Just under 30 minutes until qualifying gets under way.

Lewis Hamilton was one of many members of the paddock sending their regards to Stefano Domenicali after he was announced as F1 boss from 2021.

"Amazing. I know Stefano really well. He's one of the nicest guys that I know," he said.

"He has a great family, a good heart and has good morals, the future is bright."

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There are two Hamiltons racing this weekend with Lewis Hamilton's half-brother Nicolas, who was born with cerebral palsy, competing in the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone while Lewis Hamilton is racing in Russia.

"He is on the brink of securing his seventh world title which is incredible," Nic Hamilton told BBC Sport.

"I always dreamed I would have a race weekend on the same weekend as his. I never thought I would be able to drive, I was told I would never walk. To be standing here today, unaided and driving a British Touring Car is fantastic.

"To do this at the same weekend as Lewis is a proud moment for the Hamilton family."

Nic Hamilton also spoke about how proud he is of Lewis for using his platform and profile to fight for racial equality and justice.

"I was already proud before any of this, when we played games at home I was just as proud of him," he added.

"Lewis has really developed as a personality, as a character, as a driver, he is like a fine wine it seems he gets better with age and stronger. To be a figurehead away from motorsport as well is fantastic because he is transcending his sport.

"To be inspiring people away from the sport is truly incredible."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Could Valtteri Bottas pull it out of the bag today?

He started on the front row in Sochi in 2016, took the first race win of his F1 career here in 2017 and secured pole position in 2018.

Sensational multitasking from Daniel Ricciardo here:

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton has won six of nine races so far in 2020, Mercedes seven of them.

Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly are the other winners.

Image source, Getty Images

The only non-Mercedes drivers to have started on pole in Russia are Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in 2017, and Charles Leclerc (2019).

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Fernando Alonso looks poised to be back in a Formula 1 car in the near future as Renault gear up for his full-time return next year. The Spaniard visited the Renault factories this week, and spent time in the simulator, and Alonso revealed in a news conference to promote and the team are formulating plans for him to run in a test at some point this autumn.

They have already approached the FIA to see if it will let him have drive in the post-season test at Abu Dhabi, which is supposed to be reserved for novices. But beyond that they have other options, too. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul said they were exploring the idea of him doing a so-called ‘filming day’, where teams run no more than 100km on control tyres, in the current car. And in a two-year-old car, where mileage is unlimited. It’s questionable whether someone of Alonso’s calibre and adaptability would gain much from driving a two-year-old Renault. But he’s wants to get as ingrained into the team as he can as quickly as he can.

Abiteboul said: “It’s something that is extremely important to us, so see Fernando and to see his pride and the excitement in his eyes. He’s also been a witness to all the changes in Enstone – but a nice building is not again a statement of what’s coming. So, we just need to work very hard to make sure he has a car that he wants and also that he deserves. One thing that I can say is that he’s definitely keen on getting back behind the steering wheel, so we’ll see that. We are building the programme.You’ll see him in action. I can’t say here where and when exactly yet.”

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Nicholls
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

You can't rule out Lewis Hamilton for a pole position - ever. But third place on the grid? Not a clue! We didn't see Ricciardo, Verstappen or Norris do a competitive lap, all drivers who will be in the mix. Very excited for this qualifying.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes look in a league of their own as the Formula 1 teams prepare for qualifying at the Russian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton set a blistering pace in final practice, 0.7 seconds quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was 0.1secs ahead of McLaren’s Carlos Sainz.

It was a misleading session in terms of absolute pace, as neither Bottas nor Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were able to put together a representative lap.

But Mercedes’ advantage over the rest of the field is not in doubt around a track at which they have won every race since the Sochi Autodrom made its F1 debut in 2014.

Verstappen headed into the day expecting a battle with McLaren, Renault and Racing Point to be best of the rest and it still looks that way, even though there were signs Red Bull had made a step forward overnight.

Renault’s Esteban Ocon was fourth fastest in final practice, ahead of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Verstappen, followed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and the second Racing Point of Lance Stroll.

In Sochi, pole position is not necessarily the prize it normally is, because the run from the start to the first corner is the longest on the calendar and the pole man often finds himself being slipstreamed by those behind him.

Bottas won the race that way in 2017, his maiden F1 victory, when he started third but drafted past both Ferraris to take the lead at the first corner.

Lewis Hamilton in a league of his own? Valtteri Bottas ran out of time as he looked to close the gap on his team-mate at the end there.

Hamilton finishes with 1:33.279, seven tenths quicker than Bottas and eight tenths quicker than best of the rest Carlos Sainz.

Rob Colley: Alex Albon really needs to sort out his track limits.

Rich: If Bottas doesn't get pole here today that's his balloon popped for the rest of the season.

Jack Nicholls
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

I have no idea where we are going to be in qualifying for this one.