Russian Grand Prix as it happened

1. Hamilton wins, Rosberg 2nd, Bottas 3rd
2. Button 4th, Magnussen 5th, Alonso 6th, Ricciardo 7th
3. Vettel 8th, Raikkonen 9th, Perez 10th
4. Rosberg pits on Lap 2 after flatspotting tyres illegally overtaking Hamilton
5. Caterham's Kobayashi told to retire to save mileage
6. Marussia's Chilton out, Sutil and Grosjean make contact
7. Use the live coverage tab to watch the race again

Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton was the King of the Sochi Autodrom this weekend, the 2008 world champion looking like this track was made for him from first practice to today's race in what was a difficult weekend for Formula 1 as thoughts remained with Jules Bianchi, who is in hospital with severe head injuries following a crash at Suzuka last weekend.

Hamilton now leads the championship by 17 points with three races and 100 points remaining, courtesy of double points at the last race in Abu Dhabi.

We've got a three-week gap until the next race, with Austin playing host to the United States Grand Prix. I'll be back at 15:30 BST on Friday, 31 October to bring you live coverage of first practice. Until then, it's good afternoon from me.

BBC

So Lewis Hamilton leads the way in the drivers' standings with Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo second and third respectively. Valtteri Bottas moves up to fourth, with Sebastian Vettel dropping to fifth. You can see the full standings here.

BBC Sport

Jenson Button, who has yet to sign a deal for next year, is asked what he would like to be doing next season:"I'd love to go racing and be in a competitive car in F1 and that is what I am doing everything to do.

"It was tough [not knowing what McLaren were doing] for a little while but it's not tough any more, it's tougher for my team mate. I have been in the sport for a long time, I have won a world title and won 15 races but for Kevin [Magnussen] he is in his first season and there is more pressure on him to get a drive. I just hope they make the right decision."

"I was in a battle with Lewis and I messed up," says Nico Rosberg. "I was a bad mistake too. It was my corner - or I thought it was - but it was the first time arriving there at full speed with full fuel. I thought I wouldn't get into the top 10 after that but the car was amazing.

"There was one phase when I had a lot of degradation. I got a lot of oversteer and I thought they wouldn't make it to the end of race. I was nursing them a lot. In the end I could have got more out of them. I was driving the whole race on tyres that they said you cannot do any more than 29 laps on them."

Looking ahead to the last three races, Rosberg adds: "I need to continue to attack and I need to look to win them. All the next three races are my favourites."

"It was important that we show everything we can for Jules and his family," says Williams' Felipe Massa, who finished 11th. "I am a very big friend of his so it is not easy for me to talk about it but it was good to see all the drivers come together for him. We are all together all the time but we really showed it today."

"It's great that [Valtteri] Bottas did such a good job for us today but Mercedes were just too fast for us," says Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams. "Big congratulations to them because they have obviously taken the constructors' title.

"When you see Nico come in that early you think it's a shoe-in and then maybe something will happen to Lewis and we can get on the top step but as Valtteri said third place was really the best we could expect.

"We have got a great car it's just a shame Felipe [Massa] couldn't make it past [Sergio] Perez but hopefully he can score some more points in Austin but the big thing today was that we have extended our lead over Ferrari."

"We really went in to the race thinking that we could battle with Mercedes for the win but that was not the case in the end," says Williams' Valtteri Bottas, who starts third. "We are not here to be the best of the rest we are here to be the best and we are aiming for that.

"There are three races to and it's going to be really hard to beat them in those races but over the winter we will be working to close that gap."

Reuters

"There is an incredible synergy within the team, there is huge support from the team and they are real racers," says Lewis Hamilton. "They really want to win and this car and this engine are just mind-blowing.

"I am very happy here and I am very committed as they are with me," says Hamilton, whose contract runs until the end of 2016. "Lets get this season out of the way and then we will talk about a new contract.

"I think longevity with a team is something really special, I had six great years at McLaren and I would love that here with Mercedes."

BBC Sport

"We will all celebrate together and then prepare for the rest of the races, there are still three very tough races to go," adds Lewis Hamilton, who leads Nico Rosberg by 17 points with 100 still on the table.

"I have never won in Brazil so I am really looking forward to that. Nothing changes, we still have to attack. Nico is driving phenomenally well and I still have to compete with him."

BBC Sport

"The circuit is just great and it's great fun to drive, OK I wasn't being pressured during the race but when you lead there is a different kind of pressure," adds race winner Lewis Hamilton.

On the battle into the first corner with his team-mate, Hamilton says: "The last time we [Nico Rosberg and I] were that close the guy took me out. I was just making sure I didn't get any punctures and got round the first lap.

"I still thought he would be pushing me but he did the damage to his tyres but I was so surprised he finished second on the same tyres though."

BBC Sport

"It's been an incredible weekend and it's been an unbelievable job from this team for what they have achieved and it's been great to be a part of it," Lewis Hamilton tells Suzi Perry. "The car has been a dream to drive and I could have only dreamed of a day like this."

BBC

Lewis Hamilton heads round the garage hugging mechanics before heading back out into the pit lane to speak to Suzi, Eddie and David.

BBC

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg join Niki Lauda, Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe at the front for the celebratory team photo. They pose with a pit board which reads "17 BIA" in tribute to Jules Bianchi, who is in hospital with severe head injuries following a crash at last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. They then swap it for a board which reads: "2014 World constructors' champions".

Getty Images

If you missed the start of the race, watch a dramatic lock-up from Nico Rosberg, which saw the German briefly take the lead before having to hand the place back to Lewis Hamilton and then stop for fresh boots at the end of the lap.

"I think the start - we knew that was the only chance for us to have some joy today," says Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, which finished sixth. "We attacked and gained some positions but we were the fourth fastest [team] on the track today so we didn't have the pace to keep Kevin [Magnussen] behind. So it was no big change for us and sixth is what we deserved today."

"We all raced for Jules today - it's not a complete race because we were missing one of our colleagues. And in the next three weeks we hope to be able to stand in front of your cameras and have some good news for you."

Is there any news about Jenson Button's future at McLaren? "No," says Eric Boullier. Well that's definitive.

"Nothing related to us, maybe a personal issue," says McLaren racing director Eric Boullier when asked about why Jenson Button appears downbeat. "He's doing very well. His pace at the end of the race was very good."

