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2016 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix

Team Mercedes dominates Sochi F1 GP track in final practice

SOCHI, April 30. /TASS/. Team Mercedes continues dominating the Formula One circuit in Russia’s resort city of Sochi with both drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg showing the best lap results in the final practice ahead of the Russian Grand Prix this weekend.

Three-time F1 World Champion Hamilton, who is also the winner of the two previous GPs in Sochi, raced the lap in the Russian southern Olympic city with the result of 1 minute 36.403, edging his German teammate Rosberg by 0.068 seconds.

Team Ferrari, which begins this race with new SF-16H engines, was snapping at Mercedes’ heels on Saturday afternoon as four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel showed 3rd result of 1 minute 37.007 seconds and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen clocked the lap behind him with the result of 1 minute 37.727 seconds.

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Team Ferrari pilots begin FIA F1 Sochi Grand Prix with new engines

Russian racer Daniil Kvyat from team Red Bull showed the 13th time on his home track (1 minute 39.047 seconds), two places behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardo (1 minute 38.622 seconds).

Sunny weather with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius (almost 60 Fahrenheit) settled in Sochi during the final practice on Saturday afternoon. The qualifying session to decide the starting grid for the race on Sunday will be held later in the day.

This year Russia is holding its FIA Formula One racing Grand Prix for the first time in spring, namely on April 29-May 1, as compared with the two previous races held in autumn of 2014 and 2015 in Sochi.

A total of 21 races had been scheduled for the 2016 FIA F1 Championship, with Sochi GP listed fourth on the calendar.

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F1 Grand Prix in Sochi 2016

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In all, there are 32 items

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