Russian GP, Apply One: Valtteri Bottas quickest forward of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

Valtteri Bottas units tempo in Russian GP Apply One, ending two tenths forward of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen; Charles Leclerc fourth operating upgraded Ferrari engine

Valtteri Bottas made a flying begin to the Russian GP as he led dwelling a Mercedes one-two in Apply One, with championship chief Max Verstappen third.

Bottas, final 12 months’s race winner, posted a finest time of 1:34.427 on the mushy tyres to complete simply over two tenths forward of Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen had been operating over a second slower than Mercedes within the main Purple Bull, however closed to 0.227s off Bottas’ finest time on a contemporary run on softs within the last quarter-hour and was simply 0.016s behind title rival Hamilton.

The Dutchman is going through a three-place grid penalty on Sunday for his position within the crash with Hamilton final trip in Italy.

However Sergio Perez might solely handle ninth place within the sister Purple Bull, over one-and-a-half seconds of the tempo of his team-mate.

Charles Leclerc, operating Ferrari’s upgraded engine in Sochi, completed the session in fourth, almost seven tenths off Bottas’ benchmark.

Leclerc will begin Sunday’s race from the again of the grid as that is the fourth energy unit he has used this season.

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