Mercedes on Twitter: A big day for the team but all of our thoughts and prayers are with Jules, his family and our friends at @Marussia_F1Team #ForzaJules

Red Bull, who are no longer world champions for the first time since 2009, on Twitter: Congratulations to @MercedesAMGF1 on winning the 2014 constructors' championship.

Force India on Twitter: Congratulations to @MercedesAMGF1 - 2014 World Constructors' Champions! Cupcakes at Brackley later this week?

Ferrari on Twitter: Congratulations to @MercedesAMGF1 on their deserved Constructors' Title. Enjoy the feeling...we'll be back!

Lotus on Twitter: Congrats @MercedesAMGF1 for being awesome. Oh and for winning the 2014 World Constructors' Championship; that's pretty awesome too.

"It's been a pretty good weekend at least considering what we had to deal with with the penalty and the gearbox," says McLaren's Kevin Magnussen, who finished fifth. "To get back and finish fifth is very good and for Jenson to finish fourth is very good too so a great day for the team."

"It was a strange race," says McLaren's Jenson Button, who finished fourth. "How can you do so many laps of one set of tyres? It was back to old school racing which is good from one respect but it does mean that the fastest car wins.

"I think some of it is the circuit but I think we have improved the set up of the car and we have found some of other things that have worked for us. We will see how we get on in Texas and I am looking forward to it."

Both McLarens finish in the top five for the first time since the opening round in Australia. Jenson Button was fourth with Kevin Magnussen fifth.

Button looks down, though. "There must be a number of factors but he's been driving exceptionally in the last few races," says BBC co-commentator David Coulthard.

Mercedes

The champagne is out in the Mercedes garage, with the crew wearing celebratory T-shirts. The trophies are being passed round so Mercedes staff can pose for photos. They'll be up on their respective Facebook profiles shortly, no doubt.

BBC

"We don't forget about Jules, this is still overshadowing everything we do," says Mercedes co-team boss Toto Wolff. "Nico made the move [at the start] and it looked clean and Lewis seemed to have lost it. Lewis might have thought it was the dirty line and braking would be tricky. Nico might have made that corner if he didn't lock it up. It could have been "cold-blooded Lewis" or "lucky Lewis" - it doesn't matter."

On former Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn's input in their success, Wolff said: "We talked about Ross a lot and he has been so fundamental to the team - he built the foundation of the team. This is his trophy, too. There are several hundred people in Brackley and Stuttgart who have played a part as well."

"They [Mercedes] will never be great until they win another constructors' championship," says BBC F1 analyst Eddie Jordan. He's a hard man to impress.

Get involved

Kartik Kumar: When #LewisHamilton has nine wins to #NicoRosberg's four, the idiocy of double points is only highlighted.

Dr Ibezim Chidi: My driver of the day #Nico but Hamilton undisputed winner. Congrats Lewis. Highly deserved after domination.

Reece Young: @LewisHamilton showing his class yet again. What a dominant performance.

"It means a lot," says Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda of the team's triumph in the constructors' championship. "I have to tell you I'm a little emotional. When we started this together - Ross Brawn, Toto Wolff and myself - it was hard work. It's an emotional moment, but let's think of the next race already.

"We will celebrate, but we have to go home. Lewis is flying home with me. Nico did a very good job after his first lap mistake. I'm happy, I can't say any more than that.

"They raced today, you saw at the first corner. I thought that's it again, but it was not as there was enough run-off. They always race, they will continue to do this. Lewis is on a very good track, four in a row. It looks very good for him, it keeps the momentum."

BBC Sport

"I need to be happy for us as a team, what we have been doing since last year is amazing," says Williams' Valtteri Bottas, who finished third.

"We were the best of the rest today but unfortunately Mercedes were quicker than us. But we did the best we could do so we are happy with more points and another podium finish."

BBC Sport

"It was a great strategy our car is unbelievably, it's so good," says Nico Rosberg, who finished second and now trails his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 17 points in the drivers' championship.

"Half of me is so disappointed because I messed up today but the other half is made up for the team. We have secured the most important title of the season and I am very happy and that's why I can still smile."

BBC Sport

"I'm so happy to be here," says Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who secured his ninth race win of the season. "We have had another amazing week, Russia and the people have been fantastic and I am looking forward to being here for many more years to come.

"It is also not that far from where I live so I will be popping over for holidays.

"Nico did a great job to recover today and as a team we did a great job to win the first constructors' championship for Mercedes; it's a wonderful day."

BBC Sport

No driver has won four successive races in one season and failed to go on to win the title. Lewis Hamilton, pictured here receiving his trophy from Russian president Vladimir Putin, has now achieved the feat twice this season.

Mercedes-Benz engines finish the race 1-2-3-4-5 in a grand prix for the first time.

Here's how they finish: 1) Hamilton 2) Rosberg 3) Bottas 4) Button 5) Magnussen 6) Alonso 7) Ricciardo 8) Vettel 9) Raikkonen 10) Perez

11) Massa 12) Hulkenberg 13) Vergne 14) Kvyat 15) Gutierrez 16) Sutil 17) Grosjean 18) Maldonado 19) Ericsson

DNF: Kobayashi, Chilton

Lewis Hamilton leads Nico Rosberg by 17 points in the drivers' championship but there are still three races and 100 points left on the table - don't forget double points in Abu Dhabi.

BBC Sport

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg drench Mercedes co-team boss Paddy Lowe in champagne. It was always going to happen.

BBC Sport

Lewis Hamilton takes the plaudits from the fans before the trophies are handed out. Mercedes co-team boss Paddy Lowe is up there as Mercedes' representative to receive the winning constructors' trophy which was enough to ensure the team won the constructors' title.

BBC

Lewis Hamilton looks a little surprised at the commotion in the pre-podium room. He then heads over to Valtteri Bottas and congratulates the Finn on his strong pace in the race.

BBC

Lewis Hamilton shakes Russian president Vladimir Putin's hand with the Russian's bodyguards and Bernie Ecclestone watching on.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

On whether Lewis Hamilton will win the title: "He certainly deserves it and that doesn't mean that Nico wouldn't but Nico has to beat him a real wheel to wheel race to say he has won this championship."

