Russian GP: Dominant Mercedes run 1-2 (as expected)

Sochi

In what is becoming the same old story over and over and over, the Mercedes F1 team ran 1-2 in opening practice for the first ever Russian GP at Sochi. Nico Rosberg set the fastest time just 0.065 seconds quicker than his teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Jenson Button with Mercedes power in his McLaren, was the third quickest, while his teammate Kevin Magnussen was fifth. They were split by the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso making it 4 Mercedes in the top-5.

Local hero Daniil Kvyat shone in his Toro Rosso, setting the seventh fastest time behind Force India's Sergio Perez. He was ahead of the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen and his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.

The Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel were struggling, finishing 12th and 14th respectively, over 1.5s off the pacesetting Mercedes.

The two Williams were 10th and 11th, with Valtteri Bottas ahead of his team-mate Felipe Massa.

Marussia on Friday withdrew injured Jules Bianchi's car from the Russian grand prix.

Just five days ago, the 25-year-old was seriously injured in a crash at Suzuka. Still in Japan, the Frenchman is now lying in a coma in a "critical but stable" condition.

On Thursday, Marussia officially entered a two-car team for the Russian grand prix, with reserve Alexander Rossi listed alongside regular Max Chilton.

Mechanics built up a car for Rossi, but just half an hour before Friday practice at the all-new Sochi Autodrom, it was bearing Bianchi's familiar number 17.

Marussia said in a statement it withdrew Bianchi's car from the Russian grand prix "out of respect" for its stricken race driver.

Earlier, it had emerged that although teams are obliged to enter two cars at each race, Bernie Ecclestone had left the choice of how to tackle Russia up to Marussia in light of the circumstances.

"The team feels strongly that fielding a single car, that of driver number 4, Max Chilton, is the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend," said Marussia.

Results

Pos Driver Car Time Behind Laps
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes/Mercedes 1m42.311s 0.000s 29
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes/Mercedes 1m42.376s 0.065s 25
3 Jenson Button McLaren/Mercedes 1m42.507s 0.196s 28
4 Fernando Alonso Ferrari/Ferrari 1m42.720s 0.409s 27
5 Kevin Magnussen McLaren/Mercedes 1m43.026s 0.715s 28
6 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m43.129s 0.818s 26
7 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Renault 1m43.164s 0.853s 29
8 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari/Ferrari 1m43.212s 0.901s 23
9 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso/Renault 1m43.327s 1.016s 24
10 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 1m43.542s 1.231s 9
11 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m43.741s 1.430s 22
12 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m43.821s 1.510s 25
13 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes 1m43.976s 1.665s 21
14 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull/Renault 1m44.506s 2.195s 30
15 Adrian Sutil Sauber/Ferrari 1m44.625s 2.314s 26
16 Pastor Maldonado Lotus/Renault 1m44.876s 2.565s 26
17 Sergey Sirotkin Sauber/Ferrari 1m45.032s 2.721s 22
18 Romain Grosjean Lotus/Renault 1m45.190s 2.879s 25
19 Roberto Merhi Caterham/Renault 1m46.782s 4.471s 18
20 Marcus Ericsson Caterham/Renault 1m46.922s 4.611s 18
21 Max Chilton Marussia/Ferrari 1m47.284s 4.973s 26