Formula One cars took to the new Sochi Autodrom for the very first time today and opinions on the circuit were mixed.
But Jules Bianchi’s accident at Suzuka remained the biggest talking point, with drivers admitting they found it difficult to fully focus on the work.
Here are the Twitter highlights of the first day of the Russian Grand Prix.
#F1 Beautiful morning here at #Sochi. The sun just came up behind the Caucasus Mountains. 17°C. Ready for FP1. pic.twitter.com/TvxiywVtoP
— Tobias Grüner F1 (@tgruener) October 10, 2014
Marussia announced in the morning they would only race with one car this weekend, out of respect for Bianchi.
Our heartfelt thanks for your incredible support. We hope you will be understanding of our approach to this difficult weekend. #JB17 — Marussia F1 Team (@Marussia_F1Team) October 10, 2014
Glad that the FIA/FOM did not insist on sticking to contract, making team run 2 cars when they didn’t want to. #F1 #RussianGP
— Justin Kircher (@jKirch_F1) October 10, 2014
Vitaly Petrov, Russia’s first Formula 1 driver, on commentary duties.
Мы готовы :) смотрите @russia2tv в 9:55 pic.twitter.com/OLcFNza3Gg — Vitaly Petrov (@vitalypetrovrus) October 10, 2014
First practice
Fernando Alonso heads down the long Sochi pit lane to get the first #RussianGP under way. #F1 pic.twitter.com/Jrhw2WJ0Lk
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Nico Rosberg posts the first ever #F1 lap time at Sochi Auodrom despite an error at turn 13. 1’49.932. #RussianGP — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Two home drivers were on track in the morning session – Daniil Kvyat was joined by Sergey Sirotkin, who made his practice debut at Sauber.
Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin heads out early in FP1 for @SauberF1Team #RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/nvCOVd2j3K
— Formula1.com (@F1) October 10, 2014
Magnussen: “Box this lap. I think I’ve hit a bird. There’s bits of bird everywhere.” #F1 #RussianGP — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
The pit lane entrance at @SochiAutodrom is narrow – and bright. #F1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/k1ngNDHS2N
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
1st impressions of Sochi #F1 on TV? I agree with the ‘Valencia meets Abu Dhabi’ descriptions I’ve seen elsewhere #RussianGP — Glenn Freeman (@glenn_autosport) October 10, 2014
#F1 That’s the end of the session for @ValtteriBottas – he suffered a tyre blanket failure which has damaged his next set of tyres.
— Jennie Gow (@JennieGow) October 10, 2014
Jenson Button of @McLarenF1 is the first man to spin this weekend, losing his MP4-29 at Turn 8 #RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/WD3MeSDRXe — Formula1.com (@F1) October 10, 2014
A sombre scene as Jules Bianchi’s car sits quiet and alone in its race bay. Marussia will run just one car in Sochi pic.twitter.com/ouNnIvKd6n
— Dan Paddock (@CosmicDanzo) October 10, 2014
Roberto Merhi, competing in FP1 for @CaterhamF1, spins at Turn 15 #RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9uorFOdaYB — Formula1.com (@F1) October 10, 2014
Sirotkin: “I got traffic in front. Also there is something in the cockpit around my legs.” #F1 #RussianGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Fernando Alonso with some opposite lock in the final corner.
Fernando Alonso of @InsideFerrari hustles the F14 T as the chequered flag falls in FP1 #RussianGP #FP1 pic.twitter.com/pl6UvGJcF9 — Formula1.com (@F1) October 10, 2014
Sergey is busy with many media appointments #SS37 #RussianGP #F1 @SochiAutodrom pic.twitter.com/hMfEE4PHhP
— Sauber F1 Team (@SauberF1Team) October 10, 2014
Button and Maldonado both caught speeding in the pits twice in FP1. @FIA now €3,100 (£2,400) richer. #F1 #RussianGP — F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 10, 2014
Sochi seems to have really distinctive, crisp, bright light. Works beautifully with the sun opposite the pits. pic.twitter.com/8b6yzHPPno
— LAT Photographic (@latphotographic) October 10, 2014
Having watched Sochi FP1, it's clear the track was designed so that advertisers get maximum exposure at all the slooooow corners. Yawnsville
— f1bastard (@f1bastard) October 10, 2014
A lap of Sochi
A corner-by-corner look at the Sochi Autodrom. You can find it in full here.
Turn three is the most distinctive bend on the track: a long, fast, near 180-degree left-hander. #F1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/OMCjh6IeuJ — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Turn 16 – we’ve not had a 90-degree right-hander for a while so here’s another one #F1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/H2PH3K3pxd — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Second practice
Wrote @Jules_Bianchi‘s name and number on my FP2 tyre data page for today without thinking about it… #ForzaJules pic.twitter.com/q3hpLZSIGz — Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) October 10, 2014
Vettel pits and obeys the white line next to the blue area which drivers aren’t allowed to cross. #F1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/GWaZy74FiP — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Kobayashi: “Oi! Stop tickling my feet…” #F1 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/I44b5JI00B
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 10, 2014
McLaren doing a spot of "your-logo-could-be-here" advertising at Sochi with some quick lap times.