BBC

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone congratulates race winner Lewis Hamilton in the pre-podium room. It's pretty busy in there as Russian Vladimir Putin has turned up with his entourage. He'll be handing out the trophies and is just being run through procedure.

Team radio

Nico Rosberg: "Sorry guys that was very unnecessary (his bold move at the start which forced an early pit stop) but thank you for the unbelievable car that allowed me to fight back to take second."

Team radio

Lewis Hamilton: "Well done to the team on the constructors' championship, history in the making."

Nice touch from Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who heads over to Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda and shakes his hand to congratulate the team on the constructors' championship. Red Bull fail to win that title for the first time since 2009.

BBC

Lewis Hamilton wins his 31st Formula 1 race, bringing him level with Nigel Mansell at the top of the all-time victories by a British driver list.

Valtteri Bottas ensures he takes the fastest lap of the race with a 1:40.896 to finish 3.7 seconds adrift of Nico Rosberg. That's Bottas fifth podium of the season and sees him move up to fourth in the drivers' standings.

Mercedes win the constructors' championship

Mercedes score their ninth one-two of the season as Nico Rosberg crosses the line second. That's the constructors' championship done and dusted for the Brackley-based team.

Chequered flag

AP

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton wins the inaugural Russian Grand Prix.

Lap 53

Lewis Hamilton starts the final lap of the race with a 16-second lead over team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg. It's been a stunning drive from the Briton.

Interview

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on Mercedes potentially taking the constructors' championship today: "It will be going just up the road to Brackley and congratulations to Mercedes on what they have achieved this season, they have been phenomenal. We will be working hard to take the trophy back the 12 miles to us in 12 months' time."

Lap 52

Valtteri Bottas fancies the honour of the fastest lap of the race, which is why he is still flying despite having little chance of catching Nico Rosberg, who is still 4.5 seconds up the road. The Finn clocks a 1:41.534.

Lap 51

Lewis Hamilton has backed off, but he's still got a comfortable 16-second lead over his team-mate Nico Rosberg, who he has convincingly beaten for the second successive race.

Lap 50

Daniel Ricciardo is struggling to find a way past Fernando Alonso, despite looking like he has a much faster car. Sixth place is on the line there with the gap just 0.8 seconds.

Lap 49

Valtteri Bottas sets the fastest lap of the race as he takes seven tenths of a second out of Nico Rosberg in second, but the Finn is not going to have enough laps left to catch and then pass the German.

Lap 48

It's another fastest lap for Lewis Hamilton with a 1:41.6 who hasn't been challenged since Nico Rosberg tried, and failed, with that bold move down at Turn One at the start.

Lap 47

With six laps to go, Lewis Hamilton edges closer to victory, the Briton leading his title rival and Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 19 seconds.

1) Ham 2) Ros 3) Bot 4) But 5) Mag 6) Alo 7) Ric 8) Vet 9) Rai 10) Per

Get involved

Shane Buckley: Another boring Grand Prix, drivers going through the motions. Hope it livens up last few laps, not a fan of this track either

Glenn Cole-Wilkin: I'm sorry but this #SochiGP is pretty dull....the track just doesn't let anything exciting happen.

Laura Wright: Come on Jenson - would love a podium for JB.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"There are a lot of rumours going around about Alonso and he might even decide to have a year out of F1 to decide what he really wants to do and what car he wants to drive. It's difficult to imagine he won't be here but what are his options?"

Lap 46

Third-placed Valtteri Bottas has got the gap to Nico Rosberg down to 4.7 seconds with seven laps to go. Lewis Hamilton is comfortable in the lead, 18.8 seconds clear. Jenson Button is dropping back, though. He's now 8.8secs adrift of Bottas in fourth.

Lap 45

Caterham say that the reason for Kamui Kobayashi's retirement was that "his brakes were overheating and it was too dangerous for him to carry on racing". That's slightly different to what the Japanese drive said in a BBC Radio 5 live interview. See entry just after lap 34.

Lap 44

If things stay as it is, Mercedes will be crowned constructors' champions today with three races to go.

Lewis Hamilton leads Nico Rosberg by 18.7 seconds. Replays show Hamilton locking up into Turn 13, but he keeps it on track and it doesn't look like there's much damage done.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"I wonder if that series of slower laps from Bottas was just because he was overdoing it on fuel so had to pull a bit back and nothing more serious."

Lap 43

McLaren's Jenson Button is told that the team think all cars will now try to go to the end with 10 laps to go. The Briton is currently fourth, 5.9 seconds behind Valtteri Bottas and 12 secs clear of team-mate Kevin Magnussen. Lewis Hamilton leads by 18.6 seconds.

Lap 42

Valtteri Bottas is now starting to close on Nico Rosberg. Is it game on for second place again? The gap is down to 5.5 seconds.

Interview

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on BBC One: "It's not stellar at the moment we have got a bit of a Mercedes procession ahead of us but we are closing on Alonso."

Lap 41

AP

Lewis Hamilton ups the pace, to remind team-mate Nico Rosberg who is boss in this race, with a new fastest lap. The Briton clocks a 1:41.853 to extend his advantage to 18.5 seconds with 12 laps to go.

1) Ham 2) Ros 3) Bot 4) But 5) Mag 6) Alo 7) Vet 8) Vet 9) Rai 10) Per

Lap 40

Lewis Hamilton responds to Nico Rosberg's pace with a lap in high 1m42s. The gap is back up to 17.6 seconds.

Meanwhile, Mercedes ask Rosberg if he thinks he can get to the end of the race on these tyres. "Easy," comes the reply, before he adds: "Well not easy but I can get to the end."

Lap 39

BBC

Russian president Vladimir Putin rocks up in the Sochi paddock to be met by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. Nice of you to join us, Mr President. Still 14 laps to go.

Jennie Gow

BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and about 17 burly bouncers have come down to the front gates of the track, along with the world's media. We are expecting Russian president Vladimir Putin any minute."

Lap 38

Nico Rosberg continues to pump in the lap times, the German now 16 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton and 6.6secs clear of Valtteri Bottas. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa both pass Jean-Eric Vergne for 11th and 12th respectively.

Lap 37

Toro Rosso are really struggling for race pace at the moment, perhaps they focused too much on qualifying speed. Daniil Kvyat tries a move on Nico Hulkenberg, but locks up heavily and goes off track. "I've got massive vibrations," reports the Russian, who started fifth but is down in 15th.

