The chequered flag is out but anyone on a flying lap can complete it.

Felipe Massa: "Is there nothing you can do?"

"We're doing everything we can," comes the reply.

Tim Arstall, external: Solid times from Jenson here, clearly going out with a point to prove.

Tone, external: Looks like Button is on it today, carrying form from yesterday. Good to see.

Phil Slocombe, external: Yes we want an exciting race, but more important is a safe race.

Felipe Massa improves to 17th, but it's clear he's struggling because it takes what feels like an age to pass a Caterham on a slow lap. It's a shame for the Brazilian whose Williams team have shown the pace to contend for at least the second row.

Marcus Ericsson, Kamui Kobayashi, Max Chilton, Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado are currently in the drop zone.

Massa reports issues with his engine, but the team effectively tell him that he just needs to get on with it and do what he can because there's nothing they can do until the car is back in the garage.

Three minutes to go.

Image source, AP

Super lap from Lewis Hamilton who almost matches his quick lap from this morning's final practice session with a 1:38.759. He's 0.317 clear of Nico Rosberg, who locks up and runs wide before aborting his latest lap and pitting.

Back comes Nico Rosberg, the German clocking 1:29.076 to move back to the top of the pile, two tenths quicker than his title rival Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso is third, a further 1.3 seconds adrift.

1) Ros 2) Ham 3) Alo 4) Kvy 5) But 6) Ver 7) Mag 8) Gut 9) Sut 10 Rai

Seven minutes to go.

Lewis Hamilton improves on his next attempt, the Briton clocks a 1:39.282, to go 0.010 seconds quicker than Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Jenson Button is out there on the medium compound tyre and goes third quickest with a 1:40.953, 1.661 seconds off the pace.

Nico Rosberg makes a better job of it than his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on his first flier, the German clocking a 1:39.292 which is 0.769 seconds quick. "Nico, we expect that to be quick enough to get through but we'll still do another lap," says Rosberg's engineer.

Lewis Hamilton's first effort is a 1:40.061 is good enough for the quickest time so far. However, there's more to come as he will have lost time locking up into Turn 13.

Traffic could be a problem in this session, especially if drivers are having to do a number of laps on their soft tyres before getting their best time.

Old Nicodemus, external: I still want to know if Red Bull have compensated Vettel for not "giving him wings" this season. He has a strong case.

Claire Brough, external: Maybe Ricciardo will get a chance to shine once Vettel leaves, future champ maybe?

Dean, external: Is it just me or does the Russian F1 Track look absolutely stunning?

Romain Grosjean and Adrian Sutil are among the first drivers on track for this opening session. Lewis Hamilton follows them out - he's selected the soft tyres, which are the option compound this weekend.

It's time. Eighteen minutes, 21 drivers and only 16 places available in Q2.

Who is your tip for pole? Fire over your thoughts using the #bbcf1 hashtag, by texting 81111 (UK only) or by leaving a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

It's a beautiful day at the Sochi Autodrom, bright blue skies and toasty temperatures welcoming the fans, who have flocked to the race. An impressive 20,000 people turned up at the circuit on Thursday for an autograph session - and there wasn't even any track action.

Image source, AP

Marussia's Max Chilton (pictured, McLaren's Kevin Magnussen and Force India's Nico Hulkenberg will drop five places on the grid after being penalised for making gearbox changes.

James Weir, external: Eddie Jordan and @therealdcf1 both going for a green and purple dress code today. The Joker would be proud.

Daniel Beaumont, external: David, Eddie... Wow! how long is the wardrobe meeting?

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Sochi

"Jules Bianchi's accident at Suzuka has reopened the debate on forward head protection for drivers in Formula 1. Governing body the FIA is continuing research on the subject, but problems have arisen because of the forces involved in needing to deflect a bouncing wheel, the main focus of the research. 'It's very difficult to find something that is strong enough to stop the wheel and allows driver to drive the car without being affected by the structure,' said race director Charlie Whiting (pictured).

"'We found it had to be 20m higher than drivers head, which makes it a substantial structure. But research is still going on and will continue to be so until we find a solution.' As for finding something robust enough to withstand the forces seen in Bianchi's crash, Whiting said: 'The forces on the roll structure were way in excess of the test loads. I have a strong suspicion that under those exact circumstances it would be hard to find a solution, given how hard it is to find a solution to a wheel hitting the driver's head.'"