Summary

  • Rosberg on Russia pole, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd

  • Vettel 4th, Raikkonen 5th, Hulkenberg 6th

  • Rosberg top in Q1 & Q2

  • Final practice ended early after heavy crash for Sainz

  • Driver has since tweeted that he is OK

  1. Postpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 10 October 2015

    Nope. Fernando Alonso is out and has not made it through to Q2. He does have a 35-place grid penalty to come anyway.

  2. Postpublished at 13:19

    Fernando Alonso may be out on the track, be is in danger now, Sergio Perez sneaking out of the drop zone but can Alonso save himself with this lap...?

  3. Postpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 10 October 2015

  4. Postpublished at 13:17

    A smooth lap sees Valtteri Bottas leap up the order and into sixth, pushing Sergio Perez into the drop zone for now.

  5. Postpublished at 13:15

    The majority of the field is back out on the track on the supersoft tyres, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the pits.

    In danger at the moment are Marcus Ericsson, Valtteri Bottas, Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens.

  6. Postpublished at 13:13

    Sebastian Vettel is up into P3 with a 1:38.598, but that is on the quicker supersoft tyre. Lewis Hamilton's and Nico Rosberg's times were set on the soft compound.

    Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, taking part in his 250th grand prix weekend, is currently seventh fastest after a 1:40.144. 

    Vettel flat spotImage source, BBC Sport
  7. Postpublished at 13:11

    Lewis Hamilton sounds a bit surprised by the gap between himself and Nico Rosberg on his first run. He asks: "Did you say a second to Nico?" "Affirm" is the reply.

    Hamilton responds with a 1:38.558, putting him to within two tenths of Rosberg's fastest time.

  8. Postpublished at 13:08

    Sebastian Vettel, who didn't get out on the supersoft tyre in final practice, is out on that compound now as the Ferrari heads out for its first run. 

  9. Postpublished at 13:07

    Nico Rosberg moves into P1 with a 1:38.556 on his first run, while his team-mate Lewis Hamilton slots in second fastest, a second slower than the other Mercedes.

  10. Postpublished at 13:05

    The McLaren pair of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have come out to play and they, like the Saubers and Manors, have gone for supersofts.

  11. yellow flag

    Yellow flagpublished at 13:04

    Pastor Maldonado

    Yellow flags briefly flutter as Pastor Maldonado fails to keep his car on the track. No drama as he gets himself back under way and Max Verstappen kicks things off with a 1:40.529.

  12. Postpublished at 13:02

    Just the Saubers and the Manors out on the supersofts, with the rest of the cars on the circuit donning softs.

  13. First qualifying startspublished at 13:00

    Quali

    The green light goes on and 18 minutes of the first part of qualifying is under way.

  14. Postpublished at 12:59

    SochiImage source, BBC Sport

    Here is the circuit at Sochi in all its glory. You can also check out circuit stats and unusual facts here.

    Formula 1
  15. Postpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 10 October 2015

  16. Postpublished at 12:57

    BBC

    Great to see Carlos Sainz is OK. It was a big crash, which you can see here.

  17. Postpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 10 October 2015

    Translation: All ok! Nothing to worry about! Already thinking about how to convince doctors to let me run tomorrow

  18. The standingspublished at 12:51

    leaderboardImage source, BBC Sport

    A look at the drivers' standings before qualifying gets under way. Lewis Hamilton has a 48-point lead over Nico Rosberg. He won from pole in last year's race, with Rosberg finishing second.

  19. Postpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 10 October 2015

  20. Postpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 10 October 2015