Lap 36

Valtteri Bottas is told by his team that Nico Rosberg is pushing because he has to make another stop. That would explain why the German is around 1.2 seconds quicker than Bottas at the moment. He's also 17.4secs behind Lewis Hamilton.

Jennie Gow

BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"I've been talking to some of the Marussia guys as to why Max Chilton retired. Max was not comfortable in the car [he reported a problem with the car going into Turn One]."

Get involved

Ibraheem Khan: Damn. Rosberg has worked hard for that second place but I was hoping it was the end of his race. We'll see what happens!

Ben Silveston: Rosberg has proved me wrong - great recovery drive! WDC title-race is still very much on!!

Mighty Joe: Rosberg is a man-possessed! How much longer can those tyres last?

Lap 35

It's another fastest lap from Nico Rosberg, who seems very comfortable on those medium tyres, which have now done 33 laps. The German is still 19.4 seconds behind.

Meanwhile, Sergio Perez passes Daniil Kvyat for 12th. Felipe Massa gets in on the act and slips through, too, to demote Kvyat to 14th.

Interview

Caterham's Kamui Kobayashi, who has retired, talking to Jennie Gow on 5 live: "Nothing wrong with the car. The team asked me to stop the car to save mileage.

"We have a lot of mileage limitation to avoid things going wrong with the parts. This is why I get message from top management… I expect to race in Austin."

Caterham have been struggling financially following the takeover of the team from QPR owner Tony Fernandes earlier in the season.

Lap 34

Nico Rosberg is flying, the German clocking the fastest lap of the race to reduce the gap to Lewis Hamilton to 19.7 seconds.

Valtteri Bottas is third with Jenson Button fourth and Kevin Magnussen fifth.

Lap 33

Valtteri Bottas is told not to worry about Nico Rosberg making a pass because they believe Rosberg will suffer with degradation later in the race. Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean is handed a five-second stop go penalty for causing a collision with Sutil earlier.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"I think once he had committed to it Rosberg had to go for it. When it comes to incidents like that it is a case of I am going through anyway and if you turn in we will have contact and if you don't then thank you very much."

Lap 32

BBC

Sebastian Vettel pits from second while Nico Rosberg makes a late move on Valtteri Bottas into Turn Two. The Finn turns in and then back out when he realises Rosberg is there. That forces Bottas wide and Rosberg has the place. He's now second.

What a drive from Rosberg, who was last after a stop at the end of the first lap. But it just goes to show how much of an advantage Mercedes have on the field.

Lap 31

BBC

Adrian Sutil and Romain Grosjean make contact down at Turn Two, with the Sauber driver coming off worst as he spins. The incident is now under investigation.

Lap 29

Nico Rosberg is just 1.3 seconds behind Valtteri Bottas, who is third and struggling to find a way past Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull, who has yet to stop.

No problems for Lewis Hamilton, though, with the Briton leading by 17.1 seconds.

Lap 28

Valtteri Bottas pits and rejoins third behind Sebastian Vettel, who is promoted to second. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa's hopes of reaching the end without a second stop are over. He dives in for a fresh set of soft tyres. That drops him well out of the top 10.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Just how cool is Lewis Hamilton there? It was a really controlled pit stop and he was just adjusting his gloves in preparation for the rest of this race. It wasn't the quickest pit stop but it didn't need to be."

Lap 27

BBC

Lewis Hamilton pits, takes on a set of medium tyres and rejoins in the lead. Good work all round.

Lap 26

Fernando Alonso has dropped to ninth, behind his former team-mate Felipe Massa, who is lapping strongly again after clearing Sergio Perez.

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg sets the fastest lap of the race. He's currently fifth, 4.3 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel having passed Kimi Raikkonen.

Lap 25

BBC

It's a shocking stop for Fernando Alonso, who pits from third but is held for a long time. First the front jack-man drops the car too early, then he comes back to prop it up before dropping it again.

However, the reserve jack-man thinks there's an issue so comes back - but there isn't so he just gets in the way. Alonso has to brake before accelerating once the jackman has moved. What a mess.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Just as a reminder teams chose the tyres based on no statistics. Usually they send a specialist to assess the Tarmac and surface but that was not done for this race so that is why people are having different responses to the tyres."

Lap 24

We've had a flurry of pit stops - though race leader Lewis Hamilton and second-placed Valtteri Bottas haven't been in yet - so here's how they stand at the moment:

1) Ham 2) Bot 3) Alo 4) Mag 5) Vet 6) Rai 7) Ros 8) But 9) Per 10) Mas

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Raikkonen just hasn't found the balance this weekend. He has consistently said he needs a car with a good front end but he is not getting that from this car and he is slipping away."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen is currently sixth.

Lap 23

Jenson Button pits from third. It's a good stop from his McLaren team, but they fail to cover off Nico Rosberg, who sails past into seventh. Button's chances of a podium now look bleak, but he does have much fresher tyres than Rosberg, who is trying to get to the end of the race on those boots he put on on lap two.

Team radio

Rosberg, who is on his second set of tyres after an early pit stop: "Feeling quite a lot of degradation."

Team-mate Hamilton on his team radio: "Tyres still feeling great."

Lap 22

Felipe Massa is stuck behind Sergio Perez as they battle for 10th place. Meanwhile, up front, Lewis Hamilton sets another fastest lap. He's now 10.9 seconds clear of Valtteri Bottas. Wow.

Get involved

Jan Wilkins: I feel the drivers have lost the edge this weekend due to Jules. Not surprisingly, it must be very difficult to care at the mo!!!

Luke Gledhill: Looking forward to the end of the race. ROS going to be attacked from all sides in the last 10 laps or so.

Byron Foxx Mubaiwa: I'm expecting a race after the teams have switched on mediums. Race feels too conservative at the moment

Lap 21

Russian Daniil Kvyat pits from ninth, which promotes Nico Rosberg to that position. The Russian rejoins in 15th. Rosberg, of course, doesn't have to pit again after swapping from the softs to the mediums at the end of the first lap.

Lap 20

Nico Rosberg cruises past Sergio Perez for 10th place at Turn Two. The German is 45 seconds behind his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton but still on course to challenge for the podium.

