'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After that action-packed Singapore Grand Prix, Formula One is at the Sochi Autodrom for the Russian Grand Prix. The free practice sessions on Friday offered us glimpses on what we could expect from qualifying. With the way things transpired, expect a slew of surprises during the qualifying session.
Sebastian Vettel took the first spot in FP1, followed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen struggled and couldn't finish higher than a mediocre seventh place.
Things were completely different in FP2, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas taking the top two spots, followed by the Red Bulls. Ferrari struggled for pace and finished the session in the fifth and the sixth spot.
Looking at the data from these two sessions, the teams will make those all-important last minute changes to the cars in FP3 before setting hot-laps in qualifying, and in this article, let us look closer at the five things that could happen during the qualifying session on Saturday.
#5 Gasly puts on a strong show
Both the Toro Rossos had a terrible weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, that saw them finish the race with both cars outside the top ten, fetching zero points in the process.
However, fortunes might have changed for the Red Bull junior team at the Sochi Autodrom as Pierre Gasly put on some impressive displays in both the free practice sessions.
FP1 saw the French driver put in some laps and showed decent pace, that kept the Renaults and the Haas machines in sight. In FP2, the Frenchman bettered himself and finished the session in the eighth place, almost a second faster than his teammate. If Gasly manages to bring this form to qualifying, he may well see himself in the top ten.
Brendon Hartley, on the other hand, struggled in both the sessions and could not finish higher than the sixteenth place.
#4 Haas has a disappointing Q2 Session
From the results of both the practice sessions, it is clear that Haas are struggling at this race track.
Kevin Magnussen has shown decent pace in both the sessions but still failed to finish in the top ten in FP2. His teammate Romain Grosjean, however, is struggling for pace and managed a lowly fifteenth place in the second practice session. The Frenchman, on the ultrasofts and hypersofts, was slower than Renault's Nico Hulkenberg in the second practice session. Interestingly, the German didn't test the softest compound in FP2.
If Haas does not improve fast, the team might see itself get knocked out pretty early in Q2 itself.
#3 Force India break into top ten
After a disappointing show at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Racing Point Force India will want to get back into the points at the Russian Grand Prix.
If the team's pace in both the practice sessions is any indicator, Force India might well be on its way to Q3 with a comfortable margin. Sergio Perez and Estaban Ocon consistently lapped faster than the Renaults and the Haas machines, putting them in prime positions to dominate the midfield both during qualifying and the race.
In FP2, Perez was less than a second slower than Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari. Both the drivers were at least 0.2 seconds faster than their immediate competition - Sauber, Haas and Renault.
#2 Ferrari struggles to keep pace with the leaders
Surprisingly, Ferrari are struggling to keep up with Mercedes and Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel was the fastest if the first practice session but his slender lead quickly vanished with the strong shows of other teams. The German, who is on a very aggressive tyre strategy, was 0.5 seconds slower than Lewis Hamilton in the second practice session.
Kimi Raikkonen's performances were worse with the veteran driver from Finland finishing seventh in FP1 and sixth in FP2. On both occasions, Raikkonen was at least a second slower than the session leader.
With the way things are right now, Sebastian Vettel might not start higher than third place at the Russian Grand Prix. On the other hand, the Finn might have to settle for fourth as the Red Bulls will start the race from the back of the grid due to the grid-penalties.
#1 Mercedes locks the front row of the grid
Hamilton and Bottas took the top two spots at the end of the second practice session, who finished third and fourth in FP1 respectively.
In FP2, Lewis Hamilton edged past Valtteri Bottas and was miles ahead of his rival Sebastian Vettel. The Briton, driving on the ultrasofts and the hypersofts, showed tremendous pace throughout the session and had a clear advantage over the Ferrari, which is a surprise to many as the Prancing Horse showed very good pace at the Singapore Street Circuit.
With strong performances in FP1 and FP2, Hamilton and Bottas are on track to lock the front row of the grid with dominating displays during the qualifying session.
