BREAKING: Bottas tops FP1 again in Sochi!

Valtteri Bottas set the pace in a disrupted FP1 session in Sochi, as both Carlos Sainz and Nicholas Latifi were caught out. The Russian GP is one of Bottas’ best events and he topped FP1 for the sixth time in a row, with teammate Lewis Hamilton clearly on a different programme down in 19th.

Daniel Ricciardo ended the session a good P2 for Renault, ahead of Max Verstappen.

It was a quiet start to the session, with Bottas setting the early pace before the rest of the field set times.

There was lots of movement on the timesheets with an hour to go, with Max Verstappen moving to the top.

The track was getting busy and Bottas re-took P1, with Sergio Perez showing some solid early pace in second.

Just as things were starting to move, Sainz brought out the Virtual Safety Car. The McLaren driver spun at Turn 7, backing into the wall. He was able to return to the pitlane, albeit with his rear wing hanging off.

Just seconds later, home hero Daniil Kvyat spun, although no damage was done, except to his ego in front of the Russian fans that have been allowed in.

Hamilton was the first to emerge from the pitlane after the VSC, but he returned to the pitlane without completing a flying lap, complaining of worn tyres.

Meanwhile, Bottas was ruining his tyres, locking up in a big way and running wide, ruining his front left.

Esteban Ocon went second in his Renault, before the session was brought to a halt.

Latifi had a spin in the middle of Turn 10, hitting the outside barrier and ending his session. The red flag was brought out, just as several drivers looked to be turning it up.

Ricciardo was the first to benefit after the resumption, jumping up to P2.

And that’s the way it ended, with nobody able to improve much in the last few minutes.

There was good pace for Racing Point, with Perez and Lance Stroll fourth and fifth respectively.

Ocon ended down in sixth, ahead of Daniil Kvyat, Alex Albon, Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly rounding off the top ten.

Hamilton finished the session in 19th, but was clearly on a different programme to Bottas, so there should be no worry there.

FP2 gets underway at 1pm UK time, make sure you join us then!