For obvious reasons, the Grand Prix of Russia our fans were waiting with particular trepidation. And, of course, all the attention was focused on the Russian driver — this time there were two!
The real surprise was the announcement, delivered four days before the first training session of the Russian race — starting with the race in Sochi behind the wheel of Renault cars on Fridays sit Sergey Sirotkin several times.
The debut appearance of the Russians as part of the French team had just the Grand Prix of Russia. Sirotkin showed their best side — he showed the result of 13, and his teammate Jolyon Palmer was on the team, seven-tenths of a second slower!
However, it was a local — albeit a very pleasant for the Russian fans — success. Where great interest is the event Saturday and Sunday.
Qualifying races completed another pole position racers Mercedes — this time the best time showed the leader of the season Nico Rosberg. But this is no surprise, as opposed to the result of his teammate Lewis Hamilton. The current world champion continued the trend is not the most successful qualifications and became only the tenth.
The reason for that was the problem with the engine — the Briton went into the final segment, but at the right time powerplant balked. As a result, Lewis is not something that could not show any decent result — he generally could not go on the road!
This caused a reaction explainable Hamilton in command address — he demanded as quickly as possible to solve the problems arising over and over again it with his car. The team responded, saying, «it's all strange, but we will try to solve.» And Sunday's race showed — Mercedes rectify the situation and F1 W07 Hybrid British riders literally flew!
But the flight of the flight, and in front of Lewis on the grid were nine more participants. Between standing on pole and Rosberg tenth position holder Hamilton qualified Vallteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, Daniel Ricardo, Sergio Perez, Sebastian Vettel, Daniil Kvyat and Max Verstappen.
The fact that the Russian was on the starting line on the field immediately after Vettel, which after the previous race — Chinese Grand Prix — Residents have started a verbal duel, which lasted up to the Sochi weekend, could not warm up interest in the upcoming race. Unfortunately, in Sochi, this time also not without conflict between the two drivers, with his culprit this time was a Russian...
From the start Nico Rosberg went first, but two of his pursuer swapped — in the duel of the two Finns, Kimi Raikkonen ahead of Valtteri Bottas. Behind the trio started a chain of events that ended with an afterfinish apology Daniil Kvyat.
Before the second turn on the brakes Russian peretormozil and «caught» the Ferrari Vettel. In turn, the Germans by this time had already caught up with the other Red Bull Daniel Riccardo. After impact, resulting from Kvyat, Sebastian car jerked to the left, which drove the Aussie. That, in turn, hooked right rear wheel Force India Sergio Perez — it has had a significant impact on the subsequent events.
Due to the touch each other Riccardo, Vettel and Kvyat slightly slowed and Perez moved forward. In order not to fly into this group, who was riding behind them all Lewis Hamilton went beyond the track, but managed not to get over it no punishment. All? The race went on as usual? Certainly not!
In the next turn exploded right rear wheel on the car of Sergio Perez. Sebastian Vettel started to overclock, but slowed when he saw Force India was forced to slow down. But behind him in the same time it accelerated Daniil Kvyat. For the Russian racer braking Ferrari mildly surprise and ufimets was not prepared for him. Blow — and the scarlet machine spins 360 degrees, throws off the track, after which it cuts into the chipper, which stops with a broken front suspension.
Apart from Vettel's incident brought trouble — though much less serious procedure — to Daniel Kvyat, Daniel Riccardo and «catch» the radiator of his Toro Rosso largest chip Carlos Sainz Junior. All three of them were forced to stop in the pits for minor repairs. They were lucky also that the track left the safety car — otherwise the loss of time would have been even more significant.
But the Russians had more and serve the penalty — already in the course of the race he was recognized as the culprit of the accident and appointed ten-Stop & Go. However, the saddest was not even that, and the fact that because of all these events, the two Red Bull were to finish outside the points.
But one should definitely be commended for exemplary performance in the Russian Grand Prix, so it is the reigning world champion. Lewis Hamilton started only with the tenth position, masterfully avoided falling first into one and then the second debris caught up with and ahead of Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas, after which came in second place and rushed to catch up with the departed was in the gap of his teammate Nico Rosberg.
But on this day the fate was again on the side of the German — British car appeared next technical problems (this time in the cooling system) and he was forced to slow down. The result — the second position and double win Mercedes.
The winner of the Nico Rosberg recorded in the active first «Grand Slam» career — he started from pole position, led throughout the race and showed the best lap.
Third place on the podium Kimi Raikkonen won. Behind him in the top ten finished two Williams driver Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa for the first time to score points this season, Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen, once again hit the top ten rider Haas Romain Grosjean, reeling from the starting situation, Sergio Perez and another rider, soak expense 2016 season Jenson Button.
Daniil Kvyat finished the race only 15 positions. In addition to this penalty, which he served during the race, he was awarded three penalty points...
The next stage of the Formula 1 will be held on May 15 in Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Photo: f1fanatic.co.uk, XPB Images
