Feature: Star Drivers Of The Russian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the Russian Grand Prix is unsurprisingly Sergio Perez. Perez performed with incredible skill this weekend, managing to hold off the rest of the field as he pushed his way forward and finally, defended his third place and podium step.

He made up a total of six places during the race. However, he almost lost two of these positions in the final lap of the Grand Prix as Bottas and Raikonnen slipped past him. However, the two collided not seconds later, allowing Checo (Perez) to jump back ahead, stealing third place once again. Checo handled the situation calmly, keeping his cool. He crossed the line in third place winning a huge 15 points for his mid-field team. Bringing home their third ever podium was celebrated throughout their garage. Congratulations Sergio!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My star driver of the Russian GP is also Sergio Perez. Being a huge supporter of the Force India F1 team, I was absolutely thrilled that he was able to finish on the podium. He did a stellar job looking out for his tyres and keeping the pace even when the degradation started to become an issue.

Perez has shown before that he has what it takes to be up there in the front with the leaders and we definitely saw that during the race & I know there's plenty more to come from him, Hulkenberg & the team."

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Feature: Russian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "From lights out to across the line there was no telling what could happen. Car failures, collisions and penalties fuelled the fans and their cheers. Hamilton left the track on the brink of becoming a three time world champion, and after Kimi's penalty Mercedes were crowned constructors champions! The weekend was packed with news and events that sent adrenaline pumping through every fan's veins."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "What a great race. I really enjoyed it. Congratulations to Hamilton & Mercedes for their achievements and to Vettel & Perez. I am so thrilled to see Force India colors up on the podium again & I know there's plenty more to come from the team. The race itself was super thrilling. I don't think anyone was expecting that crash at the end, but I'm glad no one was hurt. Props to Carlos Sainz for racing after his accident in FP3. I know the race didn't turn out how he wanted, but the fact he got out there was great. My home race is next (US GP) and I'm super excited to see how things go. Cheers!"

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Russian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

It was good weather for the start of the Russian GP and good news for young Toro Rosso driver, Carlos Sainz, who was cleared to race after passing an FIA Medical test. For those who didn't know, Sainz had a huge crash during Saturday's last practice session and was taken to a local Hospital where he was cleared from any injuries.

    When the lights went out, it was a good start for most drivers and a special start for Fernando Alonso, who celebrated his 250th F1 race start. Nico Hulkenberg, who started from 6th, ended up in a spin on the first lap and Marcus Ericsson collided with him, causing them both to have too much damage to their cars to continue.

   In the front, Hamilton had taken an easy lead from Rosberg, who started from Pole Position. Rosberg retired only a few laps in due to a problem with his throttle. Not only was this bad news for him as far as the drivers championship is concerned, but it was also his first retirement since Singapore 2014. Sebastian Vettel & Valtteri Bottas were close behind Hamilton, along with Raikkonen and Perez. While Lotus looked to be doing good, Romain Grosjean had a huge crash that ended his race early, but luckily escaped the car unharmed.

    Carlos Sainz ended up having to retire after a brake failure, which put an unfortunate end to his already unlucky weekend. Daniel Ricciardo also retired due to a suspension failure. Their team-mates, however, were still in the running for points. Both Max Verstappen & Daniil Kvyat, who is the only Russian driver on the grid, finished in the top 10 and brought points to their teams.

    Towards the last few laps, Perez had been holding on to 3rd place for a podium finish, but had also only had 1 pit stop and was still going on that set of tyres. Both Valtteri Bottas and Raikkonen passed him with just a couple of laps to go. However, Raikkonen tried to pass Bottas just seconds later and the two collided, sending Bottasd spinning into the barriers & leaving Raikkonen with car damage. Both drivers were unharmed, but their chance at the podium was over and Perez soared across the finish line in 3rd, gaining his second podium with the Force India team.

    Lewis Hamilton took the win & Mercedes ended up securing the Constructors Championship title after Raikkonen was penalized for the collision with Bottas (30 second time penalty), moving the Finnish driver down to 8th from his original 5th position finish. This meant that Ferrari was far enough away in the constructors that Mercedes are now back-to-back title winners. However, the drivers championship is still up for grabs, with Vettel not far behind in the points. The Ferrari driver finished the race in second and continues to rack up the points and close in on Hamilton's lead in the standings.

    Fernando Alonso was demoted from points after he was given 10 seconds to his final race time for exceeding track limits during the race. This was after he'd already started with a 35-place-grid-penalty for multiple engine component changes. Roberto Merhi had started with a 20-place-grid-penalty for also needing component changes.