Lap 19

AFP

Lewis Hamilton continues to stretch his lead at the front with another lap in the 1m43s - the only driver to be lapping in that window at the moment. His gap over Valtteri Bottas is 6.8 seconds. "The balance is very good," reports the 2008 world champion.

Interview

Marussia's Max Chilton, who has retired, speaking to Lee McKenzie: "We just had a slight issue coming in to turn one, something wasn't quite right but I managed to get it back and the engineers are looking at it now.

"It's been a very, very difficult week for the team and everyone in the F1 family. It was hard on the grid and all the drivers were struggling but hopefully they are putting on a good show for Jules - it's just a shame we couldn't complete the race for him."

Lap 18

Nico Rosberg is catching Sergio Perez, who is in the final points-paying position in 10th. The gap is just 1.3 seconds.

Here's the top 10: 1) Ham 2) Bot 3) But 4) Alo 5) Mag 6) Vet 7) Ver 8) Rai 9) Kvy 10) Per

Lap 17

Getty Images

It's another fastest lap of the race for Lewis Hamilton who looks like he is having a great time out in front. His lead now up to 5.4 seconds over Valtteri Bottas (pictured). Still 36 laps to go.

Mercedes on Twitter: Lap 17 #JB17 Jules Bianchi in our thoughts and prayers #ForzaJules

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"It's been a great turnaround for Williams. It was more of a surprise to see the problems they have had over the last few years than the fact they are racing so well here today and challenging for a podium."

Lap 16

Felipe Massa wastes little time behind Esteban Gutierrez, passing the Sauber drive with ease to move into 12th. He's just 2.1 seconds adrift of Nico Rosberg.

Get involved

Richard Grove: Gotta feel the championship has slipped away from Rosberg.

Tony Schumacher: What a strangely sterile, flat Grand Prix this is, it's like a race around a Milton Keynes Tesco car park

Justin Fairweather: If Button can get a podium today it will be a great advert for him to get a new contract next year.

Lap 15

Nico Rosberg passes Esteban Gutierrez for 11th while Felipe Massa makes short work of Nico Hulkenberg for 13th. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton leads by 4.5 seconds from Valtteri Bottas.

Lap 14

Nico Rosberg moves in 12th, 2.3 seconds behind the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez. Ther German is told he is doing a good job and on schedule for a podium. That just shows how quick the Mercedes is that he is able to drop to the back of the field and still contend for a podium.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Jenson Button running quite solid in third place but he only has just over 13 seconds on Nico Rosberg who is in 13th place so by the time he has to go for a pit stop then Rosberg could be up challenging for third place, if Nico can keep up this pace."

Lap 13

Lewis Hamilton is ticking along nicely at the front, the championship leader heading Valtteri Bottas by 3.5 secs with Jenson Button still in third. However, with the pace and progress Nico Rosberg is showing, Button still has a fight on his hands to hold on to that podium - which would be his first since the opening race of the season.

Lap 12

Max Chilton retires from the race while Daniel Ricciardo pits for fresh boots. The Australian was seventh. He rejoins 18th. Lewis Hamilton leads Valtteri Bottas by 3.5 seconds.

Lap 11

Nico Rosberg passes Romain Grosjean for 14th. The German is aiming to get to the end of the race without stopping again following that first lap pit stop.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Daniel Ricciardo is having real problems out there, he is losing real pace so could be one of a few drivers forced to make two stops because of the blistering on his tyres."

Lap 10

Max Chilton pits for the second time with 43 laps still to go. Meanwhile, Kevin Magnussen is catching Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who is in fourth. The gap is down to just 3.1 seconds.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Lewis Hamilton can't afford any kind of lock-ups because Valtteri Bottas, with the straight line speed of the Williams, will put him under real pressure out there. "

Lap nine

Nico Rosberg passes Marcus Ericsson for 15th and Felipe Massa follows his through into 16th. Both are on recovery drives, with fast cars, having made early pit stops in this race.

Lotus F1 Team

Lotus on Twitter: Settled in for an afternoon in front of the TV.

Lap eight

McLaren's Jenson Button, in third, has eased the pressure on his shoulders by stretching the gap between himself and Fernando Alonso to 2.4 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton leads Valtteri Bottas by 2.9 seconds as he sets another new fastest lap of the race. He's the only one lapping in the 1m43s.

Team radio

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg: "For your information, I'm driving in a way I can get to the end of the race for you."

Lap seven

Valtteri Bottas is doing a stunning job of trying to hold on to Lewis Hamilton at the front. The Finn just 2.7 seconds behind the Mercedes driver in second place, with Jenson Button 5.9 seconds further back.

1) Ham 2) Bot 3) But 4) Alo 5) Mag 6) Vet 7) Ric 8) Ver 9) Rai 10) Kvy

Recap

Reuters

Nico Rosberg locked up heavily as he passed team-mate Lewis Hamilton at Turn One at the start, but then went off track having flat-spotted his tyres. The German had to pit and dropped to the back of the field. He's now up to 17th.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Sebastian Vettel is racing for himself out there, he might be leaving Red Bull at the end of the season but he is not making it easy for Daniel Ricciardo."

Lap six

The Red Bulls are making good progress in this race. Both have passed the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne with Sebastian Vettel sixth and Daniel Ricciardo seventh. Lewis Hamilton leads by 2.5 seconds.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"Initially Hamilton made a great getaway, it was a little bit surprising that he had to lift through turn one. Rosberg picked up the slipstream and the speed he tried to go through the corner meant he went so wide. He got a huge advantage and the risk was always the flat spotting. You never like to see anyone running wide but in that incident he has given Hamilton a huge advantage."

Lap five

Jenson Button's engineer tells his charge that Fernando Alonso is just 0.7 seconds behind. The McLaren driver replies: "I don't need reminding when he's this close." The duo are fighting over third position.

Get involved

Juve93Cule: That opening lap was insane!!! The speed all the cars were going around those high speed corners was crazy!!!

Ross Middleton: Well Rosberg was the architect of his own downfall there.

Chris: Interesting to see how Nico copes with coming from the back now, first time he's had to do that.

Lap four

Kevin Magnussen uses DRS to breeze past the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne to regain fifth. Felipe Massa sets the fastest lap of the race, but the Williams drive is down in 20th after having to make an early pit stop.

