russian grand prix russian grand prix formally known formula russian formula motor race held october lap race held brand new circuit built site winter olympics city russia race sixteenth round season following japanese grand prix week previously preceding race marked time held century time russian grand prix run round formula world championship championship formed mercedes won race starting pole position leading lap team mate finished second working way field having pit stop lap williams completed podium having set fastest lap new lap record final lap race following accident japanese grand prix entered single car leaving grid cars race ultimately proved season team went administration ahead race united_states result secured races remaining season hamilton extended world drivers championship lead seventeen points podium allowed overtake drivers standings background preparations circuit built site winter olympics voiced concerns construction preparations olympics given power postpone inaugural season preparations race interfered winter olympics olympic games started exercise power race director inspected circuit week belgian grand prix gave final seal approval allowing race ahead september circuit hosted round preparation controversy following shooting flight eastern ukraine july amid allegations russian involvement incident russian military intervention country calls formula abandon race sanctions placed russian government race established financial support government similar suggestions british german russia hosting world cup responding questions race humanitarian concerns revival given human rights record racing team principal refused offer kind judgement pointing responsibility monitor situation act accordingly position supported mercedes director ceo sport commercial rights holder publicly stated doubts race taking place wake crash distanced sport ongoing political debates russia facing increased economic sanctions european_union united_states deputy prime minister noted affected event sanctions implemented race went ahead scheduled attendance presenting race winner trophy support events series pair championships drivers preparing formula début circuit racing support grand prix penultimate round championships report pre event entry driver suffered head injuries japanese grand prix crashed tractor trying recover yellow flag conditions ruling russian grand prix regulations team entered cars testing reserve driver named replacement event friday practice sessions approval team opted run second car sole representative leaving grid cars sign respect family team built placed car garage placed walls duration weekend tributes tributes grand prix support adopted cockpit sides sole participating car drivers wore helmets saying held minute silence race penalties pastor incurred place penalty japanese grand prix exceeding engine components season qualified seventeenth unable penalty past second place grid new rules introduced season remainder penalty carried automatically giving place penalty tyres tyre supplier announced providing teams medium compound tyre prime tyre soft compound option tyre grand prix cope brand new surface tolerate high lateral loads placed tyre particularly turn elongated constant radius corner estimated speeds mph stands longest corner formula calendar drag reduction system drag reduction system zones introduced race detection point located entry turn activation zone placed apex corner second detection point positioned circuit straight activation zone encompassing turns free practice accordance regulations free practice sessions held half hour sessions friday hour session saturday morning regulations teams allowed replace regular drivers test reserve driver sessions mercedes set fastest time free practice session seven second ahead team mate tenths second faster williams carried limited running tyre blankets designed tyres optimal operating temperature found failed damaging tyres russian driver formula début driving place finished session seventeenth overall half seconds slower tenths second teammate adrian took driving place appearance season team hamilton led way second free practice session finishing tenths second ahead ferrari finished fourth mistake final flying lap hamilton fastest practice session tenths second quicker drivers encountered trouble whilst qualifying lap notably damaged suspension running wide hamilton spun penultimate corner narrowly avoiding wall pastor unable set lap time energy recovery system failed aided practice qualifying sessions series support categories track evolved point drivers setting lap times half seconds quicker ahead qualifying start weekend following day running officials changes circuit including installation speed turn run area discourage drivers deliberately running wide carry speed turn practice observed free practice qualifying sessions races pit lane speed revised mph mph address concerns narrow pit entry tight corners qualifying normally qualifying consists parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions permission run single car race qualifying procedure revised drivers instead usual eliminated end qualifying topped period going time weekend close second driver second hamilton lap time marcus eliminated seventeenth place qualifying team mate finished nineteenth struggling engine fault pastor set time good twentieth qualifying sole williams driver proved shock elimination struggling fuel flow issue left power recorded going speed trap approach turn mph slower fastest driver speed trap qualified eighteenth elimination hamilton led way saw drivers close fight avoid elimination having struggled lack pace course weekend missed berth tenth second followed force twelfth thirteenth qualified adrian fourteenth fifteenth final driver eliminated despite having improved time mercedes drivers continued dominate final minute period rapid evolution circuit came abrupt halt timed laps hamilton able improve times leaving hamilton provisional pole despite lap times dropping able best hamilton time sectors maintained pace suggested steal maiden pole position error final corner finished fourth proving newfound performance accident sixth secured career best fifth place home grand prix qualified team mate eleventh time seventh ferrari endured difficult qualifying session closely matched seconds hamilton finished tenth overall ensuring post qualifying received place grid penalties gearbox changes eleventh seventeenth place respectively pastor qualified twentieth carry penalty applied received place penalty gearbox change race start race attempted brake turn locked wheels running wide creating flat spot tyres returning position hamilton pitted end lap flat spots create vibration car given high speeds lateral loading tyres immediately changed harder prime compound team switching strategy called laps race single set tyres took advantage pit strategies drivers straight line speed car gradually work way field attempted replicate strategy pitting lap switching softer option compound successful hampered slower mid field drivers field able hamilton early stages race hamilton able gradually build second lead time round pit stops giving pit losing lead faced lowered speed limit lengthy pit lane hamilton race ultimately winning thirteen seconds ahead following recovery giving team ninth finish season finished fifth podium season having overtaken track despite having tyres setting series laps fastest race including fastest lap official lap record unable catch final laps drivers finished fourth fifth giving mercedes powered cars places final standings attempted adjust button strategy place ahead pit stop powerless prevent overtaking spent early phase race strategy battle ultimately won finished sixth powered driver line having spent race spending weekend struggling powered performing car secured points eighth place completed attempt strategy failed leaving outside points eleventh place ahead despite qualifying fifth tenth drivers finished fourteenth thirteenth place respectively having forced race face high fuel consumption predicted drop temperature final stages race led team mate adrian line lap race having disrupted contact turn punished second stop penalty ultimately finished seventeenth ahead pastor marcus final classified finisher nineteenth place laps hamilton race saw forced lap team described brake issue later suggested deliberately retired car avoid damaging power unit ahead race reported team found damage suspension following free practice replacement available team repaired damage carbon solution felt unsafe difficult race lasted laps reporting unusual vibration left suspension team elected retire car risk suspension failure post race points place extended world drivers championship lead seven points carry seventeen point margin scoring title rivals result secured title formula hamilton dedicated win podium finish elevated sixth fourth drivers standings overtaking result allowed williams consolidate hold place standings ahead ferrari order fourth fifth places minor points force india saw british team overtake rivals fifth place standings went administration race citing financial difficulties returned compete grand prix team collapsed shortly faced similar fate minute deal investor rescued team returned formula grid albeit registered british russian competitor accolades december race awarded received award special ceremony circuit classification qualifying notes received place grid penalties changing pastor received place grid penalty complete penalty received exceeding engine components season japanese grand prix received place penalty qualifying gearbox change race championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2014 Russian Grand Prix