Here are the race results after the penalties were put into place. Next up is the US Grand Prix in Austin Texas & There's always a huge fan turn out. It'll be a great one.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 18 Points
3. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 15 Points
4. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 12 Points
5. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 10 Points
6. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 8 Points
7. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / + 6 Points
8. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 4 Points (Collision - Qualified as finished) (Demoted 2 places due to 30 second time penalty for collision with Bottas)
9. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 2 Points 
10. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / 1 Point
11. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / (Demoted due to 10 seconds added to race time for exceeding track limits)
12. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / (Collision - Qualified as finished)
13. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain 
14. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

RETIRED - Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / Suspension Failure
RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / Brake Failure
RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / Accident
RETIRED - Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / Throttle
RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Collision
RETIRED - Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Collision

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Russian GP: Qualifying - Results

Nico Rosberg took Pole Position for the Russian GP while Carlos Sainz was unable to participate following his huge crash in Free Practice 3. He has been released from the Hospital and will race if he can complete and FIA Medical test.

    Both Roberto Merhi & Fernando Alonso have grid penalties for multiple engine component changes & They have been accounted for below.

STARTING GRID:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain
3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland
4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany
5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland
6. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany
7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France
9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands
10. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia
11. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia
12. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil
13. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
14. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela
15. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
16. Fernando Alonso* / McLaren-Honda / Spain
17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
18. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain
19. Roberto Merhi* / Manor-Ferrari / Spain
DID NOT QUALIFY - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain (Accident in FP3)

* - Fernando Alonso has received a 35-Place-Grid-Penalty for having multiple engine components changes
* - Roberto Merhi has received a 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for having multiple engine components changed

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Russian GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

Weather was improved for the third and final practice session of the weekend but was stopped 25 minutes early when Carlos Sainz had a huge crash. The Toro Rosso got stuck nose first in the barriers and he was extracted by medics while marshals helped move pieces of the barrier. He gave a thumbs up to signal that he was OK and conscious while he was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher. He was brought to the medical center at the track before being further taken to a local Hospital. Sainz has since been released and hopes to race. We're glad to hear that he is uninjured. He will have to undergo and FIA medical test before the race in order to be cleared to participate.

    As for the times, Mercedes were at the top this time around, however it wasn't a 1-2. Valtteri Bottas grabbed second place in the session, while Rosberg finished first and Hamilton third. Force India also did a good job with both their drivers in the top 10 and Jenson Button ending in 7th with a seemingly improved McLaren.

Here are the times

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:38.561 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas - 1:39.287 / Williams-Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton - 1:39.363 / Mercedes-Mercedes
4. Sergio Perez - 1:39.616 / Force India-Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa - 1:39.875 / Williams-Mercedes
6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:39.917 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Jenson Button - 1:40.581 / McLaren-Honda
8. Pastor Maldonado - 1:40.767 / Lotus-Mercedes
9. Fernando Alonso - 1:41.200 / McLaren-Honda
10. Felipe Nasr - 1:41.229 / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Daniil Kvyat - 1:41.358 / Red Bull-Renault
12. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:42.297 / Ferrari-Ferrari
13. Romain Grosjean - 1:42.371 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Marcus Ericsson - 1:42.450 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Carlos Sainz - 1:42.683 / Toro Rosso-Renault
16. Sebastian Vettel - 1:42.686 / Ferrari-Ferrari
17. Max Verstappen - 1:43.089 / Toro Rosso-Renault
18. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:43.347 / Red Bull-Renault
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:46.767 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:47.249 / Manor-Ferrari

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Russian GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

The second practice session was limited as the rain poured down onto the circuit, making it impossible to go out safely. Only 8 drivers managed to set a time, while the rest opted to just sit this session out.
   
Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Felipe Massa - 2:00.458 / Williams-Mercedes
2. Sebastian Vettel - 2:00.659 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas - 2:00.688 / Williams-Mercedes
4. Max Verstappen - 2:00.806 / Toro Rosso-Renault
5. Fernando Alonso - 2:01.077 / McLaren-Honda
6. Daniil Kvyat - 2:01.418 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Carlos Sainz - 2:02.805 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Jenson Button - 2:02.845 / McLaren-Honda
9. Nico Rosberg - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes
10. Marcus Ericsson - No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Lewis Hamilton - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes
12. Sergio Perez - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
13. Nico Hulkenberg - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
14. Daniel Ricciardo - No Time Set / Red Bull-Renault
15. Kimi Raikkonen - No Time Set / Ferrari-Ferrari
16. Romain Grosjean - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes
17. Felipe Nasr - No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Pastor Maldonado - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes
19. Will Stevens - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari
20. Roberto Merhi - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari

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Russian GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

The first practice session of the Russian GP was off to a not-so-great start due to a huge oil spill on the circuit from a sweeping truck. It delayed the session for 30 minutes and the session itself was not extended, making running time only an hour long. Bad news for the drivers as they also knew rain would be coming around FP2.