Lap three

BBC

Sensational racing from Jean-Eric Vergne who is fighting for his career. The Frenchman bravely hangs on around the outside of Turn Three to pass Kevin Magnussen. "Stand up and applaud Jean-Eric Vergne," says BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard. That was for fifth.

Lap two

Daniil Kvyat continues to go backwards, as Sebastian Vettel and then Daniel Ricciardo make their way past the Russian who is now down to ninth. Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest lap of the race to lead by 2.2 seconds.

Team radio

Nico Rosberg: "What's the strategy now?"

Engineer's response: "We think we're going to have to go to the end on these tyres now."

Lap one

Nico Rosberg pits at the end of the first lap, with Lewis Hamilton leading and Valtteri Bottas moving into second. Plenty of cars went off at Turn One, mixing the field up. It's not been a great start for Russian Daniil Kvyat who has dropped from fifth to seventh.

Go! Go! Go!

BBC

Lewis Hamilton cuts across the track at the star to defend his position from Nico Rosberg to maintain the lead but Rosberg dips into the slipstream and then pulls alongside his team-mate! The German noses in front, but tries to be the last of the late brakers and locks up heavily! He's first into the corner, but then runs well wide and rejoins still in the lead. "You have to give the position back Nico," comes the message on the radio. He does so, but it gets worse for the Mercedes driver who has a flat-spot on his tyres, unsurprisingly, and has no choice but to pit.

Lewis Hamilton has lined his car up on the grid at a slight angle, pointed towards his team-mate Nico Rosberg.

BBC

We have our extra camera streams function working for you across the race.

You can access the driver tracker, pit lane feed, onboard and live timing via the console at the top of this page.

Formation lap

Lewis Hamilton leads the field off the grid for the formation lap, with everyone making it away cleanly.

BBC

Russia's wait for Formula 1 on their shores is over. Let the formation lap of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix begin!

Marussia on Twitter: Thank you world. So much love for @Jules_Bianchi #JB17 #RacingForJules.

Getty Images

Ferrari's record-setting points streak ended at the Japanese Grand Prix, as they failed to finish in the top-10 for the first time in 81 races, a streak that began way back at the 2010 German Grand Prix - which incidentally was the team's last one-two finish to-date. Fernando Alonso retired after two laps at Suzuka while Kimi Raikkonen finished 12th.

When asked if today's race is likely to see most drivers favouring a one-stop strategy, Williams' head of vehicle performance Rob Smedley said: "Yeah, I think so. The tyres are very conservative for this type of track surface. They get better and better, every lap you do on them. You just go quicker and quicker."

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"Tyre degradation has been pretty much non-existent this weekend, the smooth surface of the Sochi track taking very little out of the 'soft' and 'medium' tyres brought by Pirelli, who had to guess at the circuit's demands because they did not have the chance to test the asphalt before coming here.

"Most are predicting a simple one-stop race, going as long as possible on the faster 'soft' - about 20 laps, the teams suspect - before switching to the medium for the duration. But there were a few dissenting voices.

"McLaren's Jenson Button said: 'I don't think you're going to be seeing a one-stop race. Looking at the amount of laps people are putting on a set of tyres in qualifying I think you're going to be looking at more stops. I think you'll see overtaking. DRS (overtaking aid) into Turn 13 won't be much help but into Turn One it could be very useful.'"

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At 5.872km, the new Sochi Autodrom is the longest Hermann Tilke-designed track on the 2014 calendar, and shorter only than Britain's Silverstone and Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps. Will it be able to match the excitement of those two legendary circuits?

The grid

Just a reminder of the grid with five minutes to go:

1) Lewis Hamilton 2) Nico Rosberg 3) Valtteri Bottas 4) Jenson Button 5) Daniil Kvyat 6) Daniel Ricciardo 7) Fernando Alonso 8) Kimi Raikkonen 9) Jean-Eric Vergne 10) Sebastian Vettel

11) Kevin Magnussen* 12) Sergio Perez 13) Esteban Gutierrez 14) Adrian Sutil 15) Romain Grosjean 16) Marcus Ericsson 17) Nico Hulkenberg* 18) Felipe Massa 19) Kamui Kobayashi 20) Max Chilton* 21) Pastor Maldonado*

* Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Chilton have penalties for gearbox changes while Maldonado has a remaining penalty carried over from Japan following an engine change.

AFP

Four-time reigning Sebastian Vettel was mathematically eliminated from the title race at Suzuka which makes today's race the first in which the German has competed without either having a chance to win the title or having already done so since the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"This weekend has been a struggle for Red Bull, just like their experience in Austria, a track many engineers reckoned to be similar in its demands of the cars. Daniel Ricciardo qualified seventh and the record between him and team-mate Sebastian Vettel is now 10-six, so the Australian knows he will end the season having out-qualified the four-time world champion more often than not.

"Vettel complained, as he so often has this year, of the car not doing what he wanted. 'The pace wasn't there,' the German said. 'I was struggling a lot with the rear and couldn't carry the speed into the corners I was able to this morning, so generally not able to get the best out of the car through the corners as we do struggle down the straights not the best compromise around the lap.'"

Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton is attempting to win four in a row for the second time in 2014, having done so at the Malaysian, Bahrain, Chinese and Spanish GPs in the first half of the season. Nobody has ever won four in a row in any F1 season without also going on to win the championship.

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Pole position hasn't been such a happy starting spot for Nico Rosberg this season. The German has won only one of his last six starts from pole (Germany).

He's pictured here getting pushed away from the grid in Singapore after a steering problem didn't allow him to get away from P1 on the formation lap. It's probably just as well he's starting second, then.

Get involved

Luke Edwards: Got a feeling Bottas may win today

Nicky: I'm saying Ricciardo will win this!

Jeremiah Kariuki: Predictions of a good take off by @LewisHamilton, Bottas getting Nico off guard. Good start for Massa, and Jenson as well!

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

Getty Images

"One of the star performances of qualifying came from Daniil Kvyat, the Russian setting fifth-fastest time in the Toro Rosso at his home race. The result raised the eyebrows of a few cynics, but Kvyat insisted there was no 'magic' in his best result since qualifying seventh in Austria - a not-dissimilar circuit layout. 'Looking back, at the Red Bull Ring in qualifying, where DRS didn't work for me on my fast lap, I could have been P5, no doubt,' Kvyat said. 'Still, I drove a few good qualifyings this year.

