russian grand prix russian grand prix formally known formula russian grand prix russian formula motor race took place race contested laps held fourth round season marked fifth running time round formula world championship series inception mercedes came race leading championship ahead teammate defending race winner won race pole position ahead teammate completing podium ferrari extended winning streak seven consecutive retired race lap contact maximum number points races season left russia point lead hamilton securing pole position winning race setting fastest lap leading lap achieved grand slam career report background going fourth grand prix weekend season team mercedes leading drivers championships respectively points ahead teammate having taken available points races season followed place points hamilton standings mercedes headed field points points ahead ferrari points clear time debuted formula race held world championship early editions race held practice session test form cockpit protection developed response fatal accidents drivers struck head flying debris developed alternative halo device ferrari pre season testing device fitted car completed single installation lap assess removed remainder session satisfied device saying structure place pretty mirrors wouldn hindered terms visibility peripheral vision fine sole tyre supplier brought medium soft tyres event continuing trend established australian chinese prix regulations season driver needs set aside set compounds race set advance drivers freedom compounds choose remaining thirteen sets free practice regulations season ninety minute practice sessions held friday hour session held qualifying saturday session friday morning fastest mercedes time seven tenths second ahead teammate set fastest times super soft tyre compound ferrari opted harder soft compound fourth fastest respectively drivers problems spinning running wide turn turns drivers caught hamilton reserve drivers appearance free practice session drove taking place making second appearance formula car driving free practice russian grand prix replaced force india practice session ended session ahead teammate finished seconds teammate topped second practice friday afternoon time super soft compound earlier session suffered spin turn flat spotted tyres sent managed fastest mercedes drivers split suffered electrical problems lost track time turn unable improve time set soft compound tyre super soft run compromised yellow flags shown spin fourth ahead slowest session marcus manor drivers ahead reported loss power crossing flag end session practice saturday morning hamilton narrowly beat fastest time seconds faster teammate drivers super soft tyre compound set fastest lap times fourth ahead williams pair spent session testing car heavier fuel load preparation race start place grid penalty change gearbox completed highest number laps ahead 11th fastest end slowest manor cars qualifying qualifying consisted parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions qualifying set fastest time new fastest lap track came investigation failed obliged rules set turn rejoining track earlier allowed running wide summoned end qualifying walked away second place fourth respectively tail end field pairs cars eliminated manor drivers missed second fastest half second faster teammate hamilton seconds clear pole position lap time year shown promising pace dropped contention 12th 14th driver secure place 11th teammate progressed albeit suffering failure wing mirror hung vehicle timed lap eliminated drivers unable follow teammate qualified 13th started apparent unable suffering hybrid system failure turbo problem plagued china weeks earlier went secure pole position timed lap compromised tyre turn closest place grid penalty meant start race seventh grid moving row fourth fastest ahead qualifying mercedes decided switch hamilton car spare power unit rebuilt following failure avoiding grid penalty incurred new power unit installed williams satisfied pace qualifying praising advances slow corner speed race start drivers contact turn hit rear turn caused crash barrier retire competition hit collected forcing retirement safety car came allow cars debris cleared track cars headed pit lane repair damage order restart lap hamilton stayed clear incidents fifth restart moved ahead hamilton successful fourth early pit stop left 15th point soon served second stop penalty contacts dropping hamilton overtook lap seven came pits lap replace slow tyres order remained runner pit fresh tyres lap hamilton followed suit lap later emerged overtaking turn lap later lap pitted coming hamilton ahead led comfortably ahead stop lap dropped racing position lap forced track turn later handed second time penalty incident laps later tried overtake 16th unsuccessful turn lost position teammate overtook eighth lap lost position turn passed started lap lap gap second placed hamilton started come advantage dropping seconds little seven seconds lap forced retire power unit failure lap running sixth place hamilton told pit crew suffered water pressure problem gap started increase staying seconds lap pitted new tyres lap problems stop forced stationary minute resulting moving place road lap pitted new tyres fifth place retaining position ahead able close gap hamilton ahead seconds lap lap button passed tenth moved ahead 12th lap later crossed line seventh consecutive victory feat point achieved rounded podium ahead williams drivers recorded grand slam career meaning won race recorded fastest lap achieved pole position led lap 24th driver history achieve feat post race lap collision race major talking point embroiled argument previous grand prix china felt caused collision ferrari drivers time reacted retirement telegraph described explosive heard team radio years later demanded apology felt pushed ruined race announced summon talks incident calling race disaster team young driver coordinator calling motivated received penalty points licence result incident said race involved learn think speak easy attack guess announced relegated junior squad remainder season switching year old team principal explained driver swap talent stressing tie team future following multiple collision shortly start pressed changes turn saying turn problem start people trying fight turns think needs looking apart drivers received penalty points points given deemed forced track collided start result race cemented position drivers championship having taken maximum number points available rounds followed second points moved points retirement dropped fifth standings standings mercedes increased points tally points clear second placed ferrari poor performance saw advantage fourth placed williams reduced points classification qualifying notes received place grid penalty gearbox change race standings race note positions included sets standings
2016 Russian Grand Prix