    Jolyon Palmer was in this session in place of Romain Grosjean & rumour has it that Palmer is in the running for the second Lotus seat, however, Lotus is staying hush about who will pair Pastor Maldonado in the 2016 season. Also back in a car this weekend is Roberto Merhi, while Alexander Rossi does his GP2 duties. Rossi will be back for Mexico, Austin & Brazil, while Merhi will finish of the season in Abu Dhabi.

    It was a good day for Sahara Force India with Nico Hulkenberg setting the fastest time & Team-mate, Sergio Perez, ending the session in 4th. The updates to their cars are proving good and the drivers seem to agree the cars are running much better than in the beginning of the season.

    However, the rain came early and times were not as fast as they could be in dry weather. Running was fairly limited, but everyone managed to set a time and gather up some data for the teams.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:44.355 / Force India-Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:44.407 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:44.986 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Sergio Perez - 1:45.146 / Force India-Mercedes
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:45.233 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Carlos Sainz - 1:45.488 / Toro Rosso-Renault
7. Lewis Hamilton - 1:45.691 / Mercedes-Mercedes
8. Valtteri Bottas - 1:45.746 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Max Verstappen - 1:46.203 / Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:46.215 / Ferrari-Ferrari
11. Jenson Button - 1:46.231 / McLaren-Honda
12. Felipe Massa - 1:46.333 / Williams-Mercedes
13. Felipe Nasr - 1:46.747 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Fernando Alonso - 1:47.443 / McLaren-Honda
15. Pastor Maldonado - 1:48.006 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Daniil Kvyat - 1:48.096 / Red Bull-Renault
17. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:49.094 / Lotus-Mercedes
18. Roberto Merhi - 1:52.994 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:54.272 / Sauber-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:58.254 / Manor-Ferrari

* - Only driving in this session.

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor/Marussia

Will Stevens - “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Sochi. I was here last year in my role as Reserve Driver, so I walked the track and observed the task of getting to grips with it from afar. It’s quite useful having two different drivers as a benchmark this past few races, and of course it is Roberto back in the other seat for this race, rather than Alex. This is a really technical track and I can’t wait to get my first experience of it on Friday.”

Roberto Merhi - “I can’t wait to be back in the car in Sochi this weekend. It’s the first time I have raced here, but last year I took part in the FP1 session, so I have some understanding of the circuit characteristics and this will be helpful for me after a couple of races out of the car. I’ve continued to work very closely with the team during track sessions and engineering meetings, so I have a very good appreciation of the work we have completed and I’m eager to get stuck into the programme and to make the most of my two races, in Sochi and Abu Dhabi.”

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - "Sochi looks like an interesting track. It should suit our car well so hopefully we can have another strong weekend. I've never raced there, but we've done some good work on the sim so I'm familiar with the track. I look forward to driving there in real life, it seems like a circuit where there's room for overtaking and hopefully this time I won't have to start from the back again! I raced in Moscow last year in Formula 3 and ended up on the podium twice that weekend, so I have good memories - but we need to practice our Russian a bit more before we arrive!"

Carlos Sainz - "I also like the idea of racing around the Olympic Park, it's something unusual. I always follow the Olympics! I also raced there last year during my Formula Renault 3.5 season. It should be a good weekend for us and hopefully we can continue to fight for points. We need to catch Lotus and overtake them in the championship!"

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - "Last season the Russian Grand Prix was my last race both with Caterham and for the year. Qualifying wasn't so bad, and then I also had a decent race. So I have good memories of this track. Hopefully the second Russian race will be a positive weekend for me with the Sauber C34-Ferrari. But we have to work hard to optimise our updates that we have brought to Singapore, and try to make them work even better. And, of course, our aim is to score points again."

Felipe Nasr - "The track in Sochi is again another circuit on which I will drive my first laps in a Formula One car. But I know it from last year's GP2 races. I have quite good memories from this weekend after finishing one of the races on the podium. The circuit itself is a bit of a mix between a permanent and a street track. It is impressive that it has been built in the centre of the Olympic Park, which makes it an interesting environment. The circuit itself consists mainly of low and medium-speed corners. Therefore, braking stability as well as traction is very important. During the weekend we will continue to work on evaluating our aero package."

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