"This is probably one of the best in terms of driving, but still it's not like I found some magic trick today. I was just doing what I was always doing, but we came fifth.' The Toro Rossos had been up at the sharp end all weekend - unusually looking better than the senior Red Bull team. Jean-Eric Vergne had been evenly matched with Kvyat until qualifying, when a problem with his fuel-flow meter cost him power and he could manage only 10th. The Frenchman, still looking for a drive in 2015, reckoned this had cost him about 0.7secs - funnily enough, about the gap separating him from his team-mate."

Eddie Jordan

BBC F1 chief analyst

"It was a wakening day, everyone has to learn from this. I really liked what Charlie Whiting had to say about taking the decision about slowing down away from the driver. The drivers are naturally competitive and they are not going to slow down, they will think they can handle the situation. Like the pit lane it has to be the governing body who makes the decision, take the decision away from the drivers."

You can read more about plans for a virtual safety car here.

BBC

Following the Russian national anthem, there's a short silence as the drivers' direct their thoughts to Jules Bianchi.

BBC

The drivers have come together at the front of the grid, with the organisers beaming the message 'Jules, we are all supporting you' onto the circuit.

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McLaren are currently sixth in the constructors' championship - if they finish there, it'll make this season their worst since 1981, which coincidentally, was the first season of Ron Dennis' ownership, when John Barnard designed the first all-carbon fibre F1 car (MP4) for John Watson and Andrea de Cesaris (pictured).

Note, this stat does not include their exclusion from first in the 2007 championship.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"It has been an encouraging weekend for McLaren, who have looked the third fastest team in Russia. Jenson Button duly qualified fourth, behind the Mercedes and Valtteri Bottas's Williams. 'I'm sure some of it is track-specific and asphalt-specific but I do feel we have made some improvements,' Button said. 'I didn't lock up in qualifying, which is always a bonus. So I actually did a lap time that was worthy of the car, if you like, whereas the last few qualifying sessions I've made a mistake and locked up. I felt like it was a good lap. I don't think P4 is too bad. I'm very happy with that.'

"Team-mate Kevin Magnussen, who had looked quicker than Button for single-lap pace throughout practice, managed sixth, which was a very good effort in the light of a series of problems. The Dane lost final practice when, as he put it, 'the rear of my car fell off - the gearbox cracked in Turn Three.' Then after making a mistake on his first run in final qualifying and aborting, he suffered a problem with the FIA fuel-flow meter and had to turn the engine down. To qualify sixth, only 0.21secs slower than Button in the circumstances, was very impressive. He starts 11th as a result of the penalty for changing the broken gearbox."

AP

The Russian Grand Prix organisers have certainly put some effort into the pre-race show to keep the fans, which have packed the main grandstand on the start-finish straight, entertained.

We've got 18 minutes until the start of the race, which is plenty of time for you to get a fresh cuppa and raid the cupboards for snacks before sinking into the sofa.

Valtteri Bottas

Williams' Valtteri Bottas on Twitter after qualifying: Starting third for the race of opportunities here in Sochi. Car felt good in qualifying so looking forward.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

AP

"The closing seconds of qualifying were nail-biting stuff, as Williams's Valtteri Bottas set purple sector times - indicating fastest of all - in the first two sectors of the lap. He then pushed too hard in the final sector, and ran wide at the last corner. But he admitted that pole was probably never a realistic possibility because the Williams cannot compete with the greater downforce of the Mercedes in the twisty final sector.

"'I still think they are quicker in the corners than us so I would have been difficult to be on pole,' he said. 'Looking back maybe I took too much out of the tyres in the beginning of the lap and it got tricky in the last few corners. I risked it a bit too much in the last two corners and went a bit wide and here when you go off line it is very slippery. It's not nice to make a mistake. It maybe cost one place maximum.' Even so, he has looked a threat to Rosberg, if not Hamilton, all weekend. Can he challenge the Mercedes in the race? 'I really hope so,' the Finn said."

"The most important thing is Lewis and Nico coming in through the same door," says Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda when asked if winning the constructors' championship is the main goal today.

"The constructors' championship is very important to us but Lewis and Nico have to both behave and finish today. Bottas is a big problem for us and so is the safety car, so it's a big race today."

It's a long run down to Turn One. Can Rosberg stay close enough to making it interesting to the first corner?

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While Ferrari have had a miserable season, it couldn't have gone much better for Mercedes, who are likely to clinch their first-ever constructors' championship this weekend.

Red Bull need to outscore Mercedes, who run Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, by 19 points to keep the title alive - and judging by the reigning world champion's pace so far this weekend, it's difficult to see that happening.

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It has been a desperate season for Ferrari. First, they built a car that wasn't good enough. Then they parted ways with team boss Stefano Domenicali before their long-time president Luca Di Montezemolo stepped down last month. And Fernando Alonso is set to leave the team at the end of the season, after failing to win the title in five attempts with the Italian outfit.

They now have just four races in which to avoid a first winless season since 1993 (when Gerhard Berger - pictured - and Jean Alesi drove for the team) - and that's looking very unlikely. Just two podium finishes this year would also be their poorest return since they only scored two back in 1992, in the midst of their four-year losing streak between the 1990 Spanish and 1994 German GP.

Get involved

Phil Slocombe: I think Lewis has the edge over Nico, both psychologically and on track, so I see another win for him. Daniel [Ricciardo] is a future champ.

Rhys Benjamin: The combined age of next year's Toro Rosso line-up could be smaller than the age of Jenson Button.

The grid

1) Lewis Hamilton 2) Nico Rosberg 3) Valtteri Bottas 4) Jenson Button 5) Daniil Kvyat 6) Daniel Ricciardo 7) Fernando Alonso 8) Kimi Raikkonen 9) Jean-Eric Vergne 10) Sebastian Vettel

11) Kevin Magnussen* 12) Sergio Perez 13) Esteban Gutierrez 14) Adrian Sutil 15) Romain Grosjean 16) Marcus Ericsson 17) Nico Hulkenberg* 18) Felipe Massa 19) Kamui Kobayashi 20) Max Chilton* 21) Pastor Maldonado*

* Magnussen, Hulkenberg and Chilton have penalties for gearbox changes while Maldonado has a remaining penalty carried over from Japan following an engine change.

