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The 2014 Russian
Grand Prix would see the Williams Martini team visit the new Sochi Circuit
with the team drivers having to learn this new track. It was a day where the
sun was shining as the first Friday practice session got underway. First out
would be Alonso followed by the majority of the field with the Mercedes cars
last to come out. For the Williams team Felipe Massa had come out first
followed by team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Marussia would only be running a
single car for Chilton with the accident of Jules Bianchi still in
everyone's minds. Many drivers were running logos on their helmets showing
their thoughts are with Bianchi. Pirelli had brought their medium and soft
tyres for this weekend.
The two Mercedes cars would come out and both would start their first timed
laps with Rosberg setting a 1m:49.932 to be quickest from Hamilton with a
1m:54.426. Rosberg would improve with a 1m:46.835 as other drivers returned
to the track. Chilton would set a 1m:52.664 as Hamilton went fastest with a
1m:45.120. Ricciardo was now third with a 1m:49.473 while Rosberg had
improved with a 1m:45.186. Both Williams drivers were out on the track with
fifteen minutes of the session completed. More drivers would be setting
times with Valtteri moving into third with a 1m:46.316 but Ricciardo moved
ahead with a 1m:46.169. Alonso was now fifth followed by Vettel, Vergne,
Raikkonen, and Hulkenberg tenth. Felipe would move into fifth with a
1m:46.552 but Valtteri would again move into third with a time of 1m:45.153.
But this would become fourth as Alonso went fastest with a 1m:44.226.
But Rosberg would again be fastest with a 1m:44.125 only to see Button move
ahead with a 1m:44.012. Alonso was now third with a 1m:44.226 followed by
Valtteri, Kvyat, Magnussen, Hamilton, Felipe, Vergne, and Ricciardo tenth.
Hamilton had pitted earlier to have his car checked with Rosberg now also
coming in. Magnussen was now up to fourth with a time of 1m:44.267 but this
would become fifth as Valtteri went fastest with a 1m:43.542. Alonso was now
second as Button went quickest with a 1m:43.053. Valtteri was now second and
Felipe eighth with Felipe now pitting after his first run. The drivers had
again the use of an extra set of the prime tyres which could be used for the
first thirty minutes. Button would improve with a 1m:42.507 remaining
quickest over one second ahead of Valtteri.
The track would start to clear as drivers came back in to return their first
set of tyres. With thirty minutes completed the order was Button from
Valtteri, Alonso, Kvyat, Rosberg, Magnussen, Vergne, Perez, Felipe and
Hamilton in tenth. The track was empty for a short period with Vettel being
the first to return to the track still on the medium tyre. The Caterham's of
Ericsson and Merhi took to the track for the first time with Sutil and
Grosjean also coming out. Vergne and Rosberg would also come out for their
second runs with both Williams drivers waiting in their pits as the track
improved. Kvyat and Magnussen also came out along with Perez and Hamilton.
Button would also come back out with the track now very busy with forty
minutes remaining. Rosberg would improve to now be second with a 1m:42.670. Vergne
would improve to be third, 1m:43.327, with both Williams cars till in their
pits.
Hamilton was now third, 1m:42.971, to be behind Button and Rosberg. Rosberg
would again improve with a 1m:42.311 to be quickest over Button and
Hamilton. Vettel had pitted but Ricciardo had yet to return as Hamilton set
a 1m:42.376 to move into second. For the Williams team reports would come
back saying that Valtteri had suffered a tyre blanket failure which had damaged one of his
next set of tyres. This would see his session come to an end while for
Felipe he was able to get back out, currently in thirteenth. Button and
Magnussen were now third and fourth followed by Kvyat and Vergne. Valtteri
was now seventh with twenty eight minutes remaining. Rosberg had pitted
along with Button. Button had spun at Turn eight with no harm to his car.
Raikkonen was now seventh with a time of 1m:43.493 with the track now
clearing with just four cars out on the track, including both Ferrari's,
Felipe, and Chilton.
Felipe was now tenth with a time of 1m:43.741 with Alonso improving with a
1m:42.724 to now be fourth. Ricciardo was currently fifteenth and back out
on the track. Chilton had pitted while both Torro Rosso cars would return to
the track with twenty minutes remaining. Valtteri and Felipe were now ninth
and tenth with Felipe back in his pit as Button returned to the track.
Rosberg would also come out while for Ricciardo he would remain in
fifteenth. Hamilton and Vettel had also come back out as the final fifteen
minutes of the session commenced. More drivers were coming back out
including Alonso, Perez, and both Lotus cars. Ricciardo would improve to be
twelfth with a 1m:44.276. Raikkonen was back out with just Chilton and the
Williams pair still in the pits. Vergne would pit briefly with ten minutes
remaining with Rosberg pitting with eight minutes remaining. Valtteri had
commented on the track by saying "Some good technical parts, really
interesting track. I think it should suit our car and it's good fun to
drive."
Felipe would return to the track leaving just Valtteri still in his pit.
Both Raikkonen and Grosjean would pit with Grosjean complaining that he had
no power. Grosjean's stop would be brief as Vergne took to the pits. Felipe
was on used medium tyres as Perez improved to be sixth with a 1m:43.129. As
the session drew to a close drivers were making quick stops and with the end
of the session the order was Rosberg from Hamilton, Button, Alonso,
Magnussen, Perez, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Vergne, and Valtteri tenth. Felipe would
finish in eleventh with Ricciardo and Vettel twelfth and fourteenth. Felipe
would complete a practice pit stop upon his return to the pits. For the
Williams team it was a positive start to the weekend on a circuit that will
only get quicker as the sessions progress. But for Valtteri it still must have
been frustrating to have the tyre warmer issue cut short his session. |
