Practice 1 Report - A Somber Mood

There was a somber mood as the first practice session got underway for the Russian Grand Prix.

All the drivers and teams and the rest of the F1 fraternity were still reeling from Bianchi's horrible accident at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix just four days earlier that left the popular Frenchman with severe head injuries.

Marussia decided to enter only one car, for Max Chilton, in the event and not to have a substitute driver Bianchi.

"The team have written to the Stewards of the Meeting to inform them that they have withdrawn their second car," a Marussia statement said. "Notwithstanding the presence in Sochi of Alexander Rossi, the nominated Official Reserve Driver for the 2014 Russian Grand Prix, the Team feels strongly that fielding a single car, that of driver number 4, Max Chilton, is the appropriate course of action under the difficult circumstances of the weekend."

Chilton added: "I don't know how to put into words how truly devastated I am by what has happened to Jules. The support from the F1 family has been incredible and all we can do is be there to support Jules' family at this difficult time. It is going to be a very emotional weekend for the whole Team, but we will try to get through it and keep praying for Jules."

All the drivers felt the same.

"For sure it is difficult because of the shocking circumstances," said Nico Rosberg. "And here it is all coming out again because meeting the different people who are closer to him than I was, so it difficult. But there is a job to be done. And when I get into the car and close my visor I need to put everything aside as always, all thoughts and emotions, and just fully focus on the job at hand. And that is what I will try and do this weekend."

In contrast to the somber mood in the paddock, the skies were blue and sunny.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso made history by being the first Formula 1 driver to take to the track in an official practice session for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix on the 3.637-mile (5.853-km) 18-turn (12 right and 6 left) Sochi street track.

Sochi is a medium-speed circuit with a variety of different corners, including one left-hander that has been inspired by the long triple apex Turn 8 at Istanbul Park, which takes an enormous amount of energy out of the front-right tire. In total there are 12 right and six left-hand corners, with a 2133-foot (650-meter) straight between the first and second turns, on which the cars were expected to hit a top speed of around 199-mph (320kph).

The drivers were using Pirelli's medium compound slicks with the white sidewalls. The option tire was the soft compound with the yellow sidewalls. The combination was last seen at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa.

With the track only having been recently completed, there was not a lot of real data available. However, Pirelli had carried out advanced computer simulations in collaboration with the teams to prepare for the demands of a new venue and predict the likely strategies.

"From a tire perspective it should be an interesting challenge; we've got a wide variety of corners that should test every aspect of performance," said Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director. "As has been the case at every grand prix this year, we're aiming for between two and three pit stops per race and the nomination we have made reflects this. In terms of overall tire energy demands, Russia is somewhere in the middle, and measurements also indicate low-abrasion asphalt."

Sergio Perez's summed up the track: "Long straights, hard braking zones, it is a really challenging place track. It is quite a bit like Valencia."

Roberto Merhi drove Kamui Kobayashi's Caterham in FP1. And Sergey Sirotkin was in Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber.

11 minutes into the session, Rosberg set the first ever official lap time on the track: 1:49.932.

At the end of the first 30 minutes of FP1 the top 10 were: Jenson Button, who had clocked a 1:42.507 in his McLaren, Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), Rosberg, Kevin Magnussen (McLaren), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), Sergio Perez (Force India), Felipe Massa (Williams) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).

"Quite mixed feelings as you see here the atmosphere and all our thoughts are still about Japan," Kvyat had said the day before about participating in his home grand prix. "So, I think it will be like this for a while. Another side of course, it's my home grand prix. I'm pleased to see what I see here. Big structures, big track and I think around ten years ago, when I was starting my career, we couldn't have even dreamed about this. And not this thing becoming reality. So, obviously it's a special moment for me and the first time racing in Russia. In the end it's our work and we carry on doing what we've been doing for such a long time."

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) was the first out as the final two-thirds of the session got underway.

51 minutes into the session, Rosberg posted the second best time: 1:42.670.

54 minutes into the session, Hamilton claimed third place with a 1:42.971.

He had been in the pits earlier for repairs.

"Bit of vibration on the brakes for @LewisHamilton earlier so a few tweaks needed. All ready to rock again." Mercedes said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, it was all over for Bottas.

"Unfortunately we have had a tire blanket failure which has damaged Valtteri's next tire set - so that is it for his running in #FP1," the Williams team stated.

57 minutes into the session, Rosberg topped the times with a 1:42.311. Then Hamilton went second quickest with a 1:42.376.

At the one-hour mark the top 10 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), Bottas, Alonso, Kvyat, Kevin Magnussen (McLaren), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) and Vettel.

With 27 minutes remaining in the session, Button had a quick spin.

With 20 minutes remaining in the session, Alonso moved into fourth with a 1:42.724.

While the Mercedes cars were quick they also had problems as both drivers reported vibrations.

"Really strange vibration on the steering into medium speed," Rosberg radioed. "It's almost like it's the diff or something. I don't think it's the front tire."

With 10 minutes remaining in the session, only Bottas, Massa and Chilton were not on track as the session wound down with the other drivers pounding around on worn tires.

With 11 minutes remaining in the session, Romain Grosjean radioed to the Lotus pit: "There is no power."

With 3 minutes remaining in the session, Mehri spun in Turn 15.

The top 10 at the end of FP1 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Magnussen, Perez, Kvyat, Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Vergne, Bottas.