David Coulthard

BBC F1 co-commentator

"On a temporary facility like this there clearly has to be an advantage to be on pole, but there is no previous stats to compare with. But because there is a long run before the first corner, if Lewis Hamilton can get away cleanly then he could open up an immediate gap.

"If he can get a clean start from Nico Rosberg then that would be great but he will have to keep an eye on Valtteri Bottas, who has been the fastest through the [speed] traps [on the straights]."

Under bright blue skies, the pit lane has opened its doors to signal that it's half and hour until the start of the race and drivers can therefore head round to the grid, checking the systems on their car on their way.

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Aside from Lewis Hamilton's impressive pole position in Sochi on Saturday, there was more British success to celebrate as Jolyon Palmer sealed the GP2 Series title. That's the feeder championship to Formula 1 and the last Briton to win it since Hamilton achieved the feat in 2006.

"It feels amazing," says the son of former F1 driver Jonathan. "The team have done a really good job to help clinch it in Russia with one race weekend (and three races) to go. I'm proud of the team and myself, we've done a great job and I feel we deserve it. It's been an unbelievable year.

"We've been fighting for every win and every pole. I'm driving the best I've ever driven. F1 is the next step for me, I need to try and emulate Lewis. It's difficult to do but if there is one way to do it, it's to win the GP2 championship."

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If Lewis Hamilton converts pole position into victory in Sochi, it will be his 31st F1 triumph, equalling the record by a British driver currently held by Nigel Mansell, who secured the last of his victories in the 1994 Australian GP (pictured).

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

EPA

"Lewis Hamilton has pretty much owned the Sochi track this weekend, looking in unbeatable form throughout most of practice and qualifying. In the end, the margin between himself and Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg was smaller than had been expected - just 0.2secs. 'I could have gone faster,' Hamilton said. 'When it's perfect maybe 0.3-0.4secs, which is the gap I feel I have this weekend.

"But Nico was pushing and pushing and closing the gap, the pressure's on.' For his part, Rosberg admitted Hamilton had had the edge on him all weekend. He was losing out to Hamilton's exquisite feel for on-the-limit braking at the end of the long pit straight. 'Turn One is one of the biggest losses this weekend,' he said. 'But it is also a bit general that he has been quicker a little bit this weekend, and just difficult to close that gap down. But of course the race is a different story and front row is a good place to be in.'"

Get involved

Today, the question is simple. Who you do think will win? Tweet us using the #bbcf1 hashtag, text 81111 (UK only) or leave a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page. I have a sneaky feeling Valtteri Bottas might be the star of the show today...

Get involved

Helen Robertson: Caught a bit of GP2 at Sochi this morning. Very exciting stuff, reckon it bodes well for the #BBCF1 race later.

Colin Rice: Looking forward to the #RussianGP track looks fantastic and stunning surroundings.

Duncan Abbott: I'm in deep negotiation to watch the Grand Prix and England game today 'guilt free'. Could be a busy morning of chores,

BBC TV coverage

Now the build-up show is in full flow on BBC One with Suzi Perry, Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard. If you're not near a television, you can follow it in the video console at the top of this page. BBC Radio 5 live will join the party at 12:00. You'll be able to listen to their commentary via this page, too. It's a one-stop shop.

Nico Rosberg on Twitter: Today 14.48 (11:48 BST) before the GP we drivers will stand in support to Jules & his family in a closed circle formation. #forzaJules #TousAvecJules

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"The thoughts of many in the F1 paddock will be with Jules Bianchi today. The Frenchman is still in hospital in Japan, following his horrific accident in Suzuka a week ago, and there has been no update on his condition since governing body the FIA announced last Tuesday that he was in a 'critical but stable' condition, with severe head injuries.

"The drivers are all carrying messages of support for the Frenchman on their helmets and Lotus's Romain Grosjean, who knew Bianchi well, spoke for many when he said: 'Race day, let's do it for Jules.' There is an official tribute planned for Bianchi on the grid 15 minutes before the race, and shortly before that Marussia will be conveying their own personal message for him and his family."

Ferrari on Twitter: All of Ferrari is with you! #ForzaJules

EPA

Members of the Ferrari and Marussia team, including race drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, joined together this morning with a message of support for Jules Bianchi.

"I am thinking a lot about Jules but I am confident for the race and confident that it can be a good day for us," Force India's Sergio Perez, speaking to Lee McKenzie on BBC One. "The start is going to be crucial here today, we don't expect too many stops so it will make it very clearly a one or two stop race."

Force India driver Sergio Perez on Twitter: Ready to get into the points #forJules

Marussia F1 Team

Marussia on Twitter: An incredibly sad day for our team. We're racing in Sochi but our hearts are in Yokkaichi with Jules. #RacingForJules

EPA

Jules Bianchi's Marussia sits on his side of the garage out of respect to the Frenchman who remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Japan following a crash at Suzuka last Sunday.

All of the drivers are wearing the slogan Tous Avec Jules #17 on their helmets in support of the 25-year-old.

Andrew Benson

Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"A weekend of sunshine, security and comically terrible service in restaurants climaxes on Sunday with the inaugural Russian Grand Prix. Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has been trying to stage a race in this vast country for more than 30 years and today he will escort around the Sochi Autodrom the man who made it possible, President Vladimir Putin.

"There will be Russian-themed displays and a grid walk by one of the most powerful men in the world, who will be surrounded by a phalanx of guards and his own personal cameramen. The fee for this race is the largest of the season - $50m a year, according to top-level sources in F1 - Putin's aim to use the race to help make Sochi the leading resort in this part of the world, a kind of Monaco of the Black Sea."

EPA

Morning everybody and welcome to our live coverage of the first ever Russian Grand Prix, which takes place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. It's been seven years in the making, but after failed attempts in St Petersburg and Moscow, Bernie Ecclestone and Russian president Vladimir Putin get their wish.

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Lewis Hamilton has spent much of this season chasing Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, but in the last three races, with reliability finally on his side, he has caught and passed the German and firmly has the wind beneath his sails. Can he stretch his lead and further dent Rosberg's confidence today?