Bottas sets the pace at Russian Grand Prix
Valtteri Bottas set the practice pace on Friday for a Russian Grand Prix that could see Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton equal Michael Schumacher's alltime record of 91 Formula One wins. Bottas was quickest in both sessions, with Hamilton ending the day second overall — 0.267 slower — after tire problems in the morning left him 19th. It was the sixth race weekend in a row that Bottas, who has so far won only the opening race in Austria in July, had topped the first session time sheets and Mercedes again looked like the team to beat. The Finn also led the way at the Tuscan Grand Prix in Italy two weeks ago, only for Hamilton to seize pole position and then take his sixth win in nine races this year and 90th of his career. Australian Daniel Ricciardo signalled the emerging threat from Renault by posting the second fastest time in the morning and third in the afternoon. The Russian Grand Prix will be the first race of a COVID-HIT season with a significant number of fans present. Organizers, who had aimed for a 30,000-strong crowd, said all tickets were sold out.