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.

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