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) October 10, 2014
The sole Marussia of @maxchilton in 17th place at the moment. Can just make out the #JB17 sticker on his . helmet. pic.twitter.com/2pikqzk5uT — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
“I still think there is a problem with the car,” says Grosjean, he reports “no downforce, weird steering under braking.” #F1 #RussianGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
Rocquelin: “OK we don’t see anything wrong please try again.” Vettel: “There was a clear feeling on the straight… — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
… when I started to lose power.” Rocquelin: “At the moment we think it might be head wind.” #F1 #RussianGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) October 10, 2014
@danielt_johnson Um, have you ever been to Valencia, Korea or Abu Dhabi? — James Moy (@jamesmoy) October 10, 2014
Daniel Ricciardo of @redbullracing brings out the red flags after grinding to a halt out on track #RussianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/1U6D8pNHDm
— Formula1.com (@F1) October 10, 2014
Selected team mate comparisons: ALO -1.126s RAI HAM -0.912s ROS VET -0.665s RIC HUL -0.413s PER MAG -0.224s BUT GRO -0.013s MAL #F1
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 10, 2014
Pits and paddock
Hey @danielricciardo you left something behind in our paddock. Can I borrow it for our Free practice later? pic.twitter.com/J0ai0K7UsN — Richie Stanaway (@RichieStanaway) October 10, 2014
The events of Suzuka remain on the minds of the drivers.
Thoughts of @LewisHamilton: “I have to say it wasn’t easy getting in the car this morning and really getting back into it all”
— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) October 10, 2014
.@danielricciardo “I’d be lying if I said other things weren’t on my mind today. Not as easy as I expected.” — Sarah Holt (@sarahholtf1) October 10, 2014
Marussia CEO Graeme Lowden spoke from the heart while thanking the F1 community for its support in the aftermath of Jules Bianchi’s crash.
Impressive & brave speech from @Marussia_F1Team‘s @Graeme_Lowdon at today’s @FIA press conference. #ForzaJules pic.twitter.com/byH6zLNg1V
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 10, 2014
Fully agree @McLarenF1. At such a difficult time for our Team, we are extremely fortunate to have such strong leadership. — Marussia F1 Team (@Marussia_F1Team) October 10, 2014
I'm watching the F1 Team Managers' press conference and wondering how some of these idiot journalists ever got a media credential
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) October 10, 2014
Stoffel Vandoorne, who said he’d be racing for Bianchi this weekend, took pole position for Saturday’s GP2 race by the narrowest of margins, as Arthur Pic set an identical lap time. He is one of many drivers showing his support for Bianchi this weekend.
Racing for Jules.@svandoorne after scoring pole position for the GP2 race. #ForzaJules pic.twitter.com/zHU3WNZVHg
— wtf1.co.uk (@wtf1couk) October 10, 2014
Drivers just emerged from Drivers meeting, and they don't look happy. A long conversation between Ricciardo & Vergne in the Paddock
— John Sertori (@Adorimedia) October 10, 2014
Button and Maldonado both caught speeding in the pits twice in FP1. @FIA now €3,100 (£2,400) richer. #F1 #RussianGP
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 10, 2014
Button was 3.2kph and 7kph over the 80kph limit on his two infractions. Maldonado exceeded by 12.8kph and 30.8kph. #F1 #RussianGP
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 10, 2014
Poor Charlie Whiting having to do a pointless Bianchi/Suzuka press conference as FIA cave in to hysterical bleating of sensationalist media
— f1bastard (@f1bastard) October 10, 2014
I must say I question the common sense in giving a press conference on Suzuka before the Suzuka investigation has been concluded.
— The Buxton Blog (@thebuxtonblog) October 10, 2014
Packed FIA press conference on Suzuka crash. pic.twitter.com/8jYKlCKy2K
— Daniel Johnson (@danielt_johnson) October 10, 2014
Full marks to the FIA, Charlie Whiting and Jean Todt for giving us a 75-minute Q&A session on Suzuka — Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) October 10, 2014
The members of the panel spoke with authority and clarity. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Jean Todt stepped up as President. — Will Buxton (@willbuxton) October 10, 2014
Still can’t work out which corner I’m watching at featureless Sochi but track look to have nice flow and real overtaking possibilities …
— Tiff Needell (@tiff_tv) October 10, 2014
#ForzaJules #raceForYou pic.twitter.com/yBrguF1AtR — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) October 10, 2014
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2014 Russian Grand Prix
- Sponsor Watch: 2014 Russian & Japanese Grands Prix
- Three-in-a-row for Hamilton in Driver of the Weekend
- First Russian GP gets one of the lowest-ever ratings
- 2014 Russian Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- 2014 Russian Grand Prix team radio transcript
greg-c (@greg-c)
11th October 2014, 1:54
Wow, 30 kph over pit speed limit by Maldonado
isn’t the speed limit for the safety of all in the pitlane, ?
and a couple of Euros (F1 Euros) fine for both himself and Button, ?