Jack Leslie F1: 2016 Russian Grand Prix In Pictures

The Sochi Autodrom in Russia is a unique street circuit, winding around the location of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The unusual backdrop and layout produces some brilliant photographs. Here's a look at the 2016 Russian Grand Prix weekend in pictures.

Friday

Nico Rosberg set the pace in first practice for the Russian GP, leading his team-mate Lewis Hamilton by seven tenths.

But the big story in FP1 was the on-track debut of Red Bull's F1 canopy concept, dubbed the 'Aeroscreen'.

Hamilton moved to the front of the field in second practice. Drivers struggled for grip on the smooth track surface.

Sebastian Vettel finished second for Ferrari despite an electronics problem causing him to lose crucial track time.

Saturday

Hamilton and Rosberg were separated by just 0.068 seconds at the end of third and final practice in Sochi.

Sergio Perez was one of several drivers to go off track at Turn 13, with track conditions remaining tricky.

Kevin Magnussen was the first driver in the Q1 drop-zone, ahead of Renault team-mate Jolyon Palmer, Felipe Nasr, Pascal Wehrlein, Rio Haryanto and Marcus Ericsson.

Carlos Sainz Jr was just squeezed into the Q2 elimination zone after late improvements. Jenson Button was 12th, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez.

Hamilton's bad 2016 luck continued when the same engine issue as China reappeared, meaning he failed to take part in Q3 and qualified 10th.

Vettel was second fastest in qualifying but a five-place gearbox penalty meant he actually started seventh.

Rosberg stormed to pole position, ahead of Vettel, Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat and Max Verstappen.

Sunday

The drivers took to the circuit before the race for the parade, greeting the fans and waving to the supporters.

Rosberg had a strong start to retain first place, while Raikkonen moved up to second and Hamilton made up several positions.

There was chaos behind, with Gutierrez spinning Hulkenberg into Haryanto's Manor.

Further ahead, Vettel was pushed into Ricciardo by Kvyat and the two hit again one corner later, taking the Ferrari out of the race.

The safety car was unsurprisingly deployed to clear the debris and damaged cars from the circuit.

Several drivers dived into the pits for repairs at the end of the opening lap in Russia.

Hamilton made up several places on the opening lap to emerge in fifth place, soon catching up to the William duo.

Bottas and Massa couldn't keep Hamilton back for long and their pace soon faded, as they dropped back from the Mercedes and Raikkonen's Ferrari.

Raikkonen also couldn't hold back Hamilton and the Finn dropped behind the Mercedes mid-way through the race.

Rosberg's lead started to decrease but just as Hamilton closed in, his car hit a water pressure problem and he started to lose ground.

Kvyat suffered a difficult home race for Red Bull, he dropped back after his earlier errors and struggled with his recovery.

Rosberg claimed win number four of 2016, with Hamilton second and Raikkonen third. Bottas and Massa were fourth and fifth, ahead of Alonso, Magnussen, Grosjean, Perez and Button.

3 May 2016

2016 Russian Grand Prix In Pictures

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