his attempt at improvement – for the moment he is credited only with the 4th fastest time which he took back from Pérez, Vettel makes an error in turn number 16 and loses control of his Ferrari. However, no damage is reported and the four-time world champion returns to the track.

Turn 16 = VET 🔄 😖#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/hnvs9BadDF

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 avril /f1/actualite/21898-renault-sirotkin-participera-aux-el1-a-sotchi.html

In the final minutes, it’s a race against the clock for all the drivers. Daniel Ricciardo, who had been rather quiet since the start of the session, improves his time and climbs to 5th place with a 1.37.290, immediately surpassed by Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton and Stoffel Vandoorne are searching for the limits of the track and sometimes even go beyond them in their quest for the last tenth. In a final effort, Romain Grosjean improves his time and reaches a modest 16th position.

The final ranking of this first session is as follows:

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION

Ice Man on top in sunny Sochi 😎

P1 and P2 for Finland 💪#RussianGP #FP1 pic.twitter.com/48Y373zV1p

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 avril /f1/actualite/21898-renault-sirotkin-participera-aux-el1-a-sotchi.html

Two flying Finns, one flying engine cover

The story of FP1#RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6Ks2jBbGz9

— Formula 1 (@F1) 28 avril /f1/actualite/21898-renault-sirotkin-participera-aux-el1-a